Babydoll Sheep Breed Standard

The Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association (ASSBA) Breed Description for Babydoll Sheep

Conformation: Head

ASSBA Definition

Wide and level between the ears, with no sign of a dark poll.

Explaination

This means: The head should be wide and fairly flat between the ears, with no horns or dark spots where horns might grow, since Babydolls are a naturally hornless (polled) breed. There should be a wide expanse between the eyes.

Additional Information

Some Babydoll’s heads will be broad and flat and others may be long and narrow. This can be seen in the photo below of the heads of three Babydolls; the middle Babydoll’s head is narrower at the nose than the other two. In the show ring, the judge may look for a ‘teddy bear’ face, with a short muzzle, wide head and a calm expression.

Conformation: Muzzle and Face

ASSBA Definition

Full, not too long from eyes to nose. The fleece and hair on the muzzle should be even coloured from very light to cinnamon or mousey grey, ideally covering the entire muzzle, extending from the corners of the mouth to a rounded point between the eyes. The fleece should not be so long as to obstruct vision.

Explaination

This means: There should be a short but wide muzzle area between the eyes and nose. The colour can vary, but it should never be bright white; that’s a sign of crossbreeding. Any bright white fleece on a Babydoll is a disqualification. Lambs are born with darker faces and legs, but this usually lightens as they mature.

Additional Information

Babydolls have a naturally woolly face. They should have wool covering their entire face but it should not obstruct their vision. Sometimes Babydoll lambs will develop very woolly faces, with beards and eyebrows! They look very cute. The beard will disappear as the lamb matures.

Over-Shot or Under-Shot Jaw

A Babydoll sheep may have a jaw that doesn’t line up properly; either the bottom jaw sticks out too far or not far enough. This is called an over-shot or under-shot jaw. Ideally, the bottom front teeth should line up evenly with the top gum pad. If they don’t, it could be due to a genetic issue and the Babydoll should not be bred with.

Conformation: Eyes and Ears

ASSBA Definition

Eyes: Large and bright.
Ears: Set level with the head and of medium size, covered with short wool.

Explaination

Eyes: The colour of Babydoll eyes vary in shade from yellow to brown.
Ears: The ears should be of medium thickness. It’s okay if the wool on them is mixed with some hair. The ears should sit level with the top of the head, not sticking up or drooping down. It’s also normal for the ear skin to have dark speckles.

Conformation: Neck

ASSBA Definition

Wide at the base, short, strong and well set on shoulder

Explaination

This means: A Babydoll’s neck should be short and smoothly connect to the shoulders. A short neck is one of the most defining characteristics of a Babydoll sheep.

Additional Information

Rams especially need strong necks because they use them for headbutting. A ram with a weak neck wouldn’t do well in that kind of behaviour. So ideally, the neck should be a strong, short neck that flows nicely into the shoulders.

Conformation: Legs

ASSBA Definition

Forelegs should be short and well placed at the corners. Hindlegs should be short, full and well-let down. Lower leg fleece colour is similar to muzzle colour and extending from the feet to the knees where it meets the body fleece.

Explaination

This means: Legs should be short, with a wide, square stance that helps the sheep move in a balanced way. The front legs should be straight, not bent inward (knock-kneed), and the back legs should also be straight, not angled inward at the joints (called cow-hocked). “Well-let down” means the hock (the joint above the hoof on the back leg) is close to the ground, which gives better muscle and meat in the lower leg. The hooves should be dark, although some may have lighter stripes. Fully light-coloured hooves are not allowed. The hooves should be pointing straight ahead, not inwards or splayed out.

Additional Information

When the sheep walks, its back legs should follow the same path as the front legs. They shouldn’t swing inward like they're walking a tightrope (known as rope walking). At shows, judges often ask to see sheep walk without a halter so they can observe how the sheep moves naturally since a halter can affect their gait. Poor leg structure can disqualify an otherwise sound Babydoll.

Short legs are an important, defining characteristics of Babydoll sheep. Any Babydoll with long legs would probably be disqualified in the show ring. One big disadvantage of having short legs is that Babydoll ewes can often cast (get stuck on their backs) when too fat or pregnant. They can die if they are not found in time as they eventually suffocate.

Conformation: Chest and Shoulders

ASSBA Definition

Chest: wide and deep
Shoulders: Well-laid into the ribs and level to the back.
The width at the shoulders should be less than the width at the hips to facilitate easy lambing.

Explaination

This means: The chest should be broad and have a good depth. The shoulders should flow smoothly into the body, both along the ribs and the back, keeping a nice straight line across the top.
They shouldn’t stick up above the back but should look like a natural part of the body. When looking down from above, the shoulders should be narrower than the hips.

