About > Breed Overview • American Southdown Breeders Association The Economical Breed With today's high costs of feeds and grains, Southdowns are in demand because they are economical to feed and maintain. Few breeds, if any, can rival Southdowns in their ability to convert grass and smaller amounts of grain into lean red meat. The Meat Breed Southdowns are an excellent carcass breed and their meat is unequaled in tenderness and flavor. Southdowns have won the carcass division at the Houston Livestock Show many times competing against all breeds! Ideal for Small Acreage Southdowns are docile and easy to manage, and because of their moderate size, they require less space than most other breeds of sheep. Make Great youth Projects Southdowns make excellent 4-H and FFA projects. They are a favorite among youth of all ages because of their gentle disposition and moderate size. First to “Slick Shear” The American Southdown Breeders' Association took a stand several years ago by requiring all breeding show animals to be shorn to the hide. This shearing rule has made a positive impact on all Southdown junior and open shows across the United States.

It is not uncommon at many fairs and expositions for Southdowns to have the largest number of animals exhibited of any of the sheep breeds shown. The Supreme Breed Southdowns are winning numerous supreme championships over all breeds at shows across the United States. At the North American International Livestock Exposition held each year in Louisville, Kentucky, Southdowns have reigned "supreme" on four occasions! Likewise, at the last three Midwest Stud Ram Sales Southdowns have been awarded Supreme Champion Ewe. Southdown History The Southdown is one of the oldest purebred sheep breeds in the world. The breed originated centuries ago in the hills of Sussex, England, long know as the "Downs." There is little written history or description of the Southdown dating earlier than two hundred fifty years ago. The early Southdown was noted for some important qualities for which they have since become especially famous, they had a good leg, and their meat was excellent, possessing remarkable flavor. Early literature indicates that Southdowns were among the animals brought into the English colonies as early as 1640.

Later, documented importations where made into the United States from 1824 to 1829 from the English flock of John Ellman. The New Zealand Influence The 1960's saw increased importation of the larger New Zealand Southdown to upscale the American Southdown. The increased size resulting from blending the New Zealand genetics into many flock across the U.S. is the reason for much of the success and popularity of the modern day Southdown. Breeds of Livestock - Southdown Sheep — Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science Breeds of Livestock - Southdown Sheep Breeds of Livestock - Southdown Sheep Southdown The Southdown were developed in Sussex, England during the late 1700 and early 1800s'. Documented importations were made into Pennsylvania from 1824 to 1829 from the English Flock of John Ellman. Later irnportations from the Jonas Webb flock were made into Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois. These two men are considered by many to be the standardizer and main improver of the breed.

As expected, many of the early registered sheep were imported from England. The Southdown is best suited for farm flock production. It is a medium to small sized breed with a gray to mouse-brown face and lower legs and is polled (hornless). Southdown are an early maturing breed with good lambing ability and average milk production. They excel in a cross breeding program in their ability to produce meaty lamb carcasses at light weights and hot-house lambs. The Soutdown is adaptable to varied and wet climates. Mature weights for Southdown rams range in weight from 190 to 230 pounds (86-104 kg), ewes are slightly smaller and weigh from 130 to 180 pounds (59-81 kg). Fleece weights from mature ewe are between five and eight pounds (2.25-3.6 kg) with a yield of 40 to 55 percent. The fleeces are considered medium wool type with a fiber diameter of 23.5 to 29.0 microns and a numerical count of 54 to 60.

The staple length of Southdown fleece ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 inches (4-6 cm). SOUTHDOWN SHEEP STATUS Although the Southdown is a breed of considerable historical importance to the New Zealand sheep industry, it is now rare in its original form, with current breeding stock being recently imported from Australia. Southdown Sheep If you pick up any historical publication on sheep you will probably find the Southdown (originally South Down from its area of origin) discussed in detail. This small, stocky mouse-brown faced downland sheep has been of tremendous importance both in Britain and New Zealand – not only as a producer of the very best fat lambs but also as a progenitor of many other sheep breeds. Original type of Southdown ram Southdowns, as a breed, have been around since at least the sixteen hundreds – and probably much earlier – in their native Weald of Sussex. Their development into a premier British breed was carried out by John Ellman of Glynde, starting in 1780.

Southdowns first entered New Zealand in the early 1840s, the most typical of Down breeds, with short fleeces, brownish faces and legs, long backs, and extremely well-developed and meaty hind-quarters. Animals matured very early. With the commencement of the refrigerated lamb trade, the Southdown became a dominant fat lamb sire. Modern Southdowns in New Zealand (Photo from Euan & Karen Mclachlan) In recent decades, however, preferences have swung away from this plump little animal to leaner-carcassed breeds. As a result, the Southdown breed was placed on the rare breeds Watchlist in its British homeland, though numbers have subsequently recovered somewhat. In New Zealand its numbers have also been considerably reduced – although the modern Southdown line has been developed to combine the fast-maturing qualities of the original breed in an animal with a much lower fat content in its meat (as in the photograph at right). The Southdown is still an easy-care, versatile breed with a good lambing rate and is well worth conserving as one of New Zealand's most historically significant sheep imports.

