The standard for the Babydoll Southdown sheep is taken directly from the breed revivor, Mr. Robert Mock. As well as, with special consideration from the
Southdown Sheep Society in England; the standard for the original southdown sheep, and along with the original 1900 American Southdown standard.
The breed description is as follows:
Head: Carried high. Medium length. Wide and level between the ears with no sign of slug or dark poll in the whites. Not too long from the eyes to the nose.
Underjaw or chap fine and thin.
Face & Muzzle: Full, not too long from eyes to nose with a wide muzzle which gives the sheep its classic smiling look. Incisor teeth should meet
dental pad.
Covered with short fuzzy fleece and hair 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.
Nose & Lips: Dark; not pink. Speckles are common. Thin.
Eyes: Large, bright, but not prominent. Any wool covering in front of the eyes should be short so that at no time can the sheep be woolblind. Tear ducts
should be free of wool.
Ears: Of medium size, level with head, tolerably wide apart, well covered with wool, full.
Forehead: Well covered in wool, especially between the ears.
Neck: Neck should be of proportionate length, thin next to the head and enlarging towards the shoulders, where it should be broad and straight on top, and not
what is generally called ewe-necked.
Shoulders: Well muscled, level with the back and flows smoothly into the ribs. Width at the shoulder should be less than width at the hips. Shoulders top level with the back.
Chest: Deep over the heart, but not too wide that it affects the square stance. Wide and deep, projecting well forward between between the fore-legs.
Back: Level, somewhat longer than the animal is tall.
Tail: Set almost level with the chin.
Legs: A leg at each corner of the body, straight and full with dark hooves.
Hindquarters: Wider than the forequarters and carry good width to the hip bones. Rear legs are squarely under the sheep with a slight angle of the stifle
and hocks. Rump is level and firm to handle.
Fleece: Should be dense and uniform over the entire body. No woolly tear ducts.
Size: Must be 24" or under shorn, measured straight up the front leg to the highest point of the middle of the shoulder. Lambing without difficulty is
one of the qualities therefore, ewes under 18" are discouraged.
Wool: Of fine texture, great density, and of sufficient length of staple covering the whole of the body down to the hocks and knees and right up to the
cheeks, with a foretop.
Colors: White/off-white, black (color loss as adults okay. Grays to chocolates), black with white markings, and spotted. (Note, sheep should be registered
with their birth color only).
As a general note: The ewe should be able to birth well naturally and should be well enough to raise twins, and triplets if need be. The ewe should
normally be active and productive under average care through her eighth year and often through her tenth year. Rams should be free from stiffness and
remain active and vigorous for a similar length of time. Ewes and rams with proper management should require no grain in order to maintain a thrifty
condition with the exception of lactating ewes and young, rapidly growing lambs.
BSRA Discrimination and disqualification factors:
Slick ears
Solid pink tip of the nostril
White hooves
Scurs over 1" or any horns
Pronounced Roman-shaped nose
Excessive wrinkles on the body of an adult
Any evidence of crossbreeding
Inverted eyelids
Rectal or vaginal prolapse
Incisor teeth not meeting dental pad correctly
Questions? Comments? Troubleshooting? Email us! info@babydollsheepregistry.org
Photo's displayed are courtesy of our members.
2022 - 2023 © Babydoll Sheep Registry Association
|