On our site you can find information relating to the breed, latest news, details of shows and sales, stock for sale and information from Breeders’ Groups around the regions.

Our breed can meet your needs - whether you are looking for an easy-lambing terminal sire to produce fast finishing lambs, or a few docile sheep to keep on top of the grass and provide some delicious lamb.

The Society hopes this website offers you a starting point, please get in touch with the Southdown Office for further information.

Worcester National Southdown Show & Sale
Read the full report

Southdown Sheep Society Young Breeders Event
Read a report

The Southdown Sheep Society Flock Competition takes place in September, the judge for 2026 is Stephen Humphrey.
Download an application form to enter

2026 AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Southdown Sheep Society will be held in Sibson Village Hall, Leicestershire on Saturday August 15th 2026 at 11.15am
Full details here

Melton Mowbray Show and Sale
The 23rd Traditional & Native Breed Show & Sale at Melton Mowbray market takes place on Friday 11th & Saturday 12th September 2026. The Show will take place on Friday 11th  with Championships commencing from 3pm. (Please note the Pigs begin at 3pm - Cattle at 4pm - Sheep at 4:30pm - Champion of Champions at 5pm). The Sale will take place on Saturday 12th commencing at 10am.
Entries close on Friday 14th August 2026. 
Completed entry forms can be sent to pedigree@meltonmowbraymarket.co.uk.
Booking form

Download the 2026 year book

Latest News

About

Welcome to the website of the Southdown Sheep Society, the Society represents the interests of Southdown breeders in the UK and provides registration and marketing services to breeders across the country. The Southdown is the oldest of the terminal sire breeds in the UK and as the name suggests originates from the native sheep which have roamed the South Downs in the South of England for many hundreds of years.

Developed by foresighted flockmasters into a fixed type in the eighteenth century, the breed has been responsible for the development of many of the native terminal sire breeds, including the Suffolk and the Hampshire Down and in France the Charollais. Today the breed can be found in the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand and America and many other countries across the globe where its ability to produce high quality lamb has led to it being recognised as the king among terminal sires.

In the UK the breed is undergoing a significant revival as a new generation of breeders firmly focussed on maximising the breed’s commercial attributes has developed the breed into a modern terminal sire. The breed’s easy lambing, docility and ease of finishing make it a suitable sire for a range of sheep farming systems in all locations and climates with Southdown rams found working in all corners of the UK from Cornwall to Aberdeenshire.

Email & phone

Email: secretary@southdownsheepsociety.co.uk

Tel: 01986 782251

Southdown Sheep Society, Limited by Guarantee., Company Number 35585 Registered as a Charity, Number 266713