2020 Suffolk Directory

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Letter from the President United Suffolk Sheep Association P.O. Box 121 • Holland, IA 50642 Office: 641/684-5291 • Fax: 734/335-7646 Email: info@suffolks.org Website: www.suffolks.org Dear Suffolk Breeders, I hope you enjoy the 2020 Suffolk Breeder Directory. As always, Greg and the rest of the staff at The Banner does great work on our behalf. First, I’d like to welcome our newest board members – Carol, Cynthia, Randy, and Jim – thank you for your willingness to serve. A big thank you to our outgoing board members – Matt, Gayle, Bill and Bill - for your dedication to the Suffolk breed. And to our returning board members – Randy, Tom, Blair, Greg, Gary, Bret and Brenda – thanks for the leadership you continue to provide. And especially to our Secretary Amanda – we couldn’t do this without you. For many of us in agriculture, 2019 brought all kinds of challenges. So far, 2020 is certainly presenting a different set of concerns; and we all have to deal with events being cancelled, changes to our work environment, and restrictions on how we live our lives. For me personally, about the only “normal” in my world is my sheep flock. Time in the barn feeding the sheep and watching the lambs grow is about the only way to temporarily forget about the issues we are facing. As a board, we have some important issues to address. Like most sectors of agriculture, we face declining membership numbers as well as declining registrations and transfers (our primary sources of revenue). I’m confident that we can find ways for the association to continue to provide exemplary service to our members and work within our budget. Developing a plan to allow the USSA to remain a viable organization into the future is our highest priority. We all know that there is a fair amount of diversity within our breed of different types and kinds of Suffolk sheep. Each of us should continue to raise the kind of Suffolk sheep that we like and that we can effectively market. Regardless of which type you raise, we can all work to improve the structural soundness and functionality of our flocks. Suffolks became the most popular breed in the US because they excelled in terms of growth rate and carcass merit – traits important to the commercial sheep industry. We can’t lose sight of that. We also need to pay attention when our customers complain about lack of longevity and fleshing ease in Suffolks, and work to improve those traits in our flocks. I think we have made strides in these areas, but we have more work to do. I also want to invite each of you to reach out to me as well as your district directors with any concerns. We also want to know what you value most about your membership, what ways we can add value to your membership (and value to the registration paper). We will likely be sending an email survey to members to gather your feedback. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts. Hopefully I will get a chance to see many of you at various shows, sales and sheep events throughout the year (assuming we aren’t forced to cancel them). Until then, lets get those lambs growing! Cheers, Jeremy Geske Office Staff Amanda, our friendly secretary, and office staff can get you the answers or information you need. Her job is to provide the very best service to Suffolk breeders around the world. And she is good at it! Amanda Everts Executive Secretary amanda@suffolks.org On the Cover: Bunker Hill Farms, William & Susan Shutlz, DeGraff, Ohio Postmaster: Suffolk Directory published by BANNER PUBLICATIONS, P.O. Box 500, Cuba, IL 61427, www.bannersheepmagazine.com PAGE 4 2020 SUFFOLK DIRECTORY
History of the Suffolk Breed The Suffolk breed, an original English breed, was the result of crossing Southdown rams on Norfolk Horned ewes. The product of this cross was determined to be a great improvement over either one of the parents. Although the Suffolk was a recognized breed as early as 1810, the flock book was not closed until much later. In 1930, Southdowns were described as large sheep without horns, dark faces and legs, fine bones and long small necks. They were gray to mouse brown on the face and legs. They were low set in front with high shoulders and light forequarters; however, their sides were good, rather broad in the loin and were full in the thigh and twist. Today's Suffolk derives its meatiness and quality wool from the old original British Southdown. The Norfolk Horned sheep, now rare, were a wild and hardy breed. They were black faced, light, fleeced sheep. Both sexes were horned. The upland regions of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridge on the southeastern coast of England are very rugged and forage is sparse. It was this dry, cold and windy area in which the Norfolk breed adapted itself to traveling great distances for food, thereby developing a superbly muscular body. It was said at that time of the Norfolk Horned, "their limbs are long and muscular, their bodies are long and their general form betokens activity and strength." This breed and its crosses were valued highly both by farmers and butchers. However, sheepmen of that day did not like the long legs, flat sides, nor wild nature of the Norfolk Horned. They noted that Southdowns crossed with Norfolks produced a progeny that reduced most of the criticisms of both breeds. In 1886, the English Suffolk Society was organized to provide registry service and to further develop the use of the breed. Through selection and careful breeding by many great English sheepmen, the Suffolk brought to this country retained the qualities for which they were originally mated. The first Suffolks were brought to this country in 1888 by Mr. G.B. Streeter of Chazy, New York. During a visit to England the previous year, Mr. Streeter had been greatly impressed by Suffolk sheep. These prize breeding animals had belonged to Joseph Smith of Hasketon, and one 21 month old ewe weighed exactly 200 pounds when she came off the ship. A 9 month old ram weighed 195 pounds and in the spring of 1890, a 7 week old twin weighed 85 pounds. That spring, Streeter had a 200% lamb crop. The Suffolk did not make its appearance in the western states until 1919. Three ewes and two rams had been donated by the English Suffolk Sheep Society to the University of Idaho. One of the rams was to be sold at auction at the National Ram Sale in Salt Lake City, Utah. Several leading sheepmen saw these sheep at the sale and they liked what they saw. After several rounds of bidding, the ram was finally sold to Laidlaw and Brockie (developers of the Panama breed) of Muldoon, Idaho, for $500. These men were so impressed with the offspring from their Suffolk ram that they made several inportations and were consistent buyers at the National Ram Sale. SUFFOLK TRAITS Mature weights for Suffolk rams range from 250 to 350 pounds (113-159 kg), ewe weights vary from 180 to 250 pounds (81-113 kg). Fleece weights from mature ewes are between five and eight pounds (2.25-3.6 kg) with a yield of 50 to 62 percent. The fleeces are considered medium wool type with a fiber diameter of 25.5 to 33.0 microns and a spinning count of 48 to 58. The staple length of Suffolk Fleece ranges from 2 to 3.5 inches (5-6.75 cm). United Suffolk Sheep Association Director Districts WA ME AK OR ID DISTRICT 1 NV UT CA AZ ND MT SD WY NE CO KS DISTRICT 2 OK NM MN NY WI MI DISTRICT 3 PA IA DISTRICT 4 MD IN IL OH WV VA MO KY NC TN AR SC MS AL GA VT NH MA CT RI NJ DE HI TX LA FL 2020 SUFFOLK DIRECTORY PAGE 5
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OREGON Grady Buswell, Boring, OR Pr
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year. To vote in the election of Di
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2020 Suffolk Directory

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