'Babydoll' Southdowns in New Zealand (Photo from Fatima Avdic) Interestingly, the original small Southdown has seen a resurgence in recent years as a novelty breed under the name of "Babydolls" or "Miniature" sheep. They have been used specifically in North America and Great Britain to eat the undergrowth in vineyards and orchards, and as "lawn mowers" on lifestyle blocks. It is said that due to their stocky build, with a mature height of between 42.5 and 60 centimetres at the shoulders, they are limited in how far they can reach to cause damage to growth on trees. There are currently only few of the original or "Babydoll" Southdowns in New Zealand – the three-year-old ram and younger ewe in the adjacent photograph were imported from Australia. © Copyright Southdown | breed of sheep | Britannica.com breed of sheep argali Southdown, breed of medium-wool, dark-faced, hornless sheep originating in the Sussex hills of England . The oldest of all British breeds of sheep, it has an ideal body conformation for meat production.

Its fleece is close and is the finest of the British breeds; but, though white and of good quality, the wool is short and the fleeces relatively light in weight. The colour of its face and legs is brown to light brown or gray. Southdowns are popular in many parts of the world, especially in The Commonwealth and the United States . Southdown ram. See the Table of Selected Breeds of Sheep for further information. Selected Breeds of Sheep About The Breed About The Breed Origin and Background 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.

For more history on the Registry, see “15 Years and 7832 Babydolls Later and Still Growing!” Uses for the “Babydoll” Southdown Olde English “Babydoll” Southdowns are outstanding pets who produce wool that is a hand spinner’s 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) 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. NABSSAR.ORG Examples of Open Faces Examples of Average Faces The sheep pictured above in the bottom row all have overly woolly faces and show different degrees of what is referred to as "wool blind." The fleece and hair covering around the eyes and cheeks to the muzzle should be short and not so thick as to ever cause the sheep to be "wool blind." Tear ducts should not be too woolly. Wool blindness and woolly tear ducts are both faults discriminated against. A conscientious breeder should work on breeding both of these tendencies out of their flock.

If your sheep have overly woolly faces, trim the areas around the eyes regularly so they do not become "wool blind." EAR EXAMPLES The ears should be of medium thickness and moderate in length. They should be level with the poll (top of the head) - neither drooping nor perpendicular to the ground. The size should be in proportion to the head and covered with fleece. Short, rough hair is acceptable. However, slick ears are discriminated against. Black or brown-specked ear skin is common. Correct Ears - they are level with the poll and covered with fleece. This ram shows a lows ear set. The ears are not level with the poll. This ewe shows a higher ear set. This ram has slick ears, which are discriminated against. EYES The eyes should be large and bright. Their color should either be yellow or brown. Entropion, which is inverted eyelids, is discriminated against. When Judging the EYES (2 points) Large, bright and prominent. Yellow to brown in color. INCISOR TEETH The incisor teeth should meet the dental pad.

Sheep with a slight under or overbite with teeth just barely touching the edge of the dental pad are discriminated against; whereas, a sheep with a severe under or overbite, with distinct space between teeth and edge of dental pad is a breed disqualification. Good adult ewe teeth meeting the dental pad. Young lamb with teeth meeting the dental pad. An example of an overbite or parrot mouth. The lower jaw set is well behind the dental pad. This fault is a disqualification and this sheep could not be registered because the teeth do not meet the dental pad. An example of an underbite or long lower jaw. The lower jaw extends beyond and in front of the dental pad. This fault is a disqualification and this sheep could not be registered because the teeth do not meet the dental pad. The examples above are bad bites that make a sheep unregistrable because it is a disqualifying fault. Always check the teeth on any sheep you purchase and all lambs before registering them. This is one very important area people forget about that always needs to be checked. A sheep must have proper alignment of both jaws in order to shear grass properly and efficiently.

For those of you that have asked, "How can I tell how old a sheep is by looking at their teeth?" Here is a chart that may help you to learn by comparing this chart to your sheep's teeth, guess the age then check yourself with their registration papers to see correct ages and see how close you got. This is a good way to learn. Both of the adult sheep pictured above are yearlings. Note the two larger teeth in front and lamb teeth on the sides. NECK The neck should be moderately long and upright, wide at the base and flow smoothly into the shoulders without wrinkles in the skin. When Judging the NECK (5 points) Wide at base, strong and well set on the shoulder. Examples of correct necks. Wrinkles at the bends in the neck are totally acceptable. This ewe above is showing some wrinkling of the skin on the underside of the neck. This amount of wrinkling is more than ideal but not considered excessive. If being judged, this would be considered a fault and her neck point score would be lowered. The lamb above is showing excessive wrinkling of the skin.

