Barbados Blackbelly Sheep
Encyclopedia
The Barbados Blackbelly sheep is a breed of domestic sheep
that was developed in the Caribbean
. Although it is likely the Barbados Blackbelly has African ancestry, there seems to be clear evidence that the breed, as seen today, was developed by the people on the island from sheep brought by ships fairly early in the period after Europeans first arrived. This breed is raised primarily for meat.
imported a small flock and transported them for study to Bethesda, Maryland
. From that original flock, at least two distinct breeds have emerged in the U.S.
, and there is a great deal of confusion in the breed names. There are fewer than 200 purebred Barbados Blackbelly sheep in the U.S., in contrast to a large and growing population of a popular crossbreed, commonly referred to as "Barbado." Whereas purebred Barbados Blackbelly rams and ewes are polled (hornless), the Barbado is most noted for the regal rack of horns on the rams, and some ewes may also have small horns. The horns were gained by crossbreeding Barbados Blackbelly with Mouflon
and Rambouillet
early after they were imported by the USDA.
The rams with large horn curl are commercially bred for use on private hunting ranches where size of horn curl is prized by exotic game hunters.
Blackbelly sheep of both breeds are able to tolerate heat and exhibit more stamina than most breeds of sheep. They are fleet of foot and in many ways resemble deer. They are "hair sheep," which means they do not grow wool
but have coarse hair instead. If raised in cooler climates, they often develop a wool undercoat that they shed in the spring.
Barbados Blackbelly sheep will breed all year round unlike most domestic sheep. Because they are smaller and slower growing than most wooled sheep, they are not a good choice for commercial production. However, there is a strong market for their lean and mild-flavored meat, and they are popular with herding dog
trainers. They are very disease resistant and parasite tolerant, and these genetic traits have created a demand for Blackbelly sheep in crossbreeding operations. They are a perfect choice as a homesteader's sheep because they do relatively well on poorer forage
, can be raised with very little grain, and do not require intensive management. Blackbelly sheep range in color from light tan to a dark mahogany red, with black stripes on the face and black legs, belly, inguinal region, chin, and chest, which gives this herbivore its name. Despite being goat
-like in appearance, they are true sheep.
for Blackbelly sheep.
The Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International (BBSAI) welcomes both Barbados Blackbelly and American Blackbelly and has registries for both. The registry for Barbados Blackbelly is a closed registry, meaning that only sheep whose parents are registered can be registered themselves. There are over 1,600 sheep registered with the BBSAI. The North American Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Registry registers the horned as well as polled Blackbelly sheep.
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
that was developed in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. Although it is likely the Barbados Blackbelly has African ancestry, there seems to be clear evidence that the breed, as seen today, was developed by the people on the island from sheep brought by ships fairly early in the period after Europeans first arrived. This breed is raised primarily for meat.
History in the U.S.
In 1904, the USDAUnited States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
imported a small flock and transported them for study to Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. From that original flock, at least two distinct breeds have emerged in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and there is a great deal of confusion in the breed names. There are fewer than 200 purebred Barbados Blackbelly sheep in the U.S., in contrast to a large and growing population of a popular crossbreed, commonly referred to as "Barbado." Whereas purebred Barbados Blackbelly rams and ewes are polled (hornless), the Barbado is most noted for the regal rack of horns on the rams, and some ewes may also have small horns. The horns were gained by crossbreeding Barbados Blackbelly with Mouflon
Mouflon
The mouflon is a subspecies group of the wild sheep Ovis aries. Populations of Ovis aries can be partitioned into the mouflons and urials or arkars...
and Rambouillet
Rambouillet (sheep)
The Rambouillet is also known as the Rambouillet Merino or the French Merino. The development of the Rambouillet breed started in 1786 when Louis XVI purchased over three hundred Spanish Merinos from his cousin, King Charles III of Spain...
early after they were imported by the USDA.
The rams with large horn curl are commercially bred for use on private hunting ranches where size of horn curl is prized by exotic game hunters.
Renaming
Recognizing that the term "Barbado" did not adequately define the characteristics that breeders sought, the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International (BBSAI) adopted a breed standard in 2004 and defined animals meeting this standard as "American Blackbelly." These striking, attractive sheep have become common in children's zoos and petting farms in the U.S. In addition to their exotic appearance, they are very easy to keep and breed.Characteristics
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
but have coarse hair instead. If raised in cooler climates, they often develop a wool undercoat that they shed in the spring.
Barbados Blackbelly sheep will breed all year round unlike most domestic sheep. Because they are smaller and slower growing than most wooled sheep, they are not a good choice for commercial production. However, there is a strong market for their lean and mild-flavored meat, and they are popular with herding dog
Herding dog
A herding dog, also known as a stock dog or working dog, is a type of pastoral dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds developed for herding...
trainers. They are very disease resistant and parasite tolerant, and these genetic traits have created a demand for Blackbelly sheep in crossbreeding operations. They are a perfect choice as a homesteader's sheep because they do relatively well on poorer forage
Forage
Forage is plant material eaten by grazing livestock.Historically the term forage has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used more loosely to include similar plants cut for fodder and carried to the animals, especially...
, can be raised with very little grain, and do not require intensive management. Blackbelly sheep range in color from light tan to a dark mahogany red, with black stripes on the face and black legs, belly, inguinal region, chin, and chest, which gives this herbivore its name. Despite being goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
-like in appearance, they are true sheep.
Registries
There are two breed registries in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
for Blackbelly sheep.
The Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International (BBSAI) welcomes both Barbados Blackbelly and American Blackbelly and has registries for both. The registry for Barbados Blackbelly is a closed registry, meaning that only sheep whose parents are registered can be registered themselves. There are over 1,600 sheep registered with the BBSAI. The North American Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Registry registers the horned as well as polled Blackbelly sheep.
External links
- http://blackbellysheep.org The Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International (BBSAI)
- http://barbados.sheepregistry.com The North American Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Registry
- http://www.blackbellysheep.info An email group for Barbados Blackbelly, American Blackbelly, and Barbado sheep breeders
- http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/004/X6517E/X6517E02.htm#ch2.1 Comprehensive FAO Book Chapter on Barbados Blackbelly Sheep
- http://www.barbadosblackbelly.com Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep - the most complete source of information about the breed available on the Internet
- http://sites.google.com/site/blackbellysheepbook/ The Blackbelly Sheep Book - A Wiki-based book for people who raise either Barbados Blackbelly or American Blackbelly sheep