Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Breed Information
The Barbados Blackbelly is native to Barbados, one of the Caribbean Islands. The breed is a direct descendant of sheep that were introduced to the island by West Africa during the age of the African slave trade. Barbados Blackbelly are often compared to antelope due to their striking, wild appearance and generally this breed of sheep is light brown, red-brown, tan or yellow colored with striking black bellies and a black and white "badger" face. The Barbados Blackberry is known to be a very resilient breed and is sought after for it's efficient reproduction - one of the reasons Barbados Blackbelly sheep are one of the most abundant sheep breeds in the world. Some Barbados Blackbelly sheep have short fuzzy hair under their main coat, though this typically sheds (along with the rest of the hair) on an annual basis. A flock of Barbados Blackbelly is a common choice for shepherds interested in a natural grass-fed approach to raising sheep because this breed does not require chemical additives like some domestic breeds, thriving on foods which many would consider poor quality. In the 1970s breeders in Texas crossed the Barbados Blackbelly with Mouflon and Rambouillet to produce the American Blackbelly - a separate, horned breed of hair sheep which bears a striking resemblance to its Barbados Blackbelly ancestors.
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photo courtesy of Mary Swindell & the BBSAI
MATURE BODY WEIGHT
Ram 90-150 lb. Ewe 85-100 lb. |