Normally a lamb like this will "grow" into his skin and the wrinkling will disappear as he ages and he will look totally normal as an adult. If, as an adult, he still has several big rolling wrinkles on his neck, he would be faulted. If, as an adult, he still has big rolling wrinkles elsewhere on his body, he would be major faulted. MERINO SHEEP - EXAMPLE OF ROLLING WRINKLES ON THE NECK MERINO SHEEP - EXAMPLE OF ROLLING WRINKLES ALL OVER THE BODY CARRIAGE The legs should be short and straight and should stand squarely at each corner of the sheep's body. Rear legs should stand wide, but squarely under the sheep with a slight angle of the stifle and hocks and a slight angle of the pastern. When Judging the CARRIAGE (11 points) Legs - short, straight, and well placed at corners. Lower leg fleece color similar to muzzle color. The colored fleece of the legs should extend from the feet to about the knees where it meets the body fleece. Short and straight legs should stand squarely at each corner of the sheep's body. Example of the same ewe sheared and in full fleece.

When first learning to judge conformation, it is much easier when a sheep is sheared to see true angles. Fleece growth can be deceiving and make actual straight correct legs look crooked when they are not as one can see by the ewe above pictured sheared and in full fleece. The thick fleece on the upper legs tend to make her legs look as if they bow in when actually they are nice correct legs when seen sheared. . . Side view of correct front legs. Comparing front legs of two sheep. The sheep on the left has straight legs and correct pastern angle. The sheep on the right has straight legs, but has pasterns that are too long and low. Example of ewes with narrow leg placement. SHOULDERS, CHEST, & BACK The shoulders should be well muscled and flow smoothly into the ribs. This is often expressed as being "well laid into the ribs." They should also be level with the back. The width at the shoulders should be less than the width at the hips to facilitate easy lambing. Excessively wide, flat-topped shoulders are discriminated against. The back should be somewhat longer than the animal is tall.

The combined length of measurements of the loin and the hind saddle should be slightly longer than the measurement of the shoulder to the last rib. When Judging the SHOULDERS, CHEST, & BACK (15 points) Shoulder well laid into the ribs and level to the back. Chest deep. Back level from shoulder to tail with only a slight slope of the croup. Overall body length slightly longer than tall. Markings on ram demonstrating measurements of: Shoulder to last rib, length of loin, and length of hind saddle. The combined length of the measurements of the loin and the hind saddle should be slightly longer than shoulder to last rib. SHOULDERS Example of "laid in" shoulders. Shoulders should blend smoothly into the body and not be higher than the level of the back. The width at the shoulders should be less than the width at the hips to facilitate easy lambing. Example of wide shoulders. CHEST This nice ewe shows a deep chest and deep body. She is a very maternal looking ewe with a body type capable of carrying multiple lambs and with room in her body cavity to consume sufficient groceries to maintain a multiple birth pregnancy.

BACK The ewe and ram above are both showing very "true to type" all over conformation. Nice length, level back, straight and correct legs, nice head set, etc. LOIN The hindquarters should be wider than the forequarters and have good width between the hipbones. THIGHS & TWIST The thighs and twist should show deep and heavy muscling. When Judging the Hind Saddle (Thighs & Twist) - the area from the tail to the crotch (5 points) Full well-muscled hind saddle, well let down, with a deep wide muscling through the twist and legs. Comparison: Showing the differences in width of thighs and depth of twist. left: best, middle: moderate, right: light Comparison of hind saddle showing different degrees of deep, well muscling. Shallow twist muscling (tail to crotch) and slight size in her rear leg width. The twist is the depth of muscling top to bottom of the rear leg (vertical line). Also evaluated is the size and roundness of the rear leg line (horizontal line). Green lines in pictures show where the judge to determine twist length places his hands.

Hands are placed at the top of the tail and at the crotch (green lines). You can see by the pictures the different sized twists for each sheep. The Southdown is traditionally a premium meat breed and became popular because of its excellent muscling and flavorful meat. Sheep are always judged by the quality of their muscling on a well-structured frame as well as the quality of their wool for spinning. The loin, which is where the chops come from, should be long, wide and thick. The rear legs, which are the roasts or steaks, should be well muscled and large. REAR LEGS Rear legs should stand wide, but squarely under the sheep with a slight angle of the stifle and hocks and a slight angle of the pastern. Nice rear legs and a good example of a sheep standing square. HOOVES The hoof color should be black or gray and may have white stripes. Solid white hooves are a disqualification. Hooves of the BABYDOLL sheep can vary a lot in color. The ideal hoof color is black or gray with no white on the hoof as pictured on the left on a black sheep and on the right on a white sheep.

The three pictures below show different degrees of striping from heavily striped to lightly striped. Many sheep have white hooves with striping and this is totally acceptable as long as they are not solid white with no coloring at all. For folks new to the sheep world the two pictures directly above show a hoof before trimming and after. Many folks have asked how to trim hooves and where to cut without getting too close to the quick in the hoof. Hopefully these pictures will help them in trimming their sheep's hooves. As a tip, hooves are trimmed to be level with the soft pad in the center of the foot. Cutting below this soft pad can cause bleeding and discomfort when the hoof is trimmed too short. HEIGHT When Judging the Height (15 points) 18-24" is ideal. A height from 17-18" and from 24-26" is considered a fault and is discriminated against. Heights below 17" and above 26" are a disqualification. All measurements are at the highest point of the middle of the shoulder and perpendicular to the ground on a sheep that has been shorn. Adult sheep should be between 18-24" tall.

