AnimalTracks.wiki

What the sources say

Suffolk SheepOvis aries

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Suffolk Sheep profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 39 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

United Suffolk Sheep Association

Breed Information. United Suffolk Sheep Association.

The page saysA jet-black, wool-free head and legs against a clean white fleece
The source sayshaving jet black, wool-free heads and legs that sharply contrast their clean white fleeces and pink skin
The page saysan English meat breed
The source saysThe Suffolk breed, an original English breed ... The Suffolk sheep is a superior producer of lean meat
The page sayswhose lambs can gain more than a pound a day
The source saysSuffolk genetics favor lean rapid early growth that can exceed one pound per day and be market ready as early as 3 to 4 months of age
The page saysAn original English breed; its Norfolk Horn ancestors came from the sparse uplands of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire
The source saysThe Suffolk breed, an original English breed, was the result of crossing Southdown rams on Norfolk Horned ewes ... 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 itselfNote: the source's 'Cambridge' names the county region, written as Cambridgeshire
The page sayslambs can gain more than a pound (0.45 kg) a day and be market-ready as early as three to four months old
The source saysSuffolk genetics favor lean rapid early growth that can exceed one pound per day and be market ready as early as 3 to 4 months of ageNote: 0.45 kg is a standard conversion of the source's 'one pound' (1 lb = 0.4536 kg)
The page saysThe Suffolk, an original English breed, came from crossing Southdown rams with Norfolk Horn ewes
The source saysThe Suffolk breed, an original English breed, was the result of crossing Southdown rams on Norfolk Horned ewes
The page saysSouthdown rams were crossed with Norfolk Horn ewes
The source saysThe Suffolk breed, an original English breed, was the result of crossing Southdown rams on Norfolk Horned ewes
The page saysThe Norfolk Horn was a wild, hardy breed from the sparse, windy uplands of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, where it adapted to traveling great distances for food and became very muscular
The source saysThe Norfolk Horned sheep, now rare, were a wild and hardy breed ... 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 bodyNote: 'very muscular' for 'superbly muscular'; appears in the body and FAQ 1
The page saysThe Southdown gave today's Suffolk its meatiness and wool quality, and the cross reduced most of the criticisms sheepmen had of both parent breeds
The source saysToday's Suffolk derives its meatiness and quality wool from the old original British Southdown ... 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 breedsNote: appears in the body and FAQ 1
The page saysThe Suffolk was a recognized breed by 1810, and the English Suffolk Society was founded in 1886 to register it
The source saysAlthough the Suffolk was a recognized breed as early as 1810, the flock book was not closed until much later ... In 1886, the English Suffolk Society was organized to provide registry serviceNote: appears in the body and FAQ 1
The page saysThe breed did not reach the American West until 1919, when the English Suffolk Sheep Society donated three ewes and two rams to the University of Idaho
The source saysThe 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
The page saysThe breed standard calls for a head and legs free of wool and covered in fine black hair, set against a clean white fleece
The source saysSuffolk Breed Standard ... having jet black, wool-free heads and legs that sharply contrast their clean white fleeces ... The Suffolk head is free of wool both at the poll and cheeks, is covered in fine black hairNote: legs: see the next claim
The page saysa head and legs free of wool and covered in fine black hair
The source saysThe feet and legs should be set wide apart on the corners of the body. They are moderate in length and covered in fine black hair from the knee and hock to the ground with no tendency to woolinessNote: the leg hair runs from the knee and hock down
The page sayswith long, bell-shaped ears that droop and tip slightly forward
The source saysA particularly defining breed characteristic is the long, bell-shaped ears that hang below perpendicular and tip slightly forwardNote: 'droop' paraphrases 'hang below perpendicular'
The page saysThe breed association calls the Suffolk a superior producer of lean meat due to rapid early growth and heavy muscling
The source saysThe Suffolk sheep is a superior producer of lean meat due to rapid early growth, heavy muscling, and efficient conversion of forage and other feedstuffsNote: attributed, since it is the breed association's own standard
The page saysThat growth can top a pound (about 0.45 kg) a day, and lambs can be market-ready as early as three to four months old
The source saysSuffolk genetics favor lean rapid early growth that can exceed one pound per day and be market ready as early as 3 to 4 months of ageNote: 0.45 kg is a standard conversion of the source's 'one pound' (1 lb = 0.4536 kg)
The page saysCommercial shepherds prize Suffolk genetics to improve the weights and carcass quality of their lamb crops
The source saysSuffolk genetics are highly-prized by commercial shepherds to improve the weights and carcass quality of their lamb cropsNote: body and FAQ 3
The page saysIn the US, the most important lambs for the industry are crossbreds sired by Suffolk rams, which pass on their growth and carcass traits
The source saysToday, the most industry important lambs in the US are crossbreds sired by Suffolk rams that pass along highly heritable carcass and growth traitsNote: body; FAQ 3 uses the first half
The page saysThe breed favors lean, rapid early growth that can top a pound (0.45 kg) a day, and lambs can be market-ready as early as three to four months old
The source saysSuffolk genetics favor lean rapid early growth that can exceed one pound per day and be market ready as early as 3 to 4 months of ageNote: 0.45 kg is a standard conversion of the source's 'one pound' (1 lb = 0.4536 kg)
The page saystags: domestic-pet
The source saysThe Suffolk breed, an original English breed, was the result of crossing Southdown rams on Norfolk Horned ewesNote: task #564; kept. The tag's definition is "Species selectively bred alongside humans over centuries", not petness, and the breed is a deliberate cross recognised by 1810.

