<![CDATA[Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia - Babydoll information]]>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 01:03:10 +1100Weebly<![CDATA[Ovine Brucellosis]]>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:45:53 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/ovine-brucellosisOvine Brucellosis is a sexually transmitted disease of sheep spread quickly between rams. There is no treatment for infected rams. The effects can be devastating for a flock, with sudden loss of fertility and the infected rams needing to be culled. 

Best practice when buying any breed of ram is to only buy rams from Brucellosis Accredited flocks. An accredited breeder is able to provided a copy of their Brucellosis Accreditation certificate. Alternatively, new rams can be tested (twice) by a vet for Brucellosis before they are allowed into your flock.
Ovine Brucellosis accreditation is expected for BSBA Babydoll studs selling rams.

More information
]]><![CDATA[Frequently asked questions]]>Thu, 01 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/popular-questionsOur breeders put their heads together to make a list of questions about Babydoll sheep that are often asked...
Q. Do they need shearing and what is their wool used for?
A. Babydoll sheep need to be shorn once a year. Their wool is a dense, springy Downs-type fleece, typically around 22-24 micron and 3-5cm staple length. It can be used for spinning by experienced spinners who can manage the sort staple, for stuffing and garden mulch. Some of our breeders also use the raw fleece on a peg loom to weave floor rugs.

Q. Can you eat them?
A. Well bred Babydolls weigh heavy and have a well muscled carcase. They are suited to home butchery for small cuts but are unlikely to be competitive in a commercial meat production scenario. The meat is succulent and finely marbled. A Babydoll ram can also be used over other sheep breeds in small flocks to produce meaty crossbred lambs.

Q. Are they miniature, a heritage breed, a rare breed?
A. Babydoll sheep are more accurately described as small sheep rather than miniature. The breed standard allows for them to be between 45 and 61cm in height at the shoulder. Babydolls are not a heritage breed but they are based on Southdowns which are a heritage breed.

Babydolls in Australia are a relatively new breed and numbers are increasing rapidly. If you look at the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia's definition of a rare breed, Babydolls would be unlikely to be considered a rare breed. In the BSBA Babydoll registry alone there are around 1400 Babydolls registered and this number is increasing rapidly. There are also two other Babydoll registries. The breed is relatively new with very few, if any, Babydolls having more than 6 generations of registered Babydolls in their pedigree. At the time of writing, BSBA had 64 registered Babydoll flocks.

Of course Babydoll sheep don't need to be miniature, rare or a heritage breed to be an attractive breed to keep!

Q. What are the commercial uses for Babydoll sheep?
A. Commercial uses for Babydolls are grazing and sucker pruning in vineyards, orchards and solar farms where their short stature naturally limits how high they can reach. Because of their easy going temperament, small size and easy handling, Babydoll sheep are also used on small farms, for agritourism and animal therapy.

Q. What are the routine health management tasks?
A. Generally, accepted practice is
  • annual vaccination with 5in1 or 6in1 vaccine (lambs need two doses one month apart)
  • drenching for parasitic worms as needed (worm egg count tests help you to identify when drenching is needed)
  • trimming of hooves as needed
  • shearing once a year
  • crutching (shear wool from around tail) and wigging (shear wool from face) to reduce problems with flystrike and grass seeds
  • provide fresh, clean drinking water
  • provide suitable feed (pasture).

Q. What do you feed Babydoll sheep?
A. Like all sheep, Babydoll sheep do well on pasture. They are efficient feeders and generally do not need supplementary feeding except when there is insufficient grass (eg drought) or in late pregnancy and early lactation. Supplementary feed could be hay, grain or sheep pellets. Any new feed should be introduced slowly. If your Babydoll sheep are lying around for most of the day looking a bit like beached whales, they are eating too much. Refer to information from your State agriculture department about suitable feeds for sheep and calculating rations.

Q. What lick blocks do my sheep need?
A. General information from state agricultural departments suggests ensuring that your sheep are getting adequate levels of energy and protein before worrying about minerals and vitamins. A loose lick of equal parts of agricultural lime, coarse salt and Causemag is relatively inexpensive, easy to make and commonly recommended for use with sheep by these departments and other research bodies such as Australian Wool Innovation. There are also many commercially-made lick blocks and loose licks available.