Most BABYDOLL ewes fall into the 20-23" range and most rams into the 22-24" range. Sheep 17-18" or 24-26" re discriminated against, but can be useful in a well thought out breeding program. A sheep shorter than 17" or taller than 26" will be disqualified. These sheep may not be registered or shown as a BABYDOLL Southdown. (A mini horse measuring stick pictured to the left is ideal for measuring BABYDOLL Southdowns.) SKIN When Judging the SKIN (10 points) Of a delicate gray to bright pink on off-white sheep and of dark tones on black sheep. FLEECE The fleece and hair covering around the eyes and cheeks to the muzzle should be short and not so thick as to ever cause the sheep to be "wool blind." Tear ducts should not be too woolly. Both "wool blindness" and woolly tear ducts are discriminated against. Fleece should be fine, tight and dense with medium to medium-fine crimp that is soft and springy. Wool has been evaluated several ways over the centuries.

Here are some of the terms used when speaking about wool and its qualities: Staple length = The length of twelve months growth of fiber that is not stretched. Crimp = Waves in the individual fiber. Fiber that has closer and smaller crimp (or waves) will be softer and fiber with crimp larger and farther apart will be coarser. Blood = A way to interpret fineness of the wool. Usually displayed in fractions. Spin count = Measurements of spun yarn on a wool skein. Microns = A minute measurement. Most old-type Southdowns - by this we mean the off-white BABYDOLL Southdowns - are evaluated as having wool that is 1/2 to 3/8 blood.

1/2 blood translates to a 60 to 62-skein spin count and a fiber of 22.5 to 25 microns in diameter, with medium-fine crimp and a 2.5 to 3" staple length 3/8 blood translates to a 58-skein spin count and a fiber of 24.5 to 26.5 micron in diameter, with medium crimp and 2.5 to 3.5" staple length Many of the black BABYDOLL Southdowns are 1/4 blood, which means that they have coarser fleece than the off-white Southdowns. They usually have a 27 to 31 micron count, medium-coarse crimp and 2.5 to 4" staple length. Typically the off-white wool is more valuable because it can be dyed any color. NOTE: When shown, BABYDOLL Southdowns should be shown in short fitted fleece. When Judging the Fleece (10 points) Of fine texture, tight with great density and of sufficient length of staple, covering the whole of the body.

Fleece should go down the hocks and knees and right up to the cheeks with a full foretop but not around the eyes or across the bridge of the nose. Wool of 3/8 blood or 56 to 60-skein spin count or 24-28 microns in diameter is preferred. Solid color. No more than one blemish any larger than 4 inches on any area of the animal. Fine fleece has a very tiny crimp in the fiber. Medium fine fleece. A bit longer in staple length and slightly farther apart and larger crimp. Medium fine fleece. A bit longer in staple length and slightly farther apart and larger crimp. This open labeled fleece has pretty fine crimp but on this sample of shoulder fleece, the fibers group up and fall open. BABYDOLL SOUTHDOWN COLOR White/Off-White The typical BABYDOLL Southdown is an off-white color with muzzle and legs that are a shade from very light tan to brown to cinnamon to mousy gray.

White and off-white are terms that are often used interchangeably - some people refer to these sheep as "white" while others refer to them as "off-white." However, the NABSSAR breed standard considers them off-white. The color of the muzzle and legs of an off-white sheep should be some shade from very light tan to brown to cinnamon to mousy gray. Mottled shades of these colors are accepted, but even colors are preferred. The short colored fleece and hair on the muzzle should ideally cover the entire muzzle and extend from the corners of the mouth to a rounded point between the eyes on the adult sheep. This lamb shows dark coloring on the muzzle and legs. These two lambs show very light coloring on their muzzles and legs. The lamb to the left shows a mixture of color on its legs. Color mixture is acceptable but not as desirable as solid coloring. The five pictures above illustrate examples of the degrees of light to dark, different colors, and mixture of colors on lambs' legs. This BABYDOLL has mousy gray colored marking around the muzzle area. Off-white fleeced sheep after a fresh clipping and bath. Example of common colors: black, off-white, and black sheep that is turning gray.

Note the gray sheep has black legs and muzzle. This ewe does not have stripes. This is just the lanolin on her seen right after shearing. These stripes easily wash off. If a sheep has predominately bright white fleece everywhere on its body including the fleece and hair on the muzzle and/or legs this is a breed disqualification. These sheep cannot be registered. It is possible to get a pure white lamb, which is not registrable with the NABSSAR. The twin on the right is from black parents and shows some white hair in its legs and muzzle along with some darker colored hair and though less desirable than a solid dark color it could be used cautiously in a breeding program. If it did not have any dark hair at all, it would not be able to be registered with us. We were fortunate to receive this picture as an example of a solid white BABYDOLL lamb for folks wondering what one looks like. This picture is a BABYDOLL lamb without any pigmentation and this lamb does not meet the breed standard and is not able to be registered. This is a picture of a BABYDOLL predominately bright white but has a patch on the hind leg that is the normal off-white color.

