The Suffolk is a domestic sheep breed known for its distinctive black face and black legs.
Suffolk sheep were developed in England by crossing Norfolk Horn ewes with Southdown rams. The breed was formally established in the nineteenth century and became widely valued for producing meaty lambs. Its white fleece contrasts sharply with the dark, usually wool-free head and lower legs.
Suffolk sheep are commonly described as polled, meaning they naturally lack horns. Their dark face and legs can make them easy to recognize in a mixed flock, although shade and markings vary among individuals.
The breed is primarily associated with meat production rather than the exceptionally fine wool of Merinos. Suffolk rams are also used in crossbreeding programs to add growth and muscularity to commercial lambs. The name can cause confusion because Suffolk is also an English county, where the breed’s development took place.