Q. Do I need to have a shed for my Babydoll sheep?
A. Not really. As long as they have trees and shrubs providing shelter from hot sun and cold winds, Babydoll sheep will be fine out in the paddock day and night. Some Babydoll owners have a predator proof enclosure to protect their sheep where wild dogs are a problem. Some Babydoll owners will use a shed during lambing to protect lambs (but lambing can also be done in the paddock with vegetation as shelter).

Q. Should I get ewes, rams or wethers?
A. This depends on your goals. See Buying Babydoll Sheep - Choices. To state the obvious, if you don't want to breed sheep then don't get a ram.

Q. Do Babydoll Sheep make good pets?
A. Generally Babydoll sheep are fairly docile and easy to tame and train. Typical behaviours that can be learned are running up to greet people, following a bucket around the farm, accepting chin scratches and patting and walking on a halter and lead. Small amounts of hay and pellets are a powerful incentive! Ewes and wethers are the best option if you want Babydoll pets. Some rams that are encouraged to get overly familiar can become dangerous when they reach maturity. Even though they are short, Babydoll sheep can weigh up to 90kg and that is not funny if it is a ram running towards your knees.

Q. What fences do I need?
A. Babydoll sheep are generally fairly easy on fences. A well strained hinge-joint wire fence is generally adequate where wild dogs are not present. Babydoll sheep can also be trained to respect electric fences. A small pen is useful for doing sheep management tasks like injections, drenching and vet visits. This can be as simple as four temporary sheep panels joined together in a square with one side opening as a gate.

Q. I love these sheep, where can I buy some?
A. The good news is that we have a growing number of registered Babydoll breeders in Australia and numbers of Babydoll sheep are increasing. You can contact breeders listed on our stud profiles page, join our Babydoll Sheep - Increase or Decrease Your Flock Facebook Goup or talk to Babydoll breeders at field days and shows. Have a look at our post about Buying Babydoll sheep for tips about what to look for. Buying registered Babydolls is the best way to make sure that the sheep that you buy really are Babydolls.

Q. Is there a look/type of Babydoll that everyone is aiming for, like they do in dog breeding?
A. The Babydoll breed is still being developed in Australia. BSBA has a Babydoll breed standard that our members aim for. Even working to a breed standard, there is quite a bit of variation. Individual studs will tend to develop a look or type depending on their breeding goals and preferences. It's good to know that just like other animals, Babydoll lambs look different from Babydoll adults. It is worth having a look at the adult sheep in a Babydoll flock (preferably shorn) before deciding to buy the lambs.

Q. What about coloured Babydolls?
A. The BSBA Babydoll breed standard includes white, coloured, patterned, striped and spotted sheep based on mainly on Southdown genetics. We are really excited with the great variety of colours that our breeders are achieving in their Babydolls. Some coloured Babydolls have their colour entirely from recessive colour genetics found in purebred Southdowns. Others have their colour from crossbreeding with other breeds and then breeding up through four generations or more to increase the % of Southdown genetics and eventually pass inspection to be registered as BSBA Purebred Babydoll. 

Q. Are there any genetic faults in the breed?
A. There are genetic faults in all breeds.

A recessive genetic disorder to be aware of for Babydolls is Gaucher. If you are buying Babydolls to breed, it is always worth asking about the Gaucher status of the sheep that you are considering. It is easy and relatively inexpensive to DNA test for Gaucher. It is much better to avoid introducing this defect into your flock than to have to eradicate it after it has silently spread through your flock.

The BSBA Babydoll registry has the option for breeders to record where sheep have been DNA tested for Gaucher. This makes it easy to trace cases where Babydolls are Gaucher Free by pedigree when testing was done in earlier generations. Gaucher status is also shown on BSBA registration certificates. If you are in any doubt, it is possible to test again to make extra sure.

Q. I'm new to sheep, where can I learn more?
A. In Australia we are lucky to have state agriculture departments who publish well researched information about sheep health and husbandry. Their websites are a good place to look for information. You can also ask questions on our Facebook group Australian Babydoll Sheep Enthusiasts or join Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia for more support. Your vet can also be a good source of information.