Source
02

Oklahoma State University, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Breeds of Livestock

Suffolk Sheep. Oklahoma State University, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Breeds of Livestock.

The page saysThe first Suffolks reached the United States in 1888, when G. B. Streeter of Chazy, New York, brought over prize breeding animals that had belonged to Joseph Smith of Hasketon, England
The source saysThe first Suffolks were brought into this country in 1888 by Mr. G. B. Streeter of Chazy, New York. During a visit to England the previous year ... These prize breeding animals had belonged to Joseph Smith of Hasketon
The page saysA mature Suffolk ram weighs 113 to 159 kg (250 to 350 lb); a ewe weighs 81 to 113 kg (180 to 250 lb)
The source saysMature weights for Suffolk rams range from 250-350 lbs (113-159 kg), ewe weights vary from 180-250 lbs (81-113 kg)
The page saysA mature ram weighs 113 to 159 kg (250 to 350 lb), and a ewe weighs 81 to 113 kg (180 to 250 lb)
The source saysMature weights for Suffolk rams range from 250-350 lbs (113-159 kg), ewe weights vary from 180-250 lbs (81-113 kg)

Source
03

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Ovis aries (mouflon). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysDomestic sheep now live worldwide alongside people
The source saysDomestic sheep live worldwide in association with humansNote: species-wide, and worded as all domestic sheep, not the breed
The page saysMainly grasses at pasture; can also be fed a wide variety of hays and oats
The source sayssheep feed mainly on grasses while in pastures and can be fed a wide variety of hays and oatsNote: species-wide diet; no breed-specific diet source
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysIUCN Red List No special statusNote: GBIF's copy of the Red List returns NOT_EVALUATED for Ovis aries Linnaeus, 1758, usage key 2441110, checked 2026-09-17 (api.gbif.org/v1/species/2441110/iucnRedListCategory -> {"category":"NOT_EVALUATED"}). The domestic sheep has no Red List assessment; precedent clydesdale-horse (#376/#417) and alpaca.
The page saysDomestic sheep in general feed mainly on grasses at pasture and can be fed a wide variety of hays and oats
The source saysIn general, sheep feed mainly on grasses while in pastures and can be fed a wide variety of hays and oats
The page saysThe first domestic sheep lived mainly in the Middle East and Central Asia, and sheep have since been introduced everywhere
The source saysThe first domesticated sheep resided mainly in the Middle East and Central Asia but since then have been introduced everywhere
The page saysSheep have a highly developed flocking instinct
The source saysOvis aries has a highly developed flocking or herding instinct
The page saysLarge groups, up to 1,000 sheep or more, move over an area together rather than as individuals, and no leaders start the grazing, or even the running away
The source saysLarge groups of sheep (up to 1000 or more) move over an area in groups, rather than as individuals. No "leaders" in the flock initiating grazing or other forms of behavior, including flightNote: 'running away' for 'flight'
The page saysThat instinct is part of their value to farmers, as a single shepherd can control a large flock
The source saysThis flocking instinct contributes to their economic significance as a single shepherd can control a large flock of animalsNote: 'part of their value to farmers' is 'contributes to their economic significance'
The page saysSeparate a sheep from the others and it becomes considerably stressed, often calling out and pawing at the ground
The source saysSheep become considerably stressed when separated from others, often calling and pawing at the ground