This lamb does not meet the breed standard and is not able to be registered. Black Black is the color of the fleece at skin level in the lamb. Sometimes this color will fade to lighter shades of gray as the sheep ages, but it is still considered a black sheep. In some sheep, the sun may bleach the outer fleece to a light reddish brown color. This is only sun bleaching and is NOT considered a color. The muzzle and legs of a black sheep should always be black The muzzle of a black sheep often gets scattered gray hairs as they age. White hairs on the nose are common in some dark colored sheep. This is not considered a spot as long as the skin is still dark and not pink colored under the white hairs. Example of an ewe with a dark spot above her right eye. This is a wool blemish. This sheep would not be defined as spotted. ACCEPTABLE FLEECE COLORS: Off-white fleeced sheep that have muzzles and legs that are a shade from very light tan to brown to cinnamon to mousy gray. Mottled shades of these colors (i.e. light and dark brown) are accepted but even colors are preferred.

Black fleeced sheep are born with black fleece, muzzles and legs. Over time, the fleece should remain black to a medium gray at skin level, but a very light gray fleece will be faulted. The outer fleece on a black sheep may become sun bleached to a light reddish brown, but the sheep is still considered to be black. NOTE: A blemish is considered a fault, but the sheep can be registered. Sheep of either color that are born with one 4-inch or less area of a contrasting color anywhere on the body are considered to have a "blemish." UNACCEPTABLE FLEECE COLORS: Off-white fleeced sheep with a black muzzle and/or legs is a breed disqualification and the sheep cannot be registered. Black-fleeced sheep with an off-white muzzle and/or legs is a breed disqualification and the sheep cannot be registered. Bright white-fleeced sheep that have predominately bright white fleece on their body including the fleece and hair on the muzzle and/or legs is a breed disqualification. These sheep cannot be registered.

Spotted: a predominately off-white fleeced or black-fleeced sheep that has a contrasting color with distinct margins anywhere on its fleece OR one area of contrasting color larger than 4-inches in diameter with distinct margins between the two colors. This coloration is a breed disqualification and these sheep cannot be registered. RAMS Rams should look more masculine and are usually larger than ewes. They should be rectangular looking on a moderate frame. They must have both testicles descended. If one or both are not, it is a breed disqualification and the ram cannot be registered. EWES Ewes should have a broad, well attached but not pendulous udder with 2 teats. She should be capable of producing and raising twins. UDDER The udder should be wide and well attached with two teats. Extra teats are discriminated against. NOTES: Rams and ewes should move with freedom of gait and remain active and sound for 8-10 years.

Properly managed ewes and rams should be easy keepers and maintain thrifty condition without grain if kept on good quality pasture or hay with the exception of ewes that are lactating and lambs that are in their first six months of life. When selecting replacement-breeding stock, consider selecting for sheep with the genetics to produce sound conformation that provides easy keeping and easy birthing abilities to their offspring. Breeding for undersized sheep often produces poorly muscled and unthrifty lambs. Breeding integrity is of utmost importance. SUMMARY There are two types of "Faults" when judging the BABYDOLL Southdown, CONFORMATION FAULTS and BREED TYPE FAULTS. A good way to describe this is that conformation or structural faults are generally more serious as they affect function and reproduction. Breed type faults are more about looks, color, loose scurs, or spots. Faults can be described as very mild and hardly noticeable to severe or disqualifying faults, one reason for the point system and how it is used when judging a sheep for overall conformation and breed type. There are very few "perfect" BABYDOLL Southdowns; most have their strong points and their weak points.

Careful selection of breeding stock will improve the breed as a whole.

DISCRIMINATED AGAINST (CONSIDERED A FAULT) Extremely broad heads Loosely attached or nubby scurs Slick ears Slight under or overbite, with teeth just barely touching the edge of the dental pad Excessive wrinkles Sheep heights 17-18" or 24-26" Extra teats A blemish in the fleece Black faced sheep with very light gray fleece DISQUALIFICATIONS Solid 1" or larger scurs or horns Roman nose Bright solid pink nose and lips, as are those without any pigmentation (pale white) Severe under or overbite, with distinct space between teeth and edge of dental pad Solid white hooves Sheep shorter than 17" or taller than 26" One or both testicles not descended Off-white fleeced sheep with a black muzzle and/or legs Black-fleeced sheep with an off-white muzzle and/or legs Bright white-fleeced sheep A predominately off-white fleeced or black-fleeced sheep that has a contrasting color with distinct margins anywhere on its fleece OR one area of contrasting color larger than 4-inches in diameter with distinct margins between the two colors Now you be the judge...

