Can you milk barbados sheep

In a close corral and in the defense of their young, less timid individuals show protective behavior, raising a front leg as though warning off the predator and occasionally bristling the hair on top of the neck and even jumping at the animal to strike with the fore feet. Ewes with very young lambs show protective behavior to a high degree. Some individual rams will charge dogs repeatedly with little or no provocation.

Mature Barbados Blackbelly ewes have a high prolificacy. Studies have shown the average lambing rate to range between 1. Most weigh 80 to 90 pounds, with mature ewes pounds, and rams to pounds. Carcass studies of 5 to 7 month old male lambs sent to slaughter show that Barbados Blackbelly lambs have much less body fat than do other comparable sheep breeds. Flavor of the meat is excellent, being much milder than in our usual market lambs.

This is probably due to less fatness, since the characteristic flavor of lamb meat is primarily in the fat. Ram lamb gains as measured by weight per day of age 5 to 7 months are.

Barbados Blackbelly sheep are connsidered to be resistant to the effects of internal parasites. In many parts of the U.

These sheep are also resistant to most of the sheep diseases that can easily dessimate unvaccinated wooled flocks. Thus, it is much easier to raise Barbados Blackbelly sheep without chemical intervention, making them popular with breeders serving organic and ethnic markets. These hair sheep are fully fertile in crosses with other breeds. First crosses with wool breeds include those that shed only part of the wool on the body such as belly, lower neck, and sides.

Later backcrosses to the Barbados Blackbelly result in animals that will shed completely or almost so. Crosses with the Dorset Horn and Suffolk have resulted in a pronounced increase in growth rate of progeny. Those with the Suffolk have resulted in the extremely seasonal estrus cycle characteristic of that breed. A limited number of crosses with the Dorset have cycled throughout the year.

The Dorset cross appears to decrease nervousness and increase docility in both lambs and ewes. Thomas, D. Proceedings Hair Sheep Research Symposium ed. Stephan Wildeus. University of the Virgin Islands. Fitzhugh and G. Bradford, eds. We are currently looking for high resolution pictures of any of the breeds. Please mail your original copies with our email form animal-science-mail-form Please provide a description of this breed as well NOTE: The form can also be used for Comments, Suggestions, and Corrections.

All rights reserved. Division Home. Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science. Navigation Home. Breeds of Livestock - Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Barbados Blackbelly Barbados Blackbelly sheep combine the rare attributes of adaption to widespread environments and high reproductive efficiency, which account for their average of two lambs per litter and an average lambing interval of eight to nine months.

Photos courtesy of Becky Lannon History Several studies have been made as to the origin of the breed, which has been widely accepted as African. Lifespan: up to 13 years in captivity, unknown years in the wild. How much are Barbados sheep? For Sale: Quality registered Barbados Blackbelly sheep breeding stock; starter flocks and individual sheep for sale from multiple bloodlines. Have some sheep available who have birthed or sired twins and triplets.

The Barbados Blackbelly is a hair sheep breed which means they do not grow wool but have course hair instead. Thus, they do not need to be sheared. Browsers generally but not always the hair sheep and primitive breeds will eat cedars and tend to tolerate it. Grazers tend not to. Mature ewes generally have two to three or more lambs in any season, and depending on management, are capable of three litters every year and a half or so. They are very good mothers. Because the protein content of sheep milk is so high, it is not recommended for babies up to 12 months.

Ewes are milked twice daily from mid-late August until Christmas when, depending on production, milking drops to once-a-day until the end of summer. Most weigh 80 to 90 pounds, with mature ewes pounds, and rams to pounds.

Carcass studies of 5 to 7 month old male lambs sent to slaughter show that Barbados Blackbelly lambs have much less body fat than do other comparable sheep breeds. Blackbellies are known for being able to survive by browsing, not just grass grazing. In the wild, they eat tree and plant leaves, fresh or dry, they eat weeds, they eat Yaupon and many other brush items to fill their wide ranging variety of tastes. They are docile alert with a triangular shaped head and Roman nose.

The Ram has a more masculine head that the female. They have slender forelegs and muscular hindquarters. They are not usually used for their milk. They can be bred twice a year in 8 to 9-month intervals. They can also carry their pregnancy through hot humid heat. They are quite large and can be a bit skittish if not raised correctly. They are not suited around children. Please see the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International breeders directory for an up to date list of breeders in or around your area.

The Barbados Black Belly Sheep has a degree field of vision and as such does not have to turn its head to behind it.