White Suffolk

The breed was developed in Australia under harsh conditions from the 1970s, led by Prof. Ewan Roberts: the Suffolk was crossed with white breeds, mainly the Poll Dorset and the Border Leicester. Its breed society, the Australian White Suffolk Association, was founded in 1986.

It performs very well in dry, semi-desert and in wet regions alike, and gains well even on extensive pasture. Its maternal traits — milk, prolificacy (1.6–1.9) and easy lambing — are excellent, and it can be bred all year; lambs carry favourable fat cover even at heavier slaughter weights, and it has become a leading terminal sire breed in Australia.

The head is polled, wool-free, long and white with a slightly convex nose, and medium-sized ears carried slightly forward. It has full shoulders and legs of lamb, a straight back, a long, well-sprung, deep body and a broad, well-muscled loin; body and belly are covered with white Down-type wool.