BSBA runs stud tours where our breeders visit a Babydoll stud and spend time learning about breeding and keeping Babydolls. They are lots of fun.
]]><![CDATA[Babydolls in orchards]]>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/babydolls-in-orchardsTony and Belinda Somers from Somersrust Babydoll Sheep Stud have shared their experience of keeping Babydoll sheep in their organic pear and apple cider orchard in Elands NSW.
Picture
Orchards are a lot more diverse in the types of trees that are grown when compared to vineyards. There is increasing interest in sustainable organic orchard management integrating Babydoll sheep as is being done with the Somersrust flock.
 
Babydoll sheep can be used to control orchard floor pasture, tree suckers and to reduce herbicides and soil compaction in deciduous orchards growing pome fruit (Apple, Pear, Quince, Medlar), stone fruit (Peach, Nectarine, Apricot) or nut trees (Almonds, Walnuts). Short term intensive grazing, cover crop management, seasonal orchard requirements and food safety risks need to be considered.
Picture
Human interaction creates calm, easy to handle sheep and adds value to farm tourism experiences
Protecting trees
 
Young establishing orchards have different management considerations compared to older established orchards. Young trees can be seriously damaged by sheep and tree guards are essential for their protection. Babydoll sheep can reach up trees to a height of about 1.2m. They may also push and rub against young trees to eat leaves.

Securely staking young trees at planting with strong stakes or metal reo bar rods pushed 500mm to 600mm into the ground provides a strong anchor for attaching tree guards. Plastic or wire mesh guards about 1.5m long can be placed over young trees and secured to the stake.
 
Trees should be trained to a height that the sheep cannot reach. This is fine for standard trees grafted onto vigorous rootstocks but trees on dwarfing rootstocks in high density orchards will require additional barriers such as movable electric fences.
 
Older trees can be protected by more sturdy guards. Here are some examples.
Fencing
 
Electric fencing and cell grazing is effective for keeping Babydoll sheep between orchard rows in young orchards. Larger areas can be used in established mature orchards where the risk of trunk damage is minimal. Electric netting fence or 3-4 strands of poly wire or turbo wire on tread in posts can be used. Please not that netting fencing can present a strangulation risk to small lambs if they get their heads caught.
Picture
The essential requirement is to train the sheep to the electric fence before moving them into the orchard grazing cells. This can be done by placing a temporary electric fence within a securely fenced area so that any sheep that go through the electric fence while learning about it do not escape.
 
Once trained, electric fences provide effective containment since Babydoll sheep are very respectful of them (even when not energized).
Picture
Mineral nutrition and water provided in cells
Food safety
 
Our orchard grows organic heritage cider apples and pears so we are cautious about food safety contamination issues. We have planned a 90 day pre-harvest period where the sheep are removed from the mature orchards where fruit will be harvested. At this stage our orchards are still non bearing so this has not been done.
 
Cover crops
 
Cover crop management is also a consideration. We use cool season pasture mixes of white and red clover, rye grasses, chicory and plantain sown using minimal till techniques during autumn. Sheep grazing is excluded during the early growth stage to allow clovers to establish and set seed. This sequence of no till, cover crop growth, sheep urine and sheep droppings combined with nitrogen fixing legumes works to add nitrogen to the orchard.
 
