28/08/2023
🐑 Uncover the Babydoll Sheep Story 🐑
Let's dive into the captivating tale of Babydoll sheep! These charming sheep have their roots in the resilient Southdown breed, cultivated in 18th Century Sussex, England. As the late 1900s brought a shift in meat preferences toward larger cuts, breeders worldwide faced a choice: adapt or stay true. Some chose to breed larger sheep, but others remained faithful to their smaller versions.
In the 1980s, Robert Mock is credited with using smaller Southdowns from many sources in USA to set up a new breed registry. He called the breed Olde English Babydoll Southdown and this is where the Babydoll name and idea for the breed came from. The new breed proved popular amongst people wanting smaller sheep for purposes like hobby farms, vineyards, and orchards.
In 2005, Linda Power from Roblin stud began developing a Babydoll breed for Australia based on the smaller Southdowns found in various Australian flocks. Her breeding program included both white and coloured Babydolls. Other breeders followed and eventually three different Babydoll registries were created around 2020.
Each registry is underpinned by different views on what a Babydoll should be (including colour, patterns and other traits) and the process for achieving that. Some registeries only allowed white Southdowns to be part of their Babydoll registry. Some closed their registries quite quickly even though there were many other small Southdowns that could have been included.
With a commitment to inclusivity and innovation, BSBA opens its arms to white, coloured and patterned Babydolls and continues to allow the use of Southdowns in breeding programs. To become a Purebred Babydoll in the BSBA registry a sheep must meet the BSBA Babydoll breed standard and Southdown genetic requirements. Join us in shaping the future of Babydoll sheep.🐑💫
