About Us
Our Aims
1. To protect the heritage and preserve the future of Babydoll sheep in Australia
2. To encourage and promote the ownership and breeding of the Babydoll sheep
3. To establish a network of communication for owners and breeders of Babydoll Sheep
4. To develop and maintain the Breed Standard and Showing Guidelines
The Formation of the Babydoll Sheep Association of Australia
There are relatively few owners of Babydoll sheep in Australia, with the breed being quite rare. Recently there seems to have been a revival of the Babydoll with more people moving to smallholdings and looking for smaller farm stock and/or stock which is easy to manage due to smaller size and there are now waiting lists of people wishing to purchase Babydolls.
However, due to a lack of a breed standard, prospective purchasers of Babydolls in Australia have had little information on what to look for when purchasing Babydolls, and this sometimes leads to disappointment if the Babydoll has been sold by a breeder who is breeding sheep not true to type. Consequently people have ended up with sheep much larger in size and thus not suitable for the desired outcome. There was also a lack of general information about Babydolls and breeders were working in isolation from each other. This made it difficult to locate stock for sale.
In early 2017 these issues were identified and a group of Babydoll breeders formed the Olde English Babydoll Southdown Sheep Association of Australia Inc. (OEBSSAA).
The Association was formally incorporated in 2017. A Facebook page was also developed where members could share information and ask for advice. One of the things identified by our Members as sadly lacking was the ability for the Babydoll sheep to be found in the Australian Stud Sheep Breeders (ASSBA) Flock Book, as we were listed in with the Southdowns and unless you knew what bloodlines to look for, Babydolls could not be found easily amongst the taller Modern Southdowns. It was also apparent that the Southdown had evolved so much to meet the modern meat market that the Babydoll sheep no longer fitted the Southdown Breed Description, so we approached ASSBA for a separate listing.
Fast forward a couple of years and we have finally been accepted into the Flock Book, as a separate listing, but our name required a change to satisfy both ASSBA and Southdown Australia. And so the Babydoll Sheep Association of Australia Inc (BSAA) was formed.
Shane Foster
President
​My wife, Loren and I run Redwaters stud, along with our two “future farmers;" Pippa and Peyton, in the beautiful Adelaide Hills in South Australia.
Redwaters is also home to 10ha of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines in which we run our Babydolls. They are extremely efficient mowers and weeders as well as natural, four-legged fertilizers.
We have been breeding Babydolls since 2019 and started with Hillgrove and Gully Green bloodlines. We currently have 29 Babydolls, including our rams, ewes, lambs and grazing wethers.
Our main market for our Babydolls is for the vineyards and we hope to be able to help other vineyard owners reduce the need for slashing and spraying by introducing Babydolls to their own enterprises.
Janice Evans
Secretary
My name is Janice Evans, and together with my husband, Chris Evans, own the historic and renowned Babyboll Stud, “Hillgrove.” Chris and I farm at Moama, NSW on our 454ha property.
In 2015 we came across Babydoll Sheep and decided to purchase three ewes and a ram from Murray and Judy Peart, the then owners of Hillgrove stud, and aimed to breed the Babydolls alongside our Dorper sheep.
In 2018, Murray and Judy Peart retired and we were offered the opportunity by Murray and Judy to purchase the whole Hillgrove Stud. Our aim now is to increase the number of Hillgrove ewes available and to be actively involved in preserving the unique Babydoll characteristics. There are so few Babydolls in Australia that it's vital that our breeding program is successful and continues into the future. To do this we use embryo transfer and artificial insemination and in 2019, exported Hillgrove embryos to the European Union (EU). We have had enquiries from New Zealand and South Africa for embryos.
I firmly believe in and support the BSAA as a great resource as it aims to preserve the unique Babydoll characteristics, allows Australian Babydoll breeders to network, seek information and buy and sell new stock.
Chris Evans
Treasurer
My name is Chris Evans, and along with my wife Janice, I farm at Moama, NSW.
We purchased a couple of Babydoll ewes and a ram from Murray and Judy Peart from Hillgrove Stud at Greenhill in Victoria in 2015 and in 2018 Murray and Judy offered us the opportunity to purchase the whole Hillgrove Stud and Janice and I have been managing this stud since. We have developed a strong interest and passion for these Babydolls and aim to preserve the original features of Babydoll sheep. I really enjoy the practical, hands-on work with the Babydolls.
I am involved with BSAA so that I can give support to BSAA in its important work of increasing awareness of and working for Babydoll sheep and their owners in Australia.
Helen Crouch
Committee
Moving back to Victoria and onto some acreage after many years interstate, I “discovered” Babydoll sheep in 2021 and purchased two ram lambs. Since that first purchase I have gone on to become involved in the world of Babydolls and with the people who are continuing to support the growth of this heritage breed. I now have a small flock of 22 sheep, the majority stemming from the historic Hillgrove bloodline. They are a source of great enjoyment to me and I hope to be able to add to the continuation of this fascinating little breed by producing quality bred Babydoll Sheep.