Additional Information

The width of the shoulders is especially important for ewes. If the shoulders of the lamb are too wide, it can cause problems during birth, and breeders may have to step in to help pull the lamb out.

Conformation: Loin, Ribs and Rump

ASSBA Definition

Loin: long, wide and thick
Ribs: deep and wide, thick though the heart girth and well-sprung
Rump: Wide and of medium length with only a slight slope of the croup

Explaination

This means: A Babydoll sheep should be a well-built, solid little sheep. Since the Southdown breed was originally raised for meat, it’s important that the sheep can provide good cuts of meat and muscle is the key to this.
The Babydoll sheep should be deep, wide, and muscular, but not overly fatty. The Babydoll should have a solid, square stance, wide-based and not narrow or weak legged.

Additional Information

In the show ring, the judge will feel these areas with their hands and then step back to look at the sheep's overall appearance. They will look at the overall balance of the sheep and look for a well-proportioned sheep, i.e., the length of the body vs. depth and height. The judge will look for a wide, thick loin and will stand behind the Babydoll to check the fullness of the leg, width of the hip and the muscling over the rump. The shoulder should be well-blended into the body.

Conformation: Tail and Hind Saddle

ASSBA Definition

Tail: Wide and set high on a line almost level with the topline when standing in a natural, alert stance.
Hind Saddle: Full and well-muscled with a deep, wide muscling through the twist and legs.

Explaination

This means: The tail should be wide and set fairly-high.

The hind saddle refers to the area at the back of the sheep, and like the rest of the "meat parts," it should be full and muscular. The "twist" refers to the muscling on the back of the rear legs, from the tail to the crotch, when viewed from the side. The Babydolls rear legs should be broad, nicely rounded with good muscle. The Babydoll’s rear end should be deep and rounded.

Additional Information

In the past, and even sometimes today, sheep’s tails were completely docked at the base of the spine and some judges insisted on this for better judging. Now many breeders are refusing to do this as it can lead to problems such as cancer or prolapses. According to the Australian Veterinary Association, you should dock the tail at the third joint from the base of the tail.

Conformation: Skin and Fleece

ASSBA Definition

Skin: A healthy pink
Fleece: Fine, tight and dense with a medium to medium-fine, soft and springy crimp.

Explaination

This means: The Babydoll's fleece is off-white. When born, the fibres on the lamb's muzzle and legs can range from light tan to cinnamon to a greyish colour. Adult sheep should have no brown or black fibres.

Additional Information

The fleece is very important and should be fine, tight, and dense, like that of a typical Down breed. It should be short and feel springy when you touch it.
A bright white fleece is a disqualification for Babydolls because it indicates that there may have been some crossbreeding in the sheep's ancestry.
Somatic mutations (black patches, spots or a few fibres on a new-born lamb) are considered to be a minor fault because they will disappear as the lamb matures. Once the black fibres have disappeared, the lamb can be registered with ASSBA.

Conformation: Height

ASSBA Definition

Height: All measurements are taken at the highest point of the middle of the shoulder and perpendicular to the ground of a shorn sheep. Adult sheep should be between 45cm and 61cm.

Explaination

This means: The easiest way to measure a Babydoll sheep’s height is by using a pony or miniature horse measuring stick. Make sure the Babydoll is standing on a flat, even surface. If you're measuring a lamb that hasn’t been shorn, remember to account for the extra height from the wool. Hold the measuring stick straight up and down and rest the horizontal arm gently on the sheep’s shoulder and you can read the height of the sheep on the measuring stick.

Additional Information

Babydolls tend to reach their full height at different ages, but most are close to full height by about 18 months, with a good idea of their size by 12 months. Remember the aim should be for a short neck, short legs, and a stocky build; not long and stretched out.

It’s important to be cautious when breeding. If the ewe is too small and the ram is significantly larger, it can lead to birthing complications due to the size of the lambs.

Conformation: Rams and Ewes

ASSBA Definition

Rams: should look more masculine and are usually larger than the ewes. They must have both testicles descended.

Ewes: Ewes should have a broad, well attached but not pendulous udder with two teats.

Explaination

This means: Ewes should have a feminine appearance. The ewe’s udder should be firmly attached and not hanging low or swinging around. In older ewes, the udder can sag closer to the ground, which makes it harder for lambs to suckle.

