Rules of the Southdown Sheep Society
Membership of the Southdown Sheep Society means that all your Southdowns saved and used for breeding must be individually registered in the Flock Book and that all subscriptions and registration fees are paid. All ram lambs and ewe lambs saved for breeding must be registered in the Flock Book by 31st December in the year of their birth. The fee for registration is set by the Council and is £6 per ram lamb and £3 per ewe lamb. If any Southdowns are not registered by 31st December in their year of birth they are called non-Pedigree Southdowns and must be sold as such.
All Southdown sheep purchased must have been individually registered by the breeder in the Flock Book and all breeders must notify the Secretary in writing of any purchases or sales they make for breeding purposes within one year of doing so.
The Council decide the rate of subscription, which is at present £35 on joining and £35 payable annually on 1st January in advance each year. All new members will receive a Registered Flock Number, which must be used on the ear tag, and they will choose a prefix for their Southdowns that can be used providing the name is not used by another member. In addition on the ear tag the year letter will be used and the individual number of the sheep should be included. Any requirement of the Ministry of Agriculture or any other official body as to ear tags will also be used. Tattoos may be used instead of ear tags but the Secretary must be notified in writing.
No Southdown can be individually registered in the Flock Book unless both their sire and dam are individually registered. Proof of this must be provided at registration.
No headage charge will be paid to the Society by members except the levy deducted by Auctioneers etc. at official sales.
Exportation of Southdowns can only be done if they have been individually registered in the Flock Book by 31st December in their year of birth. An Export Certificate must be obtained from the Secretary at a cost of £10 per Southdown and the sum of 5p in every pound of the sale price shall be paid to the Secretary within 6 months of the sale.
The Flock Book is published by the Society. At the moment it is every two years. A copy is sent to all members who are up to date with their subscriptions.
Late registration is allowed after the year of birth, providing sire and dam details are provided. The cost will be £20 per Southdown.
Council has the right to inspect any flock with or without notice and without giving a reason should they so wish. The decision of the Council is final in any dispute. All members are deemed to have accepted these Rules after being sent a copy of them and not making any comment to the Secretary in writing within six months.
Approved by the Council 16th October 2000 and 31st October 2001
Lamb Registrations
The forms for lamb registration and the registration summary are available online to be printed off, completed and sent to the Secretary at Meens Farm, Capps Lane, All Saints, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 0PD. Payment must be sent with the forms, and the current year's membership subscription must be paid before the office can start to process the lamb registrations. Please make cheques payable to The Southdown Sheep Society.
