The Shropshire sheep is a British short wool hornless breed. It is medium in size and has a soft black face, ears and nostrils, and black feet and legs. The Shropshire breed society was the first sheep breed society set up in the United Kingdom .

Mainly used as a prime lamb producer, the Shropshire ram makes a good sire for producing quick growing lambs. They are often crossed with merinos to produce first cross lambs. Its fleece is dense and heavy and is a Downs type wool. The Shropshire was one of the first Downs (short wool) breed to be introduced into Australia and do very well in high rainfall areas and also adapt well to harsher type climates.

Unfortunately, the Shropshire is not so popular today. In fact numbers are quite low, with only 292 breeding ewes being registered in 1996 nationally.

Breed Description

• Head: well developed and covered with dense wool to the forehead, with little or none on the face (an open face preferred); broad between the ears, short muzzle; no signs of horns.
• Face: soft black colour, with a few grey hairs on nose not objectionable.
• Eyes: full medium sized and bright, showing clear of wool.
• Ears: somewhat short and thick.
• Neck: wide at the base, strong and well sent into the shoulders, throat clean.
• Shoulders: well set and top level with the back. No depression behind blades.
• Chest: wide and deep.
• Back: straight; wide over loins, covered with firm flesh.
• Ribs: well sprung and thick through the heart.

* Hind Quarters: square and showing good width from loin to tail, good full fleshy leg, broad tail, well set on, almost level with back.
* Legs and Feet: legs short, and of a soft black colour with strong bone, showing covering of short wool well down below, fairly straight hocks. Legs well set on and wide apart.
* Skin: of a healthy, bright pink not inclined to blue.
* Flesh: even and firm handling all over.
* Carriage: bold and free.
* Fleece: dense, of medium strength and staple, showing plenty of character, with no black hairs. No black hairs on black wool behind ears. Suggested wool count 56′s – 58′s.