Hampshire Down

A Down breed developed in the 19th century in southern England and Hampshire by crossing the Southdown with the Wiltshire Horn and the now-extinct Berkshire Knot, then improved with Cotswold and large Southdown rams. Its breed society was founded in Salisbury in 1899.

A seasonal meat breed that grazes well; lambs grow fast and their meat fattens late. Prolificacy is 1.5–1.8, lambing is easy and lamb rearing excellent; ewes weigh 70–90 kg and rams 110–140 kg.

A large breed with a well-developed skull and broad forehead, polled in both sexes; the nose is slightly convex, markedly so in rams. Head and ears are covered with dark brown or black hair, and wool covers the poll, cheeks and around the eyes. The white wool may reach the hooves; the legs are strong-boned and match the head in colour.