Southdown sheep no longer economical and smaller flocks averaged only 135 ewes apiece. The use of artificial fertilizers had gained ground, and the combine-drill, which sowed grain seeds and fertilizer together, rendered close-folding by sheep unnecessary. Gradually surrendering to basic arable farming changes, the Southdown became largely a grassland breed. During the interwar years, the United Kingdom was known for farm animal breeding, and pedigreed Southdowns were still being exported to most parts of the world, especially New Zealand. In 1937, the number of exported Southdowns reached 459 head. During the Great Depression, a severe and prolonged fall in the prices of
HMS Southdown (L25) support of the Normandy Landings. Following the war she was converted for use as an air target ship at Rosyth in September 1945. She then transferred to the Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth in April 1946. She remained there until sold to Thos W Ward for scrap. She arrived at the breakers yard at Barrow on 1 November 1956. HMS Southdown (L25) HMS "Southdown" was a Type I destroyer of the Royal Navy which served in World War II. She was scrapped in 1956. "Southdown" was ordered on 11 April 1939 under the 1939 War Emergency Build Programme as job number