“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. (John Lydgate)*.
The Southdown is a breed with many virtues, and the Southdown breed society is a ‘broad church’. One of the rather unique selling points of the Southdown breed is that it appeals to very many shepherds and potential shepherds, and we are a diverse group.
Some favour the more traditional, stockier animals, other favour the more commercial, rangier type of sheep. And everything in between.
So it is with the marketing leaflets currently available. All members will have received with the 2026 Flock Book two copies of the recently published flyer; this is aimed at the ‘smallholder’ market where a few aesthetically pleasing sheep in an orchard is exactly what the new shepherd is seeking. This flyer replaces the former, oldstyle leaflet promoting the Southdown to a less commercial market.
Then there is the existing commercial flyer aimed at promoting the ‘easy lambing, fast finishing’ Southdown and extolling the virtues of using the Southdown ram on ewe lambs and commercial ewe breeds for that perfect butcher’s carcase.
Whichever ‘type’ of Southdown our members wish to promote, there is a flyer that can assist them, so please contact the office if you would like further copies of any of the current leaflets.
However, as one experienced shepherd was heard to say: “You can never please a sheep breeder unless the cover features a picture of their favourite sheep”!!
*John Lydgate (c. 1370–1451) was a prolific 15th-century English monk and poet known for his moralizing verses and for helping to advance English literature. His famous quotes, often credited to others, include “All is not golde that outward shewith bright”, “Woord is but wynd; leff woord and tak the dede”, and early versions of the popular adage that you cannot please all of the people all of the time.