Agricultural chemicals
 
No fungicides or herbicides are used in our organic orchard but copper-based fungicides are regularly used in conventional vineyards and orchards. Precautions should always be taken when any agricultural chemical is used. Withholding periods for sheep grazing need to be followed to minimise the risk of chemical residues and toxicity hazards for sheep. In particular, British breeds of sheep including Babydolls are especially susceptible to Copper poisoning.
Picture
Picture
]]><![CDATA[What are emerging babydolls?]]>Sun, 15 Jun 2025 12:39:19 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/what-are-emerging-babydollsEmerging Babydoll (or EM Babydoll) is a term used by Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia (BSBA) to describe sheep that are not registered as BSBA Purebred Babydoll.
Picture
Roogulli Toffee (left) and Osborne Ridge Fleetwood (right)
The photos in this post show BSBA Purebred Babydolls that have been recognised for their quality at various sheep shows. They are the result of our Emerging Babydoll system. Many of them have undergone inspection to upgrade their registration from EM Babydoll to BSBA Purebred Babydoll.
Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia registers sheep as EM Babydoll for a few reasons:
  • Babydoll sheep introduced to the BSBA registry from other registries are initially registered as EM Babydolls even if they are considered purebred Babydoll in the other registry.
  • Sheep that have a high percentage of Southdown genetics (often 100%) that are useful in a Babydoll breeding program but would not pass inspection as BSBA Purebred Babydoll are registered as EM Babydolls. Our experience is that the lambs bred from these EM Babydolls by knowledgeable breeders will often pass inspection to become Purebred Babydolls. These EM Babydolls play an important role in broadening out the genetic diversity of the Babydoll breed that we are creating. This is essential for the long term viability of Babydolls*.
  • Sheep that have a lower percentage of Southdown genetics (typically 50% to 92%) that are being used in a breeding up program are registered as EM Babydolls. These EM Babydolls are typically being used to introduce new traits such as colour, spots, speckles and stripes from other breeds. When they have been bred through enough generations to have a percentage of Southdown genetics over 93%, they can be inspected for Purebred Babydoll registration.
Many EM Babydolls go on to be inspected against the Babydoll breed standard. If they pass inspection, their registration is upgraded to BSBA Purebred Babydoll.
Picture
Roogulli Spritz (left) and Roogulli Fizz (right)
We spent two years developing and testing a rigorous inspection system to make sure that BSBA Purebred Babydolls are high quality and true to the breed standard. Only sheep with at least 93% Southdown genetics in their extended pedigree can be inspected. Our inspections are carried out by two or more independent assessors who have not been involved in the buying, selling or breeding of the sheep being inspected.

Sheep that pass inspection have their percentage upgraded to 100% for future calculations of % for their lambs.

Lambs from two BSBA Purebred Babydoll parents are automatically registered as purebred.

Many other registries run a system of appendix registrations to allow for breeding up through four or five generations to purebred. They may refer to percentages, grades or generations as a way of tracking how ‘pure’ the sheep are. Our Emerging Babydoll classification allows for this but also recognises the close relationship between Southdowns and our new Babydoll breed.
Picture
Reo Grande Ruby
* The Rare Breeds Trust of Australia regards a sheep breed as being ‘At Risk’ if there are less than 1500 breeding ewes and less than 375 annual registrations for the breed. There is also concern if there are six or less distinct male lines. It is reasonable to assume that we need to establish a Babydoll breed with better performance than this to be viable in the long term.

Most Babydoll flocks in Australia were founded using some or all genetics from the Hillgrove Southdown flock. This flock has had at best four male lines for several decades and was reduced to just 30 breeding ewes in the time before Babydolls became popular. Clearly other Southdown genetics are needed to maintain vigour, fertility and performance in our Babydoll breed.
]]><![CDATA[Training Babydolls to be friendly]]>Sun, 22 Dec 2024 11:40:57 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/training-babydolls-to-be-friendlyThere are as many ways to train sheep as there are trainers. We asked some of our breeders for their tips for getting Babydolls to be super friendly.
First a few principles about what makes a sheep tick:
  • Sheep are a prey animal. Their main option for defence is to run away. There are a few exceptions. Ewes with new lambs may stand their ground. Rams can be aggressive and may charge and headbutt, especially if they don’t routinely have contact with other rams that apply peer pressure or have been made to feel part of the human family.
  • Each sheep has a flight zone. If you are inside their flight zone they will mostly try to move away. The flight zone can be reduced through training.
  • Food is a significant motivator.
  • A sheep can recognise many different people and will remember who treated them well.
  • Patting is best saved for wethers and ewes (not rams).
  • Consistency and kindness can work wonders.
Lupins

Sue Darby says:
I hand feed them lupins. I also halter train them using lupins mostly. Some are very friendly anyway and just want affection. This technique is good for all ages.

