Welcome to Ludwig Family Southdowns

Located in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah valley are an elite group of Southdowns. For over 30 years and three generations we have been committed to raising high quality, productive, sound sheep that can compete in the show ring as well as produce back at the barn. Our flock consist of 60 Southdown ewes and 25 Suffolk club lamb ewes. Our sheep carry some of the best genetics in the country.

In 2004 we saw a major change in our day to day operation here on the farm, and on August 24th we witnessed one of GODS true miracles, with the birth of our triplet boys Chad, Dylan, and Cody. The boys were born three months early and were gave very little chance of survival. Chad was the biggest at 1lb 12oz, then Dylan at 1lb 8oz, and then came little Cody at just 14oz. On the day the boys were born we began an emotional roller coaster ride with the boys, like all premature babies the boys had highs and lows. After spending nearly 6 months in the hospital the boys came home to the farm, and are normal boys growing up on the farm. They love their trips to the barn and the shows. We would like to thank all of our friends in the sheep industry for all your thoughts and prayers. GOD gave us three little miracles named Chad, Dylan, and Cody and we love them dearly. Please click on the link below to learn more about the March of Dimes and how we can help to save babies together. www.marchofdimes.com.

Thanks to Amanda See for all your help at the shows and sales in 2009, and for your purchase on 10 brood ewes and a ram lamb. Amanda also exhibited the Res Champion ewe lamb at the VA Jr Sheep Breeders Show, this lamb was purchased privately from use and was sired by "Master Blend"

 Congrats to Lesley Ludwig on her ewe lamb Ludwig 9-534 sired by Decade she was Res Champion Ewe at the Dixie Classic Jr Show in NC and was a real head turner at the 2009 National Southdown JR Show were she placed in the top half of her class.
   

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 Ludwig 8-528 yearling ewe sired by Decade This ewe was also shown by Lesley Ludwig she placed 7th in class 2 at the National Southdown Jr Show.

Southdown Stud Rams

DECADE DECADE
QR/NN
MB Genetics 4F-M73

Purchased at the 2006 National Southdown Sale, where he was the 4th place yearling ram. We were so sure this ram would work on our ewe base, that we went to the National Sale this spring JUST to purchase this ram. DECADE was 2nd place Fall Ram Lamb at the 2005 NAILE. He is sired by MB Genetics 0F840 and damed by MB Genetics 73, who is one of the premier ewes in the MB Genetics flock. As a yearling, "73" placed 2nd at the NAILE Jr. Show and 3rd at the All American Jr. Show. Barb says they have more daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters of "73" than any other ewe in the flock. DECADE has the great stud ram "Avalanche" Howard 5074 twice in his pedigree, going back to him on both sides. DECADE is destined to be a truly great stud ram. As Barb says... "He is big, bold, and beautiful!"
 
Newsflash: DECADE's twin sister was the dam of the 2006 Reserve Champion Ram at the 2006 NAILE in Louisville, KY!
 
Watch for his lambs next spring at a few select sales.

"Decades" twin sister is the dam of "Predestined" the 2006 reserve grand champion ram at the NAILE.
"Reload" MB Genetics 9-616
 
Our new stud ram purchased in 2010 - Sired by Jennings 05-900 who has sired many top sheep for MB Genetics over the past few years, and dammed by MB Genetics 6-16. His grandam was a class winner at the 2004 All American and a member of the first place pair of yearling ewes at the 2005 NAILE.
MB Genetics X616

A maternal sister to "Reload" MG Genetics 9-616, she placed 2nd in the Jan ewe lamb class the 2010 NAILE.

Reference Sires

Master Blend
Scramlin 0797
RR/NN

Sired by "99-TOO" B&B Howard 4099 and damed by Sooner 1365, his genetics are a blend of some the best blood lines in the Nation so we had to call him "Master Blend". He was Res Champ at the Indiana & Michigan state fairs as a lamb. He is a massive, heavy boned ram with excellent breed character. "99-TOO" has sired some of the top southdowns over the past few years and "Master Blend" is no exception. A special thanks to the Scramlin family for offering this ram for sale.
GIT-R-DONE GIT-R-DONE Sold to Hindman Southdowns of TX
RR/NN
Splendorview 0439
 
Our pick of the rams at the 2005 Ohio Showcase Sale. He is sired by Victor, Hopkins 0046, the Supreme Champion Ram at the 2001 NAILE. The Dam of GIT-R-DONE is a granddaughter of Mayflower, Scenic View 9392, the Supreme Champion Ram at the 1994 NAILE.
 
Everyone who has seen him has just said WOW! He is big and like all of our sheep has excellent breed character. He is pictured here in his working clothes for fall breeding. GIT-R-DONE lived up to our expectations!!!!!! We have retained almost all of his ewe lambs, his lambs look great and we are looking forward to another good set of lambs out of him for 2007.
AIR HEAD AIR HEAD
Shattuck 1074
 
This is our senior stud ram. He was our pick of the rams at the 1999 National Southdown Sale... and what a pick he turned out to be!
 
This big impressive ram is tall, long and has one of the best Southdown heads you will ever see. AIR HEAD is straight Shattuck bred ram.
 
His lambs carry his beautiful head and breed character. And his daughters have proven to produce just as consistently as their sire.
 
Over 2/3 of our flock is sired by AIR HEAD. He has been the most consistent sire we have ever used in the 35 years we have been in the sheep business. We have retired him and he is now living a life of luxury.
  "MR. PIBBS" FR Farms 624 QR/NN

This was a changer ram for us, and we have retained almost all of his daughters. His name "MR PIBBS" which stands for " PAIN in Big But Sheep", was purchased privately from FR Farms in 2002. He was our pick of there ram lambs that year. unfortunately we lost this ram after 2 breeding seasons. His daughters are super producers with excellent breed character.
 

For Sale


 Ohio Southdown Classic Ewe Consignment

Ludwig 538-10     Yearling ewe Lot #1013
Sire- "Decade" MB Genetics 4F-M73
Dam- MB Genetics 8-206
 
538 is a very flashy & big yearling ewe, out of "Decade". The 8-206 ewe was purchased to raise a stud ram out of and she has done that this year with a ram lamb out of "Reload". 538 will make a very good show ewe and will be a super brood ewe as well. Carla and the boys are not to happy that I'm selling her but I tell them we are coming a long way to Eaton, so we have to bring a good one. Stop by are pens and take a look, we think you will like her.
   

Ludwig 534

Our yearling ewe we sold at the 2010 Ohio sale. She is a "Decade" daughter purchased by John Buffington. 534 placed 4th in her class and was named best headed ewe at the 2010 Big E. She was named champion ewe at numerous shows last summer.