Rams should appear masculine and must have two well-developed testicles that can be clearly felt. It’s essential to check for this when purchasing a ram, regardless of his age.
Gently feel both sides of the scrotum, starting at the top and moving downward, to make sure both testicles are present and properly descended.
Both testicles should also be about the same size, and the overall size of the scrotum should match the ram’s size. Larger scrotums generally mean higher sperm production.

Before breeding, the ram’s scrotal circumference should be at least 28 cm; ideally 30 cm and weigh at least 200 grams. Also check for any sores or scabs on the scrotum, as these could be signs of Brucellosis.
There may be some wool loss in this area but it’s probably from lying on the ground.

Additional Information

Rams with only one testicle should never be used for breeding. This condition, called cryptorchidism, is where one or both testicles don’t descend and can be passed on genetically. These rams should never be bred with, regardless of how good the ram looks.

Even if you castrate the one descended testicle, they shouldn’t be sold as wethers (castrated males). This is because they still produce testosterone and may behave like rams which wouldn’t be fair to someone expecting a calm, easy-going wether.
Some people have had success with surgery, but it's costly and risky since sheep don’t always handle anesthesia well.

Glossary

The names for different parts of a sheep’s body don’t change much between breeds or whether you’re at a sale or a show. These terms refer to key areas of the sheep’s body and structure that help tell the difference between an average sheep and a top-quality one.
No matter what kind of sheep you’re raising, there are certain features to look for that help judge the quality of the animal. The list below gives general guidelines—there may be some differences in opinion, but it will help you know what to look for in Babydoll sheep.
Reference: Long, Murray. "Breeding Stud Sheep." Landlinks Press. Collingwood, Vic 2008

Barrel

The barrel (or girth) is the area around the front and middle of the sheep’s body. This part should be wide and deep, with plenty of space inside. Sheep with a narrow barrel often aren’t as strong or well-developed as those with a deep, roomy one.

Cannon Bone

The cannon bone is an important part of a sheep’s skeleton, especially when it comes to its shape and length. The size and quality of the sheep’s body and meat are often linked to the characteristics of this bone. Many breeders pay attention to how thick the bones are overall; sheep with medium to heavy, strong bones are usually seen as sturdier and more fertile.

Ears

Soft, thick, and velvety ears are usually a sign of a healthy, good-quality sheep. Try to avoid sheep with thin ears that always look like they are dry, scaly, or sunburned.

Hindquarters and Twist

The back end of the sheep should be deep, square-shaped, and muscular since this is where most of the meat comes from. The twist, the area between the back legs, under the tail, should be filled out with muscle, not just form a narrow "V" shape. Good muscle in this area also keeps the legs spaced well apart, which is important for the overall body shape.

Hock

The hocks are the middle joints in the back legs. They should be strong, straight, and line up well with the rest of the body. Hocks that bend in or out show poor structure.

Loin

The loin is the part along the spine between the last rib and the hip. A good loin is long, wide, and muscular. Loin size varies between and within breeds, but longer loins and rumps add value to meat sheep since that’s where the best cuts come from.

Muzzle and Head

The muzzle (nose and mouth area) should be broad, with wide, open nostrils for easy breathing. The jaw should align properly so the teeth meet the top gum pad evenly, neither over- nor under-biting. A strong, deep jaw with good spacing between the eyes and jaw base is ideal. Rams should have a strong, masculine head, while ewes should have a softer, more feminine look.

Neck

When the sheep is standing normally, the bottom of the jaw should line up evenly with the top of the back.

Pasterns

Pasterns (the joints above the hooves) should be strong but slightly flexible. They shouldn’t be too flat or too straight, and when the sheep walks, the legs should move in a straight line. Weak pasterns make it harder for sheep to walk long distances for grazing and water.

Ribs

You might hear the term “well-sprung ribs,” which means the chest is wide between the ribs. This space is important for the lungs and heart to work well. Sheep with deep, wide chests tend to be tougher and more resilient.

Rump

The rump should be long, wide, and not narrow down or dip toward the tail. The top of the back should flow smoothly over the rump to the tail without narrowing. A square, well-muscled rump helps support the sheep when it’s walking or working.

Shoulder and Brisket

The front of the sheep is important too. Shoulders should be smooth, not flat, and the front legs should be placed neatly under the body, not sticking out too far forward. The front end shouldn’t be wider than the back. Smooth shoulders also help avoid problems during lambing

Testes (for rams)

The testicles should be the same size, about as big as a soft drink can, and hang freely.

Topline

The line along the sheep’s back. A straight, level topline shows good body structure and muscle balance. It's one of the main traits judges look for in show sheep, and it tells you a lot about the overall build of the animal.