I feed out lupins in basins. I take a bowl of lupins and a camp chair and sit with them. They already know the bowl has a treat in it. The friendly ones come to the bowl and the nervous ones want too. I hand feed the friendly ones and the more nervous ones come up and eat out of the bowl that I am holding. The worse thing is getting steamrolled/ swamped in sheep. Eventually even the most nervous check out what I have in my hands.

Be patient with the scaredy cats. Sitting with them in the yards or paddock is important as well. You can take your laptop/tablet/ phone, may play a book or music. The dolls love to listen. They love to come up to you in a shady comfy place and lie down for a nap. They feel safe.

Eventually they come up to you for cuddles whether you havé treats or not.

When you hand out the beans(lupins) you lend to spill and so everyone gets some from off the ground

Guy Trezise says:
I also use cracked lupins which I feed out to all the breeders and rams. I also mix in bioworma with the lupins when using it.

As for getting the lambs and the adults, I will sit in the paddock with them while feeding. Having a bucket with you even when empty is a magnet for them to come milling around for a scratch.

A number of lambs come into the yard each day, led by a poddy and graze and follow us around while we work. They are very curious and will camp in the shade with the dogs.

Patience

Shenelle Macdermid says:
Food and time!
I have x2 bottle fed and x1 not bottle fed and they are all like dogs.

Good role models

Sharon Sparrow says:
Keep them locked up for a week with one quiet one. They learn very quickly to come when called for pellets /hay.
The wild and jumpy ones

Jennie Curtis says::
  • Don’t work with one sheep in isolation – always have other sheep within view.
  • Don’t try to catch sheep by chasing them - it only teaches them to run away. If the sheep are running away, you need a smaller space or more sheep.
  • Food is your secret weapon - set up a pen or small fenced area in the corner of the paddock and feed the sheep in there each day so they get used to going in. Eventually you can shut the gate behind them.
  • Containment is your second secret weapon - once you have sheep in a pen you can work on getting them to feel safe near you. Hang around in the pen with the sheep doing nothing much, sit and read a book, close the pen up tighter so you can touch the sheep without having to chase/grab (be careful of your safety if sheep are jumping around), give them a gentle jaw massage, scratch under the chin (patting on top of head they don’t like much), offer some food from your hand.
  • Halter training can be helpful.
]]><![CDATA[Finding Babydoll breeders]]>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:00:00 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/finding-babydoll-breeders
BSBA registered breeders
See our stud profiles for Babydoll breeders registered with Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia (BSBA).

Our breeders can provide you with a detailed registration certificate including an extended pedigree, registration status, % and Gaucher status for their registered rams and ewes. Wethers are not registered by BSBA.
We also run a Facebook group where our registered breeders can post about Babydoll sheep for sale: Babydoll Sheep - Increase or Decrease Your Flock. This can be a good source for buying Babydoll wethers.

Many BSBA breeders keep waitlists so that they can notify people when they have Babydoll sheep available.

Our registered breeders are required to abide by our Code of Ethics which includes how they represent and sell their sheep. 

Other breeders
Please check out the bonafides of any breeder before paying money since unfortunately not all people claiming to have Babydoll Sheep for sale are telling the truth. If the seller won't show you extended pedigrees (four generations) for the sheep before you agree to buy, chances are that the sheep do not have known pedigrees, will not be registered and are only useful as pets.

Don't forget to ask about Gaucher status and Brucellosis accreditation and whether the seller will provide a National Vendor Declaration (this is a legal requirement for anyone selling sheep) and National Sheep Health Statement.

What sheep are right for you?
See Buying Babydoll Sheep - Choices for ideas about what you might look for when buying Babydoll sheep and Registration for ideas about whether registration matters for you.
]]><![CDATA[What is % Southdown?]]>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 00:29:57 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/what-is-southdown% Southdown is used by Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia (BSBA) to summarise the amount of Southdown genetics in the pedigrees of sheep in our Babydoll registry. We use the % of Southdown genetics in the pedigree to decide when a Babydoll sheep is eligible to be inspected for registration as Purebred Babydoll. This is one way that we manage quality for the BSBA Purebred Babydoll sheep.
The BSBA Babydoll breed is being developed using genetics from Southdowns, a heritage breed registered with Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association (ASSBA). A sheep with 100% Southdown genetics should be able to trace its pedigree back to ancestors in the ASSBA Southdown registry. This includes most sheep now in the ASSBA Babydoll registry along with the Southdowns of various sizes and body shapes in the ASSBA Southdown registry.

