Breed History

The South Down 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. 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.

Currently people raise these docile sheep for their wool, as pets, and grass trimmers perfect for today's smaller acreage farms. 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.

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 that encourages member participation, gives members the opportunity to meet, and exchange information for the purpose of making better breeding choices. The association welcomes all BABYDOLL Southdown's. 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 country side. 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, I would like to bring your attention to the importance of a livestock association and registry that encourages the membership's participation, youth scholarships and annual meetings. 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 results is very obvious:  farmers and breeders could proceed without direction resulting in no protection for the breed.

An association should do more then just collect a membership due 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 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 on several individuals, exuberance and determination that 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" - The modern way of raising sheep.