882 



Suffolk Sheep. 



[Jan., 



Koyal, tBe Highland, the Eoyal Ulster, Royal Dublin and lead- 

 ing County shows is this breed strongly represented, but in 

 competition with other breeds at smaller shows and sales all 

 ©ver the country the Suffolk holds its own and its excellence for 

 crossing purposes is evidenced. 



The high level of prices for the general run of Suffolk sheep 

 is probably unexcelled by any other breed. At the four 

 principal lamb sales in 1920, 0,013 ewe lambs averaged 

 £d 18s. 4d. with a top price of £'40 per head for twenty. The 

 5,723 two-tooth ewes sold at the three principal ewe sales 

 averaged £10 6s. 9d. with a top piice of £61 per head for ten, 

 while 1,800 older ewes averaged from £8 to £14. At the five 

 principal sales of ram lambs, 1,255 averaged £22 9s. 6d. witli 

 a top price of £399. In 1921 Suffolks shared with all breeds 

 in the general drop in values, but the keenness of the interest 

 is unabated and new flocks are continually being established. 



The following facts are indicative of the way the Suffolk has 

 been taken up by Scottish breeders and graziers. Ten years 

 ago one solitary registered flock held the field in the North; 

 ^o-day, from Yorkshire northwards to the Cromarty-Firth, 

 there are nearly 40 registered flocks and every promise of 

 extension. Scotsmen are among the principal buyers at the 

 Society's sales, in 1919 taking ram lambs at 135, 200 and 

 390 guineas, and in 1920 at 105, 150, 190, 200, 210 and 250 

 gin'neas. That these prices have not been given in vain is 

 jHTOved by the success of Scottish flocks in show and sale yard. 

 The exhibit of Suffolk sheep at the Highland Society's Show 

 IS one of high merit, while those who have ventured to send 

 South to the Royal and Smithfield Shows have taken high 

 positions. At the Kelso ram sales in 1920. 361 Suffolk ram 

 lambs, mostly bred in Scotland, averaged £22 16s. 7d. with a 

 top price of £170. One-quarter of the whole of the awards 

 won by Suffolk crosses at Smithfield have been won by Suffolk- 

 Cheviot crosses from the North, while from August onwards 

 Suffolk crosses frequently top the northern lamb sales. Suffolks 

 and Suffolk crosses have won the championship eight times and 

 resen-e for championship seven times at the Scottish National 

 Fat Stock Show. In 1919 Suffolks and Suffolk crosses were 

 champions at Smithfield, Edinburgh arid York. In Ireland the 

 breed also does well : there are to-day registered flocks in 

 13 counties, and though they do not realise such high prices 

 as in Great Britain they might do so if breeders brought them 

 out in as good a condition and in show form. A few reeognise 