Where a sheep has no proven Southdown genetics we call that 0% Southdown. This applies to other breeds sometimes used for introducing colour into our Babydoll breed or where sheep look like Babydolls but it is impossible to verify their pedigree. For sheep coming into the BSBA Babydoll registry from other registries, sometimes we allocate a % less than 100% for sheep that have been registered as purebred elsewhere because their extended pedigree does not support calling them 100%.

We calculate the % Southdown for a sheep by averaging the % Southdown for the parents. For example
  • A lamb from a 0% Southdown parent and a 100% Southdown parent would be 50% Southdown genetics (same as Grade D or first cross in other systems)
  • A lamb from a 50% Southdown parent and a 100% Southdown parent would be 75% Southdown genetics (same as Grade C or second cross)
  • A lamb from a 75% Southdown parent and a 100% Southdown parent would be 87.5% Southdown genetics (same as Grade B or third cross)
  • A lamb from a 87.5% Southdown parent and a 100% Southdown parent would be 93.75% Southdown genetics (same as Grade A or fourth cross)

In the BSBA registration system, once a sheep has a % of Southdown genetics in the pedigree over 93%, it is eligible for inspection for registration as a BSBA Purebred Babydoll. During the inspection they are checked for how well they meet the BSBA Babydoll breed standard. Not all sheep in our registry pass inspection, even if they have 100% Southdown genetics.
Read more about BSBA Purebred Babydolls
]]><![CDATA[BSBA purebred Babydolls]]>Sun, 01 Oct 2023 20:30:29 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/registering-bsba-purebred-babydollsHow can sheep be registered as BSBA Purebred Babydolls?
A new sheep breed is not created instantly. It needs a vision for what the new breed will be (the breed standard) and then careful, selective breeding to produce sheep that fulfill the vision. Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia (BSBA) records this process in our registry.  You can be sure that sheep registered as BSBA Purebred Babydolls have been through a rigorous process to achieve that status.

Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia offers a grading up process that allows our breeders to register two levels of Babydoll sheep: EM Babydoll (EM is for Emerging) and Purebred Babydoll. Sheep can only move from EM Babydoll to Purebred Babydoll registration after a rigorous inspection process.
The development of the Babydoll Sheep breed in Australia is based on established Southdown genetics, just as Babydoll sheep in North America were drawn from Southdowns. Due to quarantine restrictions and conditions, importing North American Babydoll genetics into Australia would be complicated and expensive and we have some wonderful Southdown genetics to work with in Australia to develop a Babydoll breed in any case.
 
Every BSBA member has the opportunity to shape the future of this new breed, with a projected timeline for initial breed development of approximately 12 years that began in 2020. Purebred Babydolls in the BSBA registry are produced by breeders who employ a technique known as "grading up". Grading up is a systematic breeding process used to enhance a flock's quality by selecting and breeding with animals possessing superior qualities or particular genetic backgrounds. Through careful selection and continuous improvement, this method gradually transforms the flock, making it more uniform in terms of desired traits, and aligning it with the characteristics of the desired purebred sheep breed. Grading up is sometimes referred to as "appendix flock breeding” with progress measured in grades (D, C, B, A or similar), generations or percentages.
 
For the BSBA system, a sheep with Southdown genetics can be introduced into the BSBA registry and registered as EM Babydoll. This includes sheep that have been registered as Babydoll in other registries (ASSBA Babydoll) or Southdown (ASSBA Southdown). We trace their pedigrees back to their Southdown ancestors to calculate the % of proven Southdown genetics in their pedigree. We record the % Southdown for every sheep registered. These are the sheep that are being used in the BSBA Babydoll grading up process.
 
