Official breed description for the Shropshire Down

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Official Breed Description
The Shropshire is medium sized, with typical mature rams and ewes weighing 120kg and 80kg respectively. Shropshire Sheep are active and alert with a free action.

Head: Naturally clean soft black face, with a covering of wool on the poll. Rams should possess a bold masculine head.
Ears: Soft black in colour, of medium length, well set on.
Neck: Muscular and not too long.
Body: Well fleshed, long, deep and symmetrical. A broad, straight back with well-sprung ribs. Rump – quarters long and wide, dock well set on and legs of mutton full and deep.

Legs: Medium length, of strong bone and upright joints, well set apart and soft black in colour.
Skin and wool: Cherry pink covered with dense, fine quality wool of good staple.

Undesirable Traits
Horn stubs
White specks on face, ears and legs
Thick, coarse, long, pricked or drooping ears
Coloured wool in the fleece
Drooping rump
Throatiness
Roman nose
Coarse wool on the breeches

BRITISH WOOL MARETING BOARD’S CLASSIFICATION OF SHROPSHIRE WOOL
Wool Classification: Shortwool and Down
Staple Length: 10 to 15cm.
Fleece Weight: 2 to 3kg
Quality: 54s to 56s

Description and Use:
The Shropshire is more completely covered with wool than any other Down breed and grows a particularly heavy, dense fleece. Its wool is fine with a pleasantly soft handle and is almost free from kemp and grey or black fibres. Although frequently used for woollen hosiery and knitting yarns, some Shropshire wool is used for worsted manufacture. Much of it is exported to European countries at the top stage – that is to say, after combing and before spinning. Hand-knitting wools are among the other products for which Shropshire wool is used. There is also considerable demand from Shropshire wool in Japan for filling Futons (sofa-beds).