What's in a Name?

Just before my kids were born my wife and I stressed over thousands of baby names. One of the things that I'm a believer in is that the name a person has somehow is related to their personality.

I know you're asking yourself, "What does this have to do with sheep?" Well, it matters what you call your sheep and we all need to know what to call them so others don't get confused when they ask what kind of "Goat" we're raising (No kidding, 'Goat'. It's happened more times than I can count).

I don't mean to suggest that all of us should be searching out names that match the personality of our sheep. I think it's great that we can call them whatever we want to. Personally speaking, names like Rib-eye, Lamb chop, Brisket, or Stew all work equally well for me and add some comedy when visitors come have a "look-see" at the flock.

What I want to clarify is the breed name and ask you:

"What TYPE of sheep do you have?"

 
Do you have a Barb-ah-'doe', Barbados Blackbelly, an American Barbados, an American Blackbelly, or and American Blackbelly Barbados? Do you have a Painted Desert, or by chance a Hawaiian Black? Or perhaps you have something else that looks similar to these hair sheep like a Yellow belly? Are you sure you're using the right name? Which is the right name?
 
Confused by all of this? Yes? I more than sympathize. I'm not going to delve into the many many hair sheep around today, but there are several sheep that have some genetics in common that are being calling by many of the wrong names.
 
I've asked a few people, who know more than I do, to send a few pictures to help us correctly identify the sheep we own. By knowing the name, that in itself this might help start us in the right direction toward breed standards and breeders associations we can attach ourselves to.
  

The reason this name is so strongly stressed is that the name "Barbados" was, and still is, being used to describe American Blackbelly which are a horned version of this color and shape of sheep. Barbados Blackbelly however DO NOT have horns and are called "Polled" (Hornless).          (Picture Courtesy of Carol Elkins, Critterhaven, Pueblo, CO)

Because of the name confusion and being mislabeled, the distinction of breed names has become very important to the breeders of American Blackbelly and Barbados Blackbelly alike. The Barbados Blackbelly had many desirable characteristics in its gene pool which breeders desired to crossbreed with other European and wild sheep. However, we kept calling the crossbreds "Barbado" (or some other derivative) and the breed became LOST in the shuffle of breeders and nomenclature (what something is named). This almost resulted in the polled Barbados Blackbelly sheep being completely diluted with other breeds and lost as a unique breed of sheep.

It's believed that the Barbados Blackbelly found in Barbados arrived to the island via traders colonizing the islands in the very early 1600's. There they attempted to raise wool sheep which were very unsuccessful on this 1,660 square mile island. The records are unclear as to the cause of their wooled sheep poor health issues although they did suspect that the heat was a leading cause. They noted that in spite of their poor health, these sheep were prolific breeders having mainly twins during lambing. Additionally, the early writing describes another breed of hair sheep, possible two types, being introduced into the island colony at that same time period; described as looking more like goat than sheep. It's strongly suggested that the breeds may have eventually crossbred. Through natural selection arising from the harsh parasitic nature of the land, the poor grazing, poisonous plants, and the heat and humidity all of these may have been the factors which resulted in what we know today as being the polled Barbados Blackbelly.

The desirable traits of Barbados Blackbelly are what you might suspect from the mix being described in the writings:  1) They are prolific breeders, lambing up to three times in 18 months. 2) They are known to have multiple lambs at birth averaging 1.5 - 2.3 lambs. 3) They are parasitic resistant having only 10% of the parasites that would be found in other breeds under similar conditions and managing to carry a much heavier number of parasites without showing signs of problem (Worm burden). 4) Being a hair sheep, not producing wool, the waxy oil found in wool sheep that gives the typical lamb we find in the store its characteristic 'mutton' flavor (Lanoline), is not present. lacking this the meat tastes better than typical lamb even as older Blackbelly adults are culled and consumed. 5) These sheep seem to manage on land that other sheep can't seem to forage on. They can thrive on poor vegetation and are considered more desirable for the small farm to raise as they will clear out rough underbrush opening area that cattle would otherwise avoid. 6) Because they have coarse hair that sheds often, the sheep tend to do well in the heat and humidity of tropical and sub-tropical climates while other sheep fertility and vigor declines.

What a gold mine of a sheep!
 
Blackbelly taste good, breed often, don't get sick, eat anything, great in the heat and cold. . . . One might want to proclaim, "We've got to breed this with bigger sheep!" And that thought nearly killed off the breed entirely as people became confused with the names being thrown around. Barbados Blackbelly were nearly lost because they were confused with the American Blackbelly which were all being called by the common name 'Barbados' (at least here in Texas - and they still are being called that by most).
 
Yes, the Barbados Blackbelly did breed well with other sheep, and as people crossbred it with several other varieties of sheep, such as to add fanciful horns like those of the Wild Mouflon, the species nearly disappeared as the introduction of new DNA began. Today there are only an estimated 400 - 500 purebred Barbados Blackbelly remaining in the United States. Today the breed resides with approximately two dozen dedicated breeders, a research flock owned by Virginia State University, and the former flock of North Carolina State University which is now in the hands of an independent breeder.
 