Upon the breeder's request, a BSBA inspection team conducts formal inspections to determine if sheep can be upgraded from EM Babydoll (Emerging) to Purebred Babydoll registration. To be considered, sheep must have over 93% Southdown genetics in their pedigree and already be registered as EM Babydoll. They are only upgraded if they have traits that match the BSBA Babydoll breed standard as outlined in the BSBA Babydoll Breed Matrix and pass inspection.

Offspring from two parents that are registered as BSBA Purebred Babydoll are automatically registered as purebred.

Sheep that do not meet the criteria for upgrade to Purebred Babydoll registration retain their EM Babydoll status which recognises they can still be useful in a Babydoll grading up program. We don’t use terms like Grade A, Grade B and similar because many people find them confusing and % Southdown gives more accurate information.
 
The BSBA inspection team consists of at least two financial members, including one Committee member, of Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia Inc. These team members are appointed by the Committee and declare any conflicts of interest at the outset. Team members are prohibited from inspecting sheep that they own, have sold or have bred.

The BSBA system of verifying pedigrees, calculating % Southdown genetics and inspecting sheep ensures that only sheep exhibiting the most authentic "Babydoll" characteristics attain the coveted BSBA Purebred Babydoll status.

Closing the BSBA registry
 
It's important to note that the current plan is to close the BSBA registry on 1 July 2033.

This timing was chosen to allow breeders time for at least four generations in their grading up starting from 2021. It may be reviewed with our members’ approval as we see how the breed development is progressing. We eagerly anticipate the results of the outstanding efforts of our breeders in developing this remarkable breed.
]]><![CDATA[Registration]]>Sat, 30 Sep 2023 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/registrationWhy register sheep?
Breeders register sheep as a way of tracking pedigrees, genetics and purity of sheep type. Over time these registrations create flock histories that become a useful resource for all breeders. By registering and tracking our Babydolls we can gradually build our new Australian Babydoll breed. It is a form of quality control that reduces the chance of valuable genetics being wasted by not being tracked and consequently becoming unavailable to registered flocks in the future.

Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia makes the registration process easy for our breeders by providing training in how to use our online registry and keeping registrations simple and inexpensive.

In the Babydoll sheep world, breeders operating a registered sheep stud must use registered sheep in their breeding program to be able to sell the sheep that they breed with registration papers. Generally it is not possible to buy sheep without papers and then register them later, no matter what their pedigree.

Many sheep shows only allow registered sheep to participate so if you want to show sheep you generally need to register them and show them at shows that recognise your registry.
Buying registered Babydoll sheep
Make sure to buy registered sheep if you want to breed and sell Babydoll sheep with registration papers. Be aware that some Babydoll registries do not accept Babydoll sheep bred in other registries so it is worth checking out your registration options before buying.

It is good practice to ask to see extended pedigrees and registration details for the sheep you are buying before you pay, along with evidence of transfer of registration after you buy.

If you are just getting started and haven't decided whether you want to sell registered sheep, you can keep your options open by buying registered sheep. Many people start off thinking they will just have pet Babydolls and then decide a few years later that they want to breed Babydolls. Remember that you generally can't turn unregistered sheep into registered sheep.

Which registry?
There are four registries in Australia where Babydoll breeding programs can be run. They all have their pros and cons. We recognise that this can be pretty confusing when you are starting out. It may be helpful to have a look at the vision and goals of the breed society associated with each registry and decide which align best with your personal philosophy.