Breeding Practices: The following Scale of Points is to be used in when judging the conformation of a BABYDOLL Sheep and should be considered when breeding and showing. HEAD (10) Wide and level between the ears, with no sign of a dark poll. Ears set level with the head - neither drooping nor so upright to be perpendicular to the ground. Covered with some degree of fleece. MUZZLE & FACE (2) Color of the fleece and hair on the muzzle of the off-white fleeced sheep should be a shade from very light tan to brown to cinnamon to mousy gray with even colors preferred. Blends of similar shades are acceptable in the fleece and hair of the muzzle. Muzzles that lack pigmentation and are solid white are a breed disqualification. The short colored fleece and hair on the face should ideally cover the entire muzzle and extend from the corners of the mouth to a rounded point between the eyes on the adult sheep and the fleece on the cheeks, forehead and around the eyes should not be so long as to obstruct vision. Black muzzles on black/gray sheep. There may be some graying on the nose of black sheep with age.

EYES (2) Babydoll Southdown | The Spinning Loft The Spinning Loft Breed Type: Down, meat Breed History The Southdown breed of sheep originated in the South Down (hills) of Sussex County, England. The English farms kept these sheep for their flavorful meat and fine fleece. In the early 1800s the South Downs were imported to the United States. With the arrival of refrigeration larger meat carcasses were desired and the smaller sheep were crossed with bigger sheep to produce a larger animal. They are the South Downs of modern day. In 1780, John Ellman from Glyde, England, took the local sheep known as Southdown and systematically selected, developed and standardized them into what we now recognize as the considerably improved Babydoll Southdown. Around 1990 small flocks of the original smaller South Downs were rediscovered and labeled Olde English Babydoll Miniature Sheep to differentiate them from the larger modern breed. They are one of the oldest known down sheep. Today’s breeders believe breed preservation is of utmost importance and strive to keep this wonderful breed of sheep from forever being lost. Breed Standard Babydoll Southdown sheep are known for their docile dispositions.

For this reason, they are often kept as pets, but they are also used in a variety of ways such as grass mowers and weed eaters in vineyards and orchards and 4H projects. They are small in stature and are easy to handle. Their small size and efficient metabolism requires less acreage per animal compared to other breeds of sheep. Thus, they are referred to as being “easy keepers.” They are excellent mothers and are known for having multiple births. The Babydoll Southdown is known for its abundant carcass (relative to its size) and flavorful meat and is crossbred with lighter weight breeds of sheep to produce lambs of higher quality for market. They are also prized for their wool. Head: The characteristics of the head give each breed its individuality and uniqueness. The Babydoll Southdown’s head should be wide and level between the ears, with no sign of a dark poll as the Babydoll is a polled (hornless) breed. Small, loosely attached or nubby scurs are sometimes seen on rams, which are considered a fault and discriminated against. Solid 1″ or larger scurs or horns are a disqualification.

The head is medium length and moderately broad, but not so broad to be a birthing obstruction. Extremely broad heads are considered a fault and discriminated against. The ears set level with the head, neither drooping nor so upright they are perpendicular to the ground and should be covered with some degree of fleece. Muzzle & Face: The muzzle is the area on the face that is covered with short fuzzy fleece and hair that is a shade from very light tan to brown to cinnamon to mousy gray color in the off-white fleeced sheep and black color in the black-fleeced sheep. The muzzle should be moderate in width to ensure efficient grazing, as well as moderate in length. It should be straight to slightly dished, but not Roman (arched) which is a breed disqualification. The wide muzzle gives the Babydoll sheep its classic smiling look and also makes it an efficient grazer. Nose & Lips: The nose and lip leather should be black, dark to light gray or bluish gray. Speckles are common and are acceptable but solid colors are preferred. Bright solid pink nose and lips, as are those without any pigmentation (pale white), are both breed disqualifications and the sheep cannot be registered.

Please note that lambs often are born with pink noses and coloring will come with time. Ears: The ears should be of medium thickness and moderate in length. They should be level with the poll (top of the head) – neither drooping nor perpendicular to the ground. The size should be in proportion to the head and covered with fleece. Short, rough hair is acceptable. However, slick ears are discriminated against. Black or brown-specked ear skin is common. Eyes: The eyes should be large and bright. Their color should either be yellow or brown. Entropion, which is inverted eyelids, is discriminated against. Incisor Teeth: The incisor teeth should meet the dental pad. Sheep with a slight under or overbite with teeth just barely touching the edge of the dental pad are discriminated against; whereas, a sheep with a severe under or overbite, with distinct space between teeth and edge of dental pad is a breed disqualification. Neck: The neck should be moderately long and upright, wide at the base and flow smoothly into the shoulders without wrinkles in the skin. Carriage: The legs should be short and straight and should stand squarely at each corner of the sheep’s body.

Rear legs should stand wide, but squarely under the sheep with a slight angle of the stifle and hocks and a slight angle of the pastern. Shoulders: The shoulders should be well muscled and flow smoothly into the ribs. This is often expressed as being “well laid into the ribs.” They should also be level with the back. The width at the shoulders should be less than the width at the hips to facilitate easy lambing. Excessively wide, flat-topped shoulders are discriminated against. Back: The back should be somewhat longer than the animal is tall. The combined length of measurements of the loin and the hind saddle should be slightly longer than the measurement of the shoulder to the last rib. Loin: The loin should be long, wide and thick. Ribs: The ribs should be deep and wide, thick through the heart girth and well sprung. Rump: The rump should be wide, of medium length, and relatively flat. Tail: The tail head carriage should be high and in a line level to the chin when the sheep is standing in a natural alert stance. Hindquarters: The hindquarters should be wider than the forequarters and have good width between the hipbones.

