Choose the Best Breed

Michelle Schubert researched multiple sheep breeds before choosing Southdown Babydoll sheep for her Bergamascos’ Babydoll Brigade farm in Stomping Ground, Kentucky. In addition to their diminutive size and overall adorableness, Schubert appreciated their versatility.

“They sell well in the companion, pet and 4-H/FFA markets; they are used in vineyards, sustainable agriculture and organic farming; and their wool is favored among spinners and fiber artists,” she says. “They also have select carcass value for the table … and some folks even milk them.”

Think about your goals for raising livestock — meat, milk, fiber, show, companions — and choose the breed that will best meet those needs.