At the time of filming this vid - I did not know the name of the breed of these miniature sheep. I have since learned that they are "Babydoll Southdown".
Babydoll Southdown sheep are descended from the Southdown, one of the oldest down breeds. Standardized by John Ellman, they date back to 1700 England where they were favored for their flavorful meat and fine fleece.
Documented imports to the U.S., of what we now call the Babydoll Southdown, began in the mid-1800s.
Babydoll Southdown are concerned a "miniature" - they are usually just 18 to 24 inches at the withers.
They possess high intelligence, with a docile temperament, which makes them easy to train.
Their fiber, one of the finest wools of the British breeds, is comfortable next to the skin.
Babydoll wool is resilient and springy, dyes well and has more barbs per inch than other wool. This attribute makes it suitable to blend with slicker fibers.
Historically a meat breed, these sheep are short, long-bodied and well-muscled. Their heavy body type is not conducive for getting on their hind legs and reaching upwards.
Vineyards have tried other short breeds, realizing lighter built wool breeds are able and likely to stand on their hind legs in order to reach the higher vines and leaves. After some trial and error, used correctly, the Babydoll is clearly the winner in vineyards and orchards!
Babydoll Southdown sheep provide organic fertilizer, eat fallen fruit reducing disease problems, and can eliminate the need for herbicides and pesticides.
Their flavorful meat is the Angus of sheep. They produce an excellent carcass with good meat-to-bone ratio and are perfect for self-sustainability. Keepers can easily sell meat to ethnic markets, restaurants and friends and families.
You can milk Babydoll Southdown sheep for dairy products and soap-making - here on the Sweetwater farm they are kept for grazing, fertilizing and their wool.
John Ellman worked to preserve and standardize the breed as we know them today. However, the pure bloodline went nearly extinct at one point, with just 350 sheep accounted in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
After they were rediscovered they were saved from extinction and were then classified as ‘miniature’ and named ‘Babydoll.’ This was to avoid confusion in the livestock industry with their larger relatives.
They weigh an average of 75 pounds. I have read that some can reach up to 140 pounds
9 дек 2023