The page saystags: agricultural
The source saysIn general, sheep feed mainly on grasses while in pastures and can be fed a wide variety of hays and oatsNote: task #564; replaces savanna, whose definition (tropical grassland, prolonged dry seasons, migrating herbivore herds) fits nothing in the sources. The breed is an English farm animal at pasture; USSA has its Norfolk Horn ancestors in "The upland regions of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridge". ADW's "mainly" is the diet's emphasis, not a hedge on the pasture.
The page saystags: social
The source saysOvis aries has a highly developed flocking or herding instinctNote: task #564; replaces social-colony, which asks for a strict division of labor. ADW says the opposite: "No \"leaders\" in the flock initiating grazing or other forms of behavior, including flight." ADW also: "Sheep become considerably stressed when separated from others".
The page saysA hypnotic, endlessly looping groove that pulls a whole crowd along with it, for a sheep whose flocks, up to 1,000 or more, move over an area as a group rather than as individuals, with no leader starting the grazing
The source saysLarge groups of sheep (up to 1000 or more) move over an area in groups, rather than as individuals. No "leaders" in the flock initiating grazing or other forms of behavior, including flightNote: vibe.reason, task #564; replaces "Swaggering Northern English pastoral confidence" and "iconic black-and-white swagger", which paired by geography and said nothing about the animal. Band, song, genre and the music description are unchanged.

Source
04

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

Ovis aries. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysOne captive sheep lived 22.8 years, the maximum lifespan AnAge records for the species
The source saysMaximum longevity 22.8 years (captivity) ... One captive specimen lived 22.8 yearsNote: species-wide (Ovis aries) record, not a Suffolk; AnAge build 15 cited directly rather than ADW's 2000 page, which repeats it; 'maximum lifespan' is AnAge's 'Maximum longevity'

Source
05

Kendrick et al. 2001

Kendrick et al. (2001). Sheep don't forget a face. Nature.

The page saysSheep recognize one another by their faces, using specialized brain systems in the temporal and frontal lobes, with a bigger role for the right side of the brain
The source saysSheep also recognize and are attracted to individual sheep and humans by their faces, as they possess similar specialized neural systems in the temporal and frontal lobes for assisting in this important social task, including a greater involvement of the right brain hemisphereNote: all sheep, not a Suffolk finding
The page saysSheep recognize one another by their faces, using specialized brain systems in the temporal and frontal lobes, similar to the ones humans use, with a bigger role for the right side of the brain
The source saysThe human brain has evolved specialized neural mechanisms for visual recognition of faces ... Sheep also recognize and are attracted to individual sheep and humans by their faces, as they possess similar specialized neural systems in the temporal and frontal lobes for assisting in this important social task, including a greater involvement of the right brain hemisphere
The page saysIn a 2001 study, individual sheep remembered the faces of 50 other sheep for over two years
The source saysHere we show that individual sheep can remember 50 other different sheep faces for over 2 yearsNote: 2001 is the paper's year (reference kendrick-2001); the study's sheep, not Suffolks; body blockquote and FAQ 4

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.