Breed standard.
Our breed standard is a set of characteristics that describe a Babydoll sheep. This is something to aim for. No Babydoll sheep is perfect and some will meet the breed standard better than others.
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Babydoll breed standard
The Babydoll is a smaller, dual-purpose meat and wool sheep developed from the Southdown and suited to use on small farms and in vineyards and orchards. The breed is known for its easy going temperament, attractive appearance including the Babydoll smile, short stature and deep, well-muscled body. It provides good eating with smaller cuts suited to home butchering. The goals of this breed are to produce structurally sound, short and stocky sheep of any colour and pattern that are easy to handle and care for. They should have good fertility, lamb easily and be capable of raising multiple fast growing, vigorous lambs.
Head: Wide, level between the ears with no sign of horn or scur. Medium length from eyes to nose.
Face and muzzle: Full face with strong, wide lower jaw giving the classic smiling look. Teeth fitting well up on the dental pad.
Ears: Medium size, level with head and covered with short wool.
Eyes: Eyes large, brown and bright.
Nose and lips: Dark skin preferred. Nostrils, full and wide.
Neck: Wide at base, moderate length and well set on the shoulder with as few wrinkles as possible.
Shoulders: Well muscled, level with the back and flowing smoothly into the ribs. Width at the shoulders should be less than width at the hips.
Chest and ribs: Ribs well sprung. Deep over the heart and but not so wide that it affects the square stance.
Back: Back long, level and firm, somewhat longer than height at shoulder. Deep, wide and firm well-muscled loin.
Tail: Broad, attached almost level with the spine.
Legs and feet: Legs, thick with strong bone. Forearms strong and thick with meat. Knees square with the body when viewed from the front. Hind legs with a slightly forward setting from the vertical line of the pin bone. Dark hooves preferred.
Hindquarters: Full, well let down, well-muscled hind saddle. Deep, wide muscling through the twist giving strength to the back legs and freedom of movement. Good width between the hipbones.
Scrotum: Good size, well hung, carrying two normal, well developed testicles. Scrotum not split.
Udder: Wide and well attached with two functioning teats.
Skin: Pale grey to bright pink on white sheep. Dark tones on black sheep. Should not have wrinkles over the body.
Fleece and wool: Wool medium fine and dense with Downs character, covering the whole body down to the hocks and knees. Any colour or colour pattern. Fleece on cheeks, forehead and around the eyes not so long as to obstruct vision. Tuft of hair on each foot.
Size: Adult sheep should be between 45cm and 61cm. Measurements are taken at the highest point of the middle of the shoulder and perpendicular to the ground on a shorn sheep.
Carriage: Free and active, head well carried. Rams should look more masculine and are usually larger than ewes.
Breed standard for printing
Face and muzzle: Full face with strong, wide lower jaw giving the classic smiling look. Teeth fitting well up on the dental pad.
Ears: Medium size, level with head and covered with short wool.
Eyes: Eyes large, brown and bright.
Nose and lips: Dark skin preferred. Nostrils, full and wide.
Neck: Wide at base, moderate length and well set on the shoulder with as few wrinkles as possible.
Shoulders: Well muscled, level with the back and flowing smoothly into the ribs. Width at the shoulders should be less than width at the hips.
Chest and ribs: Ribs well sprung. Deep over the heart and but not so wide that it affects the square stance.
Back: Back long, level and firm, somewhat longer than height at shoulder. Deep, wide and firm well-muscled loin.
Tail: Broad, attached almost level with the spine.
Legs and feet: Legs, thick with strong bone. Forearms strong and thick with meat. Knees square with the body when viewed from the front. Hind legs with a slightly forward setting from the vertical line of the pin bone. Dark hooves preferred.
Hindquarters: Full, well let down, well-muscled hind saddle. Deep, wide muscling through the twist giving strength to the back legs and freedom of movement. Good width between the hipbones.
Scrotum: Good size, well hung, carrying two normal, well developed testicles. Scrotum not split.
Udder: Wide and well attached with two functioning teats.
Skin: Pale grey to bright pink on white sheep. Dark tones on black sheep. Should not have wrinkles over the body.
Fleece and wool: Wool medium fine and dense with Downs character, covering the whole body down to the hocks and knees. Any colour or colour pattern. Fleece on cheeks, forehead and around the eyes not so long as to obstruct vision. Tuft of hair on each foot.
Size: Adult sheep should be between 45cm and 61cm. Measurements are taken at the highest point of the middle of the shoulder and perpendicular to the ground on a shorn sheep.
Carriage: Free and active, head well carried. Rams should look more masculine and are usually larger than ewes.
Breed standard for printing
There are also general expectations that apply to Babydolls just like all other sheep. Visual Sheep Scores by Sheep Genetics is a good starting point for understanding these.