A lengthy drive from the British Columbia interior to the Calgary Stampede was worth the time for Earl and Val Jackson.
With the loss of agriculture shows at major fairs like the Pacific National Exhibition, the Stampede has become one of the few venues for them to show their Southdown and Dorset sheep.
“We have to keep these shows alive. It is a show with some prestige and it means something if you win,” Jackson said.
At this year’s event, all Southdown exhibitors were from B.C., where the breed is growing in popularity.
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Jackson has been in the sheep business since 1966. As a youngster growing up in Ontario, he was drawn to sheep because they were easier to handle than cattle. He tried Oxfords, then Dorsets. He got Southdowns in 1991 because his daughter was involved in 4-H and needed a docile breed. He also preferred running several breeds that can work well on the pastures of his Prince George farm.
Besides the Southdowns, he keeps Dorsets because they will lamb out of season and provide market-ready animals throughout the year.
“Many breeds will do what the packers want, but we need different types for different conditions,” said Jackson.
Southdowns are an old English breed dating back to the 18th century and known for meat production and quiet temperament. A pure white breed, it carries short wool. The breed was almost extinct because over time, it was considered too small and was not as productive as larger, modern breeds.
Crossed with Norfolk horn sheep it was one of the foundation breeds for the black-faced Suffolk sheep. Interested breeders in England, B.C., and Ontario started rebuilding flocks and added some stature to the animals so it could take its place as a medium sized market lamb.
Some breeders have elected to use Southdown rams on first-time lambing ewes because they produce smaller and fewer lambs. The finished weight is around 115 pounds.
Nevertheless, it has been a difficult year for sheep breeders like Jackson because there are so few processing facilities and no export markets due to the BSE scare closing borders for more than 14 months. Prices dropped from 90 cents to 25 cents a pound and in B.C., government aid was less generous than what Alberta farmers received.
