History of the Wiltshire Horn - parent breed of the Wiltipoll
It has been said that the Wiltshire Horn was derived from Mediterranean sheep breeds such as those of Corsica and Sardinia and were brought to Britain by the Ancient Romans as the original British meat sheep. However in its modern form the Wiltshire Horn may have come about indirectly from those original sheep via some of the Welsh Mountain breeds.
In turn, it has played a part in the origin of breeds such as the Dorset Horn and Southdown. In the 18th century it was said to have been the most numerous sheep in Britain, with total numbers perhaps in the millions. It was used to convert the poor Downs pastures into manure for fertiliser (the sheep being penned each night) and for meat, the long legged hardy breed being able to cover great distances.
After the 18th century, changes to farming practices in the region and the introduction of new breeds with either more wool (Merino) or fatter lambs (Southdowns) led to it's decline.
By the early 20th century it was becoming rare and a British Society was formed in 1923 to ensure its survival in a pure form.
Development of the Wiltipoll
The Wiltshire Horn was brought to Australia in 1952 by the Crossthwaite family but with high wool prices and demand for fatter lambs it did not thrive. The breed was nearly extinct by 1970 when it was rescued by the Harwood family, who bought two rams and fifteen ewes and took them to their property at Lillydale, Victoria. In 1972 Greg and Margie Toll established a flock of Wiltshire Horns at Gunbower, Victoria, which is still flourishing today.
In 1978 Noel and Prue Bonnin, David and Dilys Craven and Bob Burston bought pure-bred Wiltshire Horn rams and 1st cross ewes (Border Leicester/ Wiltshire Horn) and transported them to the Hindmarsh Valley, SA. In 1994 Annie and John Hughes of Kars Station, Broken Hill, NSW, purchased ewes and rams from the above breeders and proceeded to breed selectively for polledness.
Early work in the breed's development
The poll gene was introduced initially by the mating of a purebred Wiltshire Horn ram to a ewe of a polled breed. The first cross was then back-crossed to a Wiltshire Horn ram successively for four generations until the fifth cross of 96.87% Wiltshire Horn blood was reached. Once this upgrading stage was complete the interbreeding stage began. Fifth crosses that retained the poll gene were mated together to become the foundation of the Wiltipoll breed.
Geneticist Mr Scott Dolling advised that any poll breed could be used to introduce the poll gene provided that the back-crossing program was strictly adhered to until a sufficient percentage of Wiltshire Horn blood was attained.
Historic First Meeting 1997
The Australian Wiltipoll Association Inc. was established on 20th November 1996 by Annie Hughes who together with her husband chose the name "Wiltipoll" to describe these polled wool-shedding sheep.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Association was held at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, Wayville in Adelaide on 8th March 1997. Nine breeders attended and Annie Hughes was elected President. Brian Wilson was elected Vice President, Lizzie Hughes Secretary/Treasurer & Chief Executive Officer. San Jolly and Dean Squires formed the rest of the committee. The number of members recorded at that meeting was 22. Annie Hughes presented the meeting with proposed Constitution, Statement of Purposes, Association Rules and Regulations based on flock registers of other sheep breeds for approval by the members. A membership fee of $10 per annum was set.
Genetic Advisor
Mr Scott Dolling offered his services to the Association as honorary geneticist in 1998 and since then has willingly donated his time and expertise in advising the Association on the development of the breed. Mr Dolling has created a Classing Lattice as a guide for the breeding of Wiltipoll sheep.
Flock Book
Volume 1 of the "Flock Register for Wiltipoll Sheep in Australia" was published in March 1997 and was compioled from the Flock Returns lodged by members of the Association in December 1996. It contained the histories of 13 registered flocks. The Association numbered 23 members at the time of printing. In 2005 the Association numbered 94 members with 80 stud flocks established.
Flock numbers
Flock numbers were allocated in chronological order as they were received with Flock 100 reached in 8 years.
Official Newsletter
It was felt essential for the continued promotion of the breed that a Wiltipoll breed society newsletter be established and produced each year.
Exhibition of Wiltipolls
In 1996 Wiltipoll ewes and rams were first exhibited by Annie and Tom Hughes of Kars Pastoral Co, Broken Hill, NSW, at the Royal Farm Expo, Wayville, Adelaide. In 2005 Wiltipoll ewes and rams were exhibited competitively by Brian and Neroli Smith of Boyanup, WA at the Royal Perth Show.
Other highlights
In 2002 the Australian Wiltipoll Association Inc held its first Field Day at San Jolly's property at Kapunda, SA. Thirty people attended.
In 2005 the second Field Day was held at Annie and Tom Hughes' property at Strathalbyn, SA and over ninety people attended.
In 2005 four Wiltipoll rams were exported by Annie and Tom Hughes to Bob Jackman of Tolaga Bay, New Zealand.
In 2006 San Jolly's Wiltipoll and Wiltshire Horn sale was featured on Landline on ABC tv.
In 2007 membership of the Association reached 170 members and the total number of flocks established reached 141.