Olde English Babydoll Southdowns are commonly called Babydoll Southdowns or Babydolls for short. Babydoll Southdowns are the Heritage of the
American Standard Southdown Sheep.
These wonderful sheep make great pets for a hobby farm, a nice addition to a fiber farm and show animals for kids in 4-H projects. They have a docile temperment and are very personable. Babydolls weigh 75 to 120 pounds; rams a bit more. The breed standard is between 18 and 24 inches at the shoulder. They lamb on their own and quite often have twins. We have even had a ewe who routinely delivered triplets.
Their Heritage - Southdown sheep were originally a short and stocky sheep raised primarily for their meat in their native homeland, the South Down Hills of England. Standard Southdowns are still considered just a meat breed. Babydoll Southdowns are now raised as a dual purpose breed.....meat & wool....add pet to that and they can be considered a triple purpose sheep!!.........though I personally have not met anyone who raises them for meat.
Babydolls do have a short fleece, 2 to 4 inches and it might not be the first sheep you'd think of for wool production but they produce a fine to medium weight wool. The wool has become know among spinners in the last few years as very soft, spongy and lofty and blends wonderfully with other fibers such as llama and alpaca.
Archibald and his Southdown sheep in 1950..... Archie raised Southdowns in Canada. Photo coutrtesy Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Archie's great-granddaughter.
FOR SALE
Gussie and Suzie (sheep) at the 4-H Big E 2005
We do not have any sheep for sale at this time.
Ewe lambs $500
Ram lambs $500
Wethers $350
(castrated rams).....wethers make great pets and companions for ewes and rams.
When buying sheep keep in mind that they need a companion of their own species so at least two is a must.
If you are planning on breeding in the future we suggest that you start with two unrelated ewes. The following year purchase an unrelated ram and a wether as his companion or consider leasing a ram for stud.
Sorry to say but we have re-homed our sheep and no longer have a farm. If you are looking for Babydoll Southdown sheep please Google Babydoll Southdown sheep registries for other breeder.