Thighs & Twist: The thighs and twist should show deep and heavy muscling. Rear Legs: The rear legs should stand wide, but squarely under the sheep with a slight angle of the stifle and hocks and a slight angle of the pastern. Hooves: The hoof color should be black or gray and may have white stripes. Solid white hooves are a disqualification. Height: All measurements are at the highest point of the middle of the shoulder and perpendicular to the ground on a sheep that has been shorn. Adult sheep should be between 18-24″ tall. Most Babydoll ewes fall into the 20-23″ range and most rams into the 22-24″ range. Sheep 17-18″ or 24-26″ are discriminated against, but can be useful in a well thought out breeding program. A sheep shorter than 17″ or taller than 26″ will be disqualified. These sheep may not be registered or shown as a Babydoll Southdown. Skin: Of a delicate gray to bright pink on off-white sheep and of dark tones on black sheep.

Fleece: The fleece and hair covering around the eyes and cheeks to the muzzle should be short and not so thick as to ever cause the sheep to be “wool blind.” Tear ducts should not be too woolly. Both “wool blindness” and woolly tear ducts are discriminated against. Fleece should be fine, tight and dense with medium to medium-fine crimp that is soft and springy. Most old-type Southdowns – by this we mean the off-white Babydoll Southdowns – are evaluated as having wool that is 1/2 to 3/8 blood. 1/2 blood translates to a 60 to 62-skein spin count and a fiber of 22.5 to 25 microns in diameter, with medium-fine crimp and a 2.5 to 3″ staple length. 3/8 blood translates to a 58-skein spin count and a fiber of 24.5 to 26.5 micron in diameter, with medium crimp and 2.5 to 3.5″ staple length.

Many of the black Babydoll Southdowns are 1/4 blood, which means that they have coarser fleece than the off-white Southdowns. They usually have a 27 to 31 micron count, medium-coarse crimp and 2.5 to 4″ staple length. Typically the off-white wool is more valuable because it can be dyed any color. Babydoll Southdown Colors White/Off-White: The typical Babydoll Southdown is an off-white color with muzzle and legs that is a shade from very light tan to brown to cinnamon to mousy gray. White and off-white are terms that are often used interchangeably – some people refer to these sheep as “white” while others refer to them as “off-white.” The color of the muzzle and legs of an off-white sheep should be some shade from very light tan to brown to cinnamon to mousy gray. Mottled shades of these colors are accepted, but even colors are preferred. The short colored fleece and hair on the muzzle should ideally cover the entire muzzle and extend from the corners of the mouth to a rounded point between the eyes on the adult sheep.

If a sheep has predominately bright white fleece everywhere on its body including the fleece and hair on the muzzle and/or legs this is a breed disqualification. These sheep cannot be registered. Black: Black is the color of the fleece at skin level in the lamb. Sometimes this color will fade to lighter shades of gray as the sheep ages, but it is still considered a black sheep. In some sheep, the sun may bleach the outer fleece to a light reddish brown color. This is only sun bleaching and is NOT considered a color. The muzzle and legs of a black sheep should always be black. The muzzle of a black sheep often get scattered gray hairs as they age. Acceptable Fleece Colors: Off-white fleeced sheep that have muzzles and legs that are a shade from very light tan to brown to cinnamon to mousy gray. Mottled shades of these colors (i.e. light and dark brown) are accepted but even colors are preferred. Black fleeced sheep are born with black fleece, muzzle and legs. Over time, the fleece should remain black to a medium gray at skin level, but a very light gray fleece will be faulted.

The outer fleece on a black sheep may become sun bleached to a light reddish brown, but the sheep is still considered to be black. Spotting is considered undesirable. Rams: Rams should look more masculine and are usually larger than ewes. They should be rectangular looking on a moderate frame. They must have both testicles descended. If one or both are not, it is a breed disqualification and the ram cannot be registered. Ewes: Ewes should have a broad, well-attached, but not pendulous udder with two teats. She should be capable of producing and raising twins. Rams and ewes should move with freedom of gait and remain active and sound for 8-10 years. Properly managed ewes and rams should be easy keepers and maintain thrifty condition without grain if kept on good quality pasture or hay with the exception of ewes that are lactating and lambs that are in their first six months of life. When selecting replacement-breeding stock, consider selecting for sheep with the genetics to produce sound conformation that provides easy keeping and easy birthing abilities to their offspring. Breeding for undersized sheep often produces poorly muscled and unthrifty lambs.

