Hampshire

The systematic work is credited to William Humphrey of Newbury, who began in 1839 by putting Southdown rams over the local downland ewes. The Royal Agricultural Society recognized the result around 1859 to 1861, and the British breed society and its flock book both date to 1890.

The breed's job was set early and has not changed: a fast-growing, dark-faced terminal sire for the commercial lamb trade. It now runs in some twenty-one countries, with large populations in South America.

Like the Suffolk it is a terminal sire, dark faced and fast growing, but it is built a little differently: shorter legged, deeper bodied, and carrying wool further down the face and legs. Hampshire lambs are known for early maturity, reaching finish weight young.

Both sexes are polled. Rams average around 260 lb and ewes around 180. The fleece is white over the dark points, roughly 5 to 9 lb greasy, with a 2.5 to 4 inch staple at 25 to 33 microns.

Oklahoma State University's breed profile describes the Hampshire as a large, open-faced, active sheep with a mild disposition.

Handle them as the big animals they are. The breed standard that profile quotes asks for mature rams of 275 lb or more and mature ewes of 200 lb or more in breeding condition, heavier than the averages above.

Terminal siring is the textbook use: a Hampshire ram in the three-generation crossbreeding system that commercial flocks run, stamping growth and early maturity on the lamb crop. The wool goes into knitting yarns, hosiery, felts and flannel.

They are also a mainstay of club lamb programs and market lamb shows in the United States.

The trade is the same set of terminal-sire compromises. They need good feed to perform, the fleece is medium and short, and the wool on the face can grow over the eyes to the point of blindness if it is not clipped, a fault the breed has worked to select away from but has not eliminated.

Be clear about the job. A Hampshire ram is bought to sire market lambs; building a maternal flock is a different purchase, and the breed's own system uses it as the terminal cross.

Registration runs through the American Hampshire Sheep Association. Look at the face when you look at the sheep: how much wool grows toward the eyes is heritable, and clipping it is your labor if you buy it.

Recent sale prices on HoofnHorn, where there are any, are further down this page.