A various breed , Babydoll Southdown sheep are fall from the Southdown , one of the oldest down breed . standardise by John Ellman , they have been kept on farms in England since the late 1700s for flavorful heart and soul and fine fleece .
document moment to the U.S. , of what we now call the Babydoll Southdown , began in the mid-1800s .
Perfect Companions
Babydoll Southdown sheep make unadulterated companions for new and old because of their bantam size — ideally 18 to 24 column inch at the withers . Also eff as the Teddy Bear sheep with a smiling , they ’re operose to stand firm once you ’ve seen them .
They possess in high spirits intelligence , with a gentle disposition , and train easy .
Read more : Meet the Babydoll Southdowns of 1818 Farms .
Fiber Friends
Their fiber , one of the all right wools of the British breed , is comfortable next to the cutis , gas a micron reckoning typically 23 to 29 .
Short - staple , spinner initially shy away , quickly agnize what they were missing once they take the dip . Babydoll is resilient and springy , dyes well and has more barbs per inch than other wool . This property make it suitable to flux with slicker fibers .
acerate leaf felters love it .
show more : For Katie Selvidge , Babydoll Southdown sheep are just “ marvelous . ”
Other Attributes
Historically a meat breed , these sheep are short , long - bodied and well - muscled . Their weighty body type is not conducive for getting on their hind legs and turn over upwards .
vineyard have tried other short breeds , realize lighter built woolen breeds are capable and probable to stand on their hind leg for reach the high vines and foliage . After some trial and error , used aright , the Babydoll is clearly the winner in vineyards and orchards !
Babydoll Southdown sheep provide organic fertilizer , wipe out windfall yield cut down disease problems , and can eliminate the need for weed killer and pesticide .
Their flavourous meat is the Angus of sheep . They produce an excellent carcass with unspoiled substance - to - os proportion and are gross for self - sustainability . Keepers can easily trade meat to heathenish grocery store , restaurants and friends and families .
you’re able to milk Babydoll Southdown sheep for dairy products and Georgia home boy - making.—Michelle Schubert , Bergamascos ’ Babydoll Brigade ® , writing table of theNorth American Babydoll Southdown Sheep Association .
This article originally appear in the November / December 2020 issue ofHobby Farmsmagazine .
