ORGANIC WEED CONTROL
What drew me to these little critters was that my family lived/lives smack dab in the middle of our family vineyard. That wasn't the entirety of my reasoning but it was how I began to justify the idea of wanting a "smiling sheep". I learned that they are commonly used in vineyards for organic weed control. Their little hooves have a soft tread; they don't compact the soil. I also learned that they're not aggressive with the foliage and tend to keep their head down. Unlike goats they aim at the suckers and weeds on the ground and avoid looking toward the sky. Babydoll Southdown sheep tend to not challenge fencing which was another plus when looking into options on how I could contain and rotate them within the vineyard. All these things I carefully organized in my thoughts. Then came time to give the final spiel to my husband.
FIBER
After I had my husbands attention and "go ahead" I researched and researched some more. I found more justifiable cause to obtain a small herd. (Technically, four or more sheep would be defined as a herd.) I've always considered myself to be a crafty person and the possibility of utilizing their wool was appealing. (I'm currently attempting to master knitting....) Their fleece runs in the 19 to 22 barbs per square inch range; the same class as cashmere! I've since had them shorn several times and have processed their wool into dyed yarn. What a unique gift I've been able to give to curious friends and family! I've also learned to skirt (cut and trim the fleece prior to processing), attempted to card, and have many more new ventures awaiting me like wool dying and perfecting my spinning skills.
HANDLING
Typically standing at just 18-24" tall ( http://www.nabssar.org/breed_standard_with_photos.html) they are shorter than most sheep. The adults weigh anywhere from 70-150 lbs. making handling, catching, lifting, etc.. so much easier in comparison. This definitely was more appealing to me then working with the larger breeds. I've heard many nightmarish stories from veterinarians about rounding up sheep for exam and treatment. I also wanted to incorporate my kids in the husbandry (the care, cultivation, and breeding) of our new, wooly pets and their small stature would be less intimidating to my younger children.
FOR THE LOVE OF ANIMALS
At the very least, my objective was to appreciate the breed, the animal, and quite frankly, to enjoy their presence. My degree is in veterinary technology. I've had years to devote to my passion of animal medicine. However, I was given the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom (my utmost passion) which enables me to tend to my quaint hobby farm as well. We don't have a lot of extra space for fencing which has put a cap on the idea of obtaining larger farm animals. But, in addition to the sheep we do have some chickens and ducks, a rabbit, and multiple cats and dogs.
I'm entering my fourth year of owning these wooly buggers and haven't looked back since. I've had no regrets. With every year, I gain experience and enjoyment.
If I haven't yet convinced you that I'm a full fledged fan perhaps an excerpt taken from NABBSAR's website just might.....
"Babydoll Southdown sheep are known for their docile dispositions. For this reason, they are often kept as pets, but they are also used in a variety of ways such as grass mowers and weed eaters in vineyards and orchards and 4H projects. They are small in stature and are easy to handle. Their small size and efficient metabolism requires less acreage per animal compared to other breeds of sheep. Thus, they are referred to as being "easy keepers." They are excellent mothers and are known for having multiple births. The Babydoll Southdown is known for its abundant carcass (relative to its size) and flavorful meat and is crossbred with lighter weight breeds of sheep to produce lambs of higher quality for market. They are also prized for their wool."
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