In brief:
  • The BSBA Babydoll registry is run by Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia (BSBA) who are committed to developing a new Babydoll sheep breed for Australia including white, coloured, patterned and spotted Babydolls. That's us! Sheep can be introduced to the registry as Emerging Babydolls (EM) if their pedigree includes proven Southdown genetics. The % Southdown is assigned by BSBA based on the pedigree. We run a grading up process. Sheep registered with BSBA as EM Babydoll with a % Southdown over 93% in their pedigree can be independently inspected against the breed standard by the registry team for upgrade to Purebred Babydoll registration.
  • The ASSBA Babydoll registry is run by the Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association with Babydoll Sheep Association of Australia as the affiliated breed society. (Note this association with a very similar name is not BSBA.) The ASSBA Babydoll registry was formed in 2020 by breeders moving some white ASSBA Southdown sheep to the new registry and then closing the new registry shortly afterwards. This registry runs as a closed registry and it is only for white sheep that used to be Southdowns. To use it you need to buy sheep from breeders in the registry and then use these sheep to register an ASSBA Babydoll flock. The only other option is to introduce sheep through an ASSBA Babydoll appendix flock which involves breeding up through at least four generations in an appendix flock using rams already in the ASSBA Babydoll registry.
  • The ASSBA Southdown registry is run by the Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association with Southdown Australia as the affiliated breed society. This is the oldest registry and has the greatest diversity of genetics ranging from more traditional style Southdowns (often now identified as Babydolls) through to taller, longer, leaner models used as terminal sires for commercial fat lamb flocks (modern Southdowns). It is only for white sheep and has a focus on modern Southdowns. To participate you need to buy sheep from an ASSBA Southdown breeder and then register a Southdown flock with ASSBA. The only other option is to introduce sheep through an ASSBA Southdown appendix flock which involves breeding up through at least four generations.
  • The AABMGSS Babydoll registry is run by the Australian All Breeds of Miniature Goat and Sheep Society. It allows both white and coloured sheep to be registered.
Can Babydoll sheep be dual registered?
It is possible to dual register white Babydoll Sheep provided that they comply with the rules for each registry:
  • BSBA Babydoll registry and ASSBA Southdown registry
  • BSBA Babydoll registry and ASSBA Babydoll registry
  • BSBA will also register white and coloured AABMGS Babydolls. 
]]><![CDATA[Babydolls in vineyards]]>Sat, 22 Apr 2023 11:48:31 GMThttps://www.babydollsheepbreeders.org.au/babydoll-information/babydolls-in-vineyardsWith the right planning and infrastructure, Babydoll sheep can be a huge asset to vineyards, both in terms of monetary benefits and overall vineyard health.
Babydoll sheep in the vineyard at The Vintner's Daughter, Murrumbateman NSW
Coloured Babydoll sheep in vineyard
Benefits
  • Eco-friendly mowing and weed control
  • Gentle debudding/suckering
  • Reduction of herbicides use
  • Improved soil health
  • Savings in labour and input costs
  • Income diversification

Things to consider

  • General husbandry needs
  • Infrastructure - fencing, yards, water points
  • Height of cordon wire
  • Sprays used in vineyard
  • Shelter and shade
  • Shearing and crutching
Babydolls are perfect for vineyards due to their short necks, thick legs, solid body and gentle nature. Grazing mainly on grass, they are unlikely to damage the vines while removing suckers from vine trunks. They can provide eco-friendly mowing without using fuel or electricity and can even appreciate in value as they graze.

Babydolls are generally easy on fencing and infrastructure because of their docile temperament, making them less likely to break infrastructure such as irrigation and trellis. They also contribute to improving vineyard soil health by providing natural fertiliser and reducing the need for heavy machinery, leading to less soil compaction, improved soil fertility and structure, and healthier grapevine growth. Additionally, using sheep in vineyards can help minimise soil erosion in hilly areas.

Babydoll sheep offer effective weed control and promote a sustainable approach to vineyard management while minimising the use of herbicides, which can be expensive and raise consumer concerns. Other benefits include monetary savings, greater environmental sustainability, improved soil health, unique tourist attraction, income diversification and a high yield of marbled meat.
Babydoll sheep in vineyard
Vineyard owners considering using Babydolls should consider the height of their cordon wires, copper levels in their soil and the general husbandry required for the sheep. Infrastructure is needed for sheep handling and husbandry, such as sheep yards and races, watering points, and appropriate fencing, as well as shade or shelter.

Babydoll sheep must be shorn and crutched each year since they are a wool breed. Wethers and older ewes are good options for vineyards that do not want to breed sheep since they are easier to care for and cost less. Vineyard owners should also plan for supplementary feeding and where sheep will be kept at times when they cannot be in the vineyard.

With proper care, planning and infrastructure, Babydoll sheep can be a game-changer for vineyard owners, offering effective weed control, reduced soil compaction, sucker pruning and eco-friendly fertilisation for most of the year.
Babydoll sheep in vineyard
Printable version
]]>