Breeding integrity is of utmost importance. Shop For: Southdown Sheep - Hobby Farms Hobby Farms Southdown Sheep Southdown Sheep The fast-growing Southdown is an efficient and economical converter of grass to lean, tender and flavorful meat. They make popular exhibition livestock and good projects for young people due to their mellow temperaments. by Hobby Farms Editors February 4, 2011 Use: The American Southdown Breeder’s Association hails this fast-growing breed as an efficient and economical converter of grass to lean, tender and flavorful meat. These sheep make popular exhibition livestock and good 4-H/FFA projects for young people due to their mellow temperaments. They also make valuable additions to cross-breeding programs. History: A true British native, the Southdown breed hails from the Downs, or hills, of Sussex, England, where it has probably lived for centuries. The breed – thought to be one of the oldest purebred sheep in the world — was further developed during the late 1700s and early 1800s.

These sheep may have accompanied English colonists to the New World as early as 1640, and later importations occurred from 1824 to 1829. During the 1960s, imported New Zealand Southdown stock boosted the breed’s size here in the U.S. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy lists the breed as recovering; that is, the global population exceeds 10,000 animals, but they feel the breed still needs monitoring. Conformation: The well-balanced Southdown has a compact, muscular appearance and moderate size, with rams weighing around 190 to 230 pounds and ewes weighing about 130 to 180 pounds. The breed displays a high, proud head carriage that gives it an alert look, and medium-sized ears. The muzzle hair ranges from gray to brown (no white) and a moderate amount of wool surrounds the face. Southdowns have pink skin and a dense, uniform fleece that covers the whole body and extends down the legs. No black spotting of the wool is allowed.

The medium-type fiber has a short staple length ranging from 1.4 to 2.5 inches and a fleece weight range of from five to eight pounds. Special Considerations/Notes: Southdowns mature early and the ewes are good lambers and mothers. These easy-to-manage, polled (hornless) sheep adapt well to wet climates and hilly terrain—not surprising, given their roots in the Downs of Sussex. Was this article helpful? YES | NO History NORTH AMERICAN BABYDOLL SOUTHDOWN SHEEP ASSOCIATION & REGISTRY Start your day with a SMILE...Own a BABYDOLL! Breed History The BABYDOLL Southdown is a sheep of the early Southdown type imported into the U.S. and seen in England in the 1800's through the early 1900's. They are 18" to 24" at the shoulder and display the original Southdown type and characteristics. The Southdown breed of sheep originated in the South "Downs" of Sussex County, England, and is one of the oldest of the Down breeds. English farms kept these sheep for their flavorful meat and fine fleece.

By the 1960's, producers and consumers desired larger carcasses, and the smaller sheep were crossed with larger sheep to produce a larger Southdown which make up the background of the larger American Southdown which are not to be confused with the BABYDOLL Southdown. Around 1990, small flocks of the smaller type Southdowns were gathered up and labeled Olde English BABYDOLL Southdown to differentiate them from the larger modern American Southdown. Today, known simply as BABYDOLL Southdown, the BABYDOLL sells well in the companion and 4-H markets and is valued in vineyards, sustainable agriculture, and organic farming. Their wool is favored among spinners and fiber artists who enjoy fine wool with remarkable spring. They also have select carcass value for the table, an attribute not shared by most other miniature breeds. Today's breeders believe breed preservation is of utmost importance and strive to keep this wonderful breed of sheep from forever being lost.

NABSSAR History The association was conceptually formed in the winter of 2001 — there was a need to fill the missing link between sole-proprietor owned associations and one encouraging member participation, giving members the opportunity to meet and exchange information for the purpose of making better breeding choices. The association became certified as a non-profit corporation on June 10, 2003. The protection and promotion of the BABYDOLL Southdown sheep is at an important phase in its survival; by reason of, agriculture is moving into a newer phase of ranching and farming and associations are about groups of people, not sole proprieties. We have seen the shrinking of the ranch and family farm. Large ranches are dividing into smaller tracts of land and more people are moving from populated cities to the countryside. One of the first purchases a small landowner makes is a farm animal. The miniature livestock have an important place in the new rural lifestyle; in view of that, we would like to bring your attention to the importance of a livestock association and registry encouraging the membership's participation. The association is not about feathering one person's ego or pocketbook.

If an association and registry does not come forth with fortitude and direction for the BABYDOLL Southdown, we may end up with a variety of mixed or unknown genetics, general appearances trending toward small, scrawny and less muscular carcass. The result is very obvious: farmers and breeders could proceed without direction resulting in no protection for the breed. An association should do more than just collect membership dues and registration money for your animal. An association is a group not a sole proprietor. A livestock association should not be about benefiting an individual, but be for the good of all who pay membership dues, and ultimately, for the benefit of the animal. An association should be about sharing information on raising sheep. It is, therefore, with great effort and several individual's exuberance and determination the North American BABYDOLL Southdown Sheep Association and Registry incorporated on June 10, 2003, as a non-profit corporation. It seeks no profit for any one individual or group. The Versatile Sheep: "BABYDOLL" Southdown — the modern way of raising sheep. Updated as of 09/01/2015

Question: Southdown is a breed of which animal?
Answer: Sheep