Ref:  Barbados Blackbelly Sheep, R.K. Rastogi, H.E. Williams, and F.C. Youssef

There is a growing drive today for uniformity within the breed as this type of sheep grows in popularity among smaller ranches and farms for both its meat and easy of care. Current standards can be viewed at the following registries:

North American Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Registry - American Blackbelly Standard
 
Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International - American Blackbelly Standard

The Blackbelly Barbado
& The American Barbado -
The best way to describe these breeds is to say, I'm sorry, they don't exist. This is a jumbled mix of words that people, including myself, have used and spread over the years.
 
Personally speaking, being an American doesn't include terms like Chinese Americans, African Americans, or Mexican Americans (Although we can argue Native American as an exception). If we are citizens then we are ALL Americans and I don't need to apologize for saying it like this. When people ask me "What are you?", I say American -- you should too.
 
The same is true for the sheep we're all admiring. An American Blackbelly is an American Blackbelly, and a Barbados Blackbelly is a Barbados Blackbelly. We can say American Blackbelly, because the breed was first created here, but there is no such thing as an American Barbados or American Barbado -- we didn't create the breed.

As for saying Blackbelly Barbado, what other kind of Barbados Sheep is there? Frankly, just say it correctly and we'll all be happy.        That being . . . . .Barbados Blackbelly.

 
In saying this I'm sure that I've probably just lost someone as a reader, but if we want to be honest and true to the terminology then we need to start naming breeds correctly and stick to a common nomenclature (way of naming things), if not, then we'll all start arguing with each other when in reality we're really saying the same thing. It seems to be the right thing to do being that we almost lost an entire breed of sheep by misidentifying it (Like forgetting where you parked your car). 
 

  (Pictures Courtesy of Buffalo Creek Farm, Germanton, NC) 

Hawaiian Blacks have recently been gaining in their notoriety as a result of their increased popularity among game hunters. While the Hawaiian has not yet been fully recognized as a breed, they are particularly desirable among game hunters due to their Corsican type horns and black pelt.

These sheep are attractive and distinct from the American Blackbelly as they have been carefully selected to consistently produce the animals you see in the pictures above. Hawaiians are a medium sized sheep with rams weighing in the 130 - 140 Lb range, slightly larger than Barbados Blackbelly, and whose horns can grow up to 35 - 40 inches when reaching full maturity. Many of the characteristics of the Hawaiian Black, including build, hair type, and parasitic resistance are similar to those of the founding genes of the Barbados Blackbelly. 

While the color range of American Blackbelly is normally very light tan to a dark mahogany, every once in a while the crossbreed will generate a black lamb due in part to the Corsican-Mouflon influence. Breeders, being interested in the attractiveness of the black coat and Corsican horns, singled these traits out for breeding into what you see today. Some of the Corsican influences in the breed remain and manifest itself through the tolerable appearance of a white mussel or white tipped tail. 
 
For more information please view and read the Buffalo Creek Farm website linked above. There are two stories about their origin on this site, ( I believe the later)

Painted Desert -

This breed of sheep is another example of selective crossbreeding as herdsman desired the spotted sheep after introducing more domesticated breeds into the Corsican-Barbado (American Blackbelly) mix of sheep. Their name "may" have originated from breed of horse that is similar in color: a "Paint" (which looks a lot like a Pinto).

The painted desert sheep, having been infused with the Texas Dall which has a white underbelly and can have a subtle sandy desert color, was popularized by being called or Parti-Dall. This name may have been the result of hyphenating two Spanish words, partido & daltonismo, describing the breed as bunch of color-blind party go-ers; because of the flamboyant multi-colored coats. 

Painted Desert, a little less colorful in name than our Spanish counterparts in the Southwest, sounds a lot more regal and respectable as a breed name.

The Painted Desert Sheep come in a variety of patterns and colors but its black belly underpart known in the American Blackbelly were bred out. Still, these sheep are highly sought after by the game industry for their horns, unique look, and wonderful multi-colored coats.

For more information on this breed contact the Painted Desert Sheep Society.

Yellow Belly -

Personally speaking, researching this breed name revealed a rather funny story. The only thing I could find was an antiquated definition of a sheep whose belly turned yellow as it ran across a wild mustard field in bloom. As the sheep turned and ran from trouble the pollen stuck to their underbellies turning them yellow. Hence, the term is now applied to people who run away when trouble comes --       

           A Yellow belly

In every appearance but color this sheep is an American Blackbelly. Its hair may be completely tan to almost white with black hoofs, not white. Looking closely, careful examination, some black-ish highlights may be seen on the legs, belly, neck, and/or face but the well defined color of the AB's is lacking. It is certainly a hair sheep with all of the physical build of an American Blackbelly, but it simply doesn't meet the breed standard.

Well OK, you're all thinking it, I'll just say it -- It's a mutt, a throwback, and one day you may call it either a pet, or simply freezer lamb.