02/29/08

History and Description of Barbados Blackbelly Sheep:

The Barbados Blackbelly breed originally developed on the West Indies island of Barbados from hair sheep brought in by African slave traders during the 1600s. In 1904, the USDA imported four ewes and a ram to Bethesda, Maryland. Offspring from those sheep, as well as BB sheep making their way into the U.S. from imports into South America and Mexico, established several “colonies” of BB sheep in the U.S.  Some of these BB sheep were crossed in the southwest United States with horned Ramboulliet and Mouflan to create a horned version known informally as "barbado" and now officially known as American Blackbelly.  The original polled (hornless) sheep as they appeared on the Island of Barbados are known as Barbados Blackbelly.  Today a small group of dedicated breeders are committed to the preservation of this rare breed of original Barbados Blackbelly sheep.  Barbados Blackbelly sheep are known for their excellent tender and mild meat quality, their ease of care, their resistence to disease and parasites, and their prolific all-season breeding and lambing.

Barbados Blackbelly Sheep at Bellwether Farm:

At Bellwether Farm, we have been raising purebred polled Barbados Blackbelly sheep since 2002.  We pride ourselves on raising some of the finest registered polled Barbados Blackbelly stock in the United States.  Our flock is extremely healthy, of good carcass size, and has an excellent smooth hair coat with perfect markings.  At the present time we have 30 breeding ewes from 5 maternal lines, and 6 breeding rams from 3 paternal lines.  All stock is registered with the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International, and all breeding stock lambs will be sold with registration papers and a multi-generational pedigree.

We raise our sheep as naturally as possible.  Our pastures are native (unimproved) pastures, and the flock grazes on this alone during 8 months out of the year (April through November).  During December through March the flock is fed a grass hay with a small amount of alfalfa, and they also receive a small amount of shelled corn (1/4 lb. per head) during the coldest winter weather.  We provide fresh water, salt, and a sheep mineral block at all times of the year.  We vaccinate lambs with CD/T vaccine (for Overeating Disease and Tetnus) at 2 weeks and 4 weeks.  We do not vaccinate adults.  We worm with standard oral drench wormers between 2 and 4 times per year.  We trim feet once or twice per year.

95% of our sheep sales are for breeding stock.  We also sell yearling market lambs for slaughter by request.  Additionally, we occasionally sell dog-broke herding sheep when enough are available.  We will be happy to take your requests for lambs in any of these categories.

Prices and Terms:

Our registered lambs for breeding stock sell for $125.00 each, plus the cost of any needed health papers and plus any applicable shipping costs.  A 50% deposit is required to reserve sheep, and we ask that you pay the balance and pick up your stock within 30 days.  To purchase breeding stock, contact Bellwether Farm at (618) 893-4568 or e-mail to mswindel@siu.edu.

Stock sold for slaughter is priced individually, based on weight.  Please contact us for details, at Bellwether Farm, (618) 893-4568 or e-mail to mswindel@siu.edu.

Stock sold for herding purposes is also priced individually, based on age and level to which stock is dog-broke.  Again, please contact us for details at (618) 893-4568 or e-mail to mswindel@siu.edu.

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Bloodlines:

 Let me tell you about the bloodlines of our sheep at Bellwether Farm: