OLD ENGLISH "BABYDOLL" SOUTHDOWN SHEEP
Origin and Background:
Origin and Background:
{taken from http://oldeenglishbabydollregistry.com/about_the_breed.html }
One
of the oldest of the English breeds of sheep is the
Southdown, originating on the South Down hills of Sussex
County, England. These small sheep were know for their
extreme hardiness and produced meat with unmatched
tenderness and flavor then any other breed of sheep.
In
1780 John Ellman, realized the potential of these
animals and set out to standardize the Southdown breed.
In
England, these small Southdowns grew in popularity up
until 1908 when there were approximately 367 registered
flocks totaling about 110,000 ewes. The growth in this
breed's development slowed in the early 1900s as World
War I brought a sharp decline in their numbers. By the
end of the World War II, the demand for larger cuts of
meat had almost forced the breed into extinction.
It
is believed that the breed reached the United States in
1803. Their popularity grew and later declined in nearly
the same pattern that had occurred in England. The small
Southdown could not satisfy the consumer demand for
larger meat cuts. This was a significant factor in the
development and mass production of the larger, leggier
Southdown of today. This divergence from the original
breed standards was the beginning of what would later
become two distinct lines: The Southdown and the
miniature (or original) Southdown. In breeding for these
larger characteristics however, many of the original
"miniature" attributes were bred out and
nearly lost. Each year brought a further decline in the
number of these "original" Southdowns.
In
1986, Mr. Robert Mock began a search for the sheep with
the original blood lines that conformed to the
original Southdown of the 1700s. Finding them
proved to be difficult. At one point they were believed
to be extinct. After a four-year search, two small
flocks totaling 26 sheep were located; however, this
group would not be able to provide a sustainable gene
pool. After further extensive searching, a total of 350 of these
miniature sheep were located. Many of them still carried
their original Southdown registration papers.
To
distinguish these small sheep from the larger modern-era
Southdown, Mr. Mock named them �Olde English Babydoll
Southdowns." To keep this line pure, a registry
was formed. Only adults two years and older were
accepted so that they could be judged against the
original conformation standards as verified by a
veterinarian. Each sheep's registration application was
passed before a board of three members of the Breed
Association. After this initial review and acceptance
period, the "Foundation Flock" registry was
closed in 1991. The term Foundation Flock is still used
to refer to this original pool of sheep. Subsequently,
the process of registering lambs from this original
foundation flock began.
Uses
for the "Babydoll" Southdown:
Olde
English "Babydoll" Southdowns are outstanding pets who
produce wool that is a hand spinners delight. They
provide organic weeding and make excellent companion
animals and are also a sound investment opportunity.
Wonderful
Pets:
These little "Babydoll" sheep make
excellent companions for the young, elderly, and
disabled. Their gentle nature makes them a joy to
own, and their diminutive size makes them an excellent
choice for 4-H projects.
Wool
"Babydoll" fleece generally runs
in the 19 to 22 micron range, which puts the fleece in the
class of cashmere. Babydoll fleece also has more barbs per inch than
any other wool type, making it ideal for blending with other fibers.
Gardeners:
Weeding
trials were sponsored and monitored by the association,
utilizing "Babydolls" as organic weeders. They have
been used with great success in wine vineyards as well
as fruit
and berry orchards since they will not harm the fruits,
girdle trunks of trees, or harm shrubs. They leave the
grounds well groomed and fertilize the soil as they
graze.
Companions:
"Babydoll"
Southdowns are wonderful companion animals for other
non-aggressive livestock. Their calm, docile disposition
has a soothing effect on other livestock. They should not be
kept with intact male llamas or alpacas who may
attempt breeding with them. It is wise to introduce them
gradually to other livestock by putting them in
separate paddocks when they first arrive to their new
home. This give their new friends an opportunity to say
hi without it being overwhelming to the Babydoll sheep.
Care:
"Babydolls"
require the same care as other sheep breeds such as hoof
trimming, worming, vaccinations, and yearly shearing.
The
handling facilities and feed are not as costly as with
larger breeds. Shelter can be minimal, except at
lambing time. Good fences are essential, more for
protection from predators than containment since Babydolls do not challenge
fences and do not wonder far. Portable electric
mesh fences
are great if you do not already have permanent fencing.
Feed,
salt and mineral blocks are important for good health
but you must make sure you do not give any sheep copper.
Any feed, salt or mineral block that has copper in it
must be keep out of reach of any sheep.
Why
Everyone Loves Their "Babydoll" Southdowns:
The
"Babydoll" woolly teddy bear face
will always give you a smile. Their short legs along
with their small size allows them the ability to do well in small areas.
They are ideal
for suburban lot owners who want the tranquility of sheep
as living lawn ornaments. Both ewes and rams are polled
(have no horns) and are non-aggressive by nature. The ewes are
very good mothers, often raising twins and triplets with
ease.
Because
"Babydoll" Southdowns are a ancient breed, they are not
prone to many of the modern sheep problems and are resistant to foot rot.
In general, they are cared
for like any other sheep which includes worming, hoof
trimming, shearing, and vaccination..
Returned
To Their Homeland:
One
of the major goals of the original "Babydoll" Southdown
Registry (Olde English "Babydoll" Southdown Sheep
Registry) was to return the original breed to England
where the little sheep had been extinct for over 50
years. This goal was accomplished in 1999, but their numbers are so
few that they remain on
the Rare Breeds Survival Trust List (RBST) http://www.rbst.org.uk/
One
Important Note:
Because
of their strong flocking instinct "Babydolls" do not do well as
singles. They thrive on companionship and must be
with their own kind or another breed of sheep or goat.
Due to this fact, lambs should only be sold in pairs if
the buyer does not already have companions for their
lamb.
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