Our Roogulli Babydolls
From little things...
In 2016 we registered our Roogulli Southdown flock with Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association and began developing a line of white Babydoll sheep. Based on the idea of Babydolls from North America but using purebred Australian Southdown genetics, we wanted to breed small, neat sheep suited to Australian conditions – a type of sheep that would be useful for small farms, vineyards and orchards, easy to look after and fun to keep.
To achieve this we decided to combine the smaller height found in some older-style Southdown sheep with the significant benefits achieved in recent decades of Southdown breeding in Australia.
Southdowns are a heritage sheep breed with a wide diversity of genetics. This gave us plenty of options for carefully selecting the foundation sheep for our flock.
When we began with this approach we were not at all certain that it would work. Now we can see good results. Each year the flock improves. Many of our sheep have passed a rigorous inspection process to be registered as Purebred Babydolls with Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia.
To achieve this we decided to combine the smaller height found in some older-style Southdown sheep with the significant benefits achieved in recent decades of Southdown breeding in Australia.
Southdowns are a heritage sheep breed with a wide diversity of genetics. This gave us plenty of options for carefully selecting the foundation sheep for our flock.
When we began with this approach we were not at all certain that it would work. Now we can see good results. Each year the flock improves. Many of our sheep have passed a rigorous inspection process to be registered as Purebred Babydolls with Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia.
Small but mighty – bred to perform
We have been able to establish a number of unique Babydoll bloodlines using a range of Southdown genetics including older semen.
We don't participate in many sheep shows but have show successes to celebrate.
We don't participate in many sheep shows but have show successes to celebrate.
Roogulli Spritz and Roogulli Fizz, Royal Canberra Show 2025
A touch of colour
First we needed to get the white Babydolls right. With that job well underway, we began to introduce colour. Coloured Babydolls are fun!
Our chocolate Babydolls get their colour from the Extension Dominant gene which was introduced by other breeders by outcrossing with Dorpers. They are born black and gradually fade to brown or blonde in the sun. We have stud quality and pet chocolate Babydolls available each year. Some are registered as Purebred Babydolls with Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia and others are eligible for inspection for purebred registration.
Our chocolate Babydolls get their colour from the Extension Dominant gene which was introduced by other breeders by outcrossing with Dorpers. They are born black and gradually fade to brown or blonde in the sun. We have stud quality and pet chocolate Babydolls available each year. Some are registered as Purebred Babydolls with Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia and others are eligible for inspection for purebred registration.
Chocolate Babydoll ewe lambs (4 months old, 97%)
We have a second coloured Babydoll program underway to breed Babydolls with a variety of Agouti colour patterns including Badger, Light Blue and Dark Blue. Babydolls with these patterns will have symmetric markings in shades of black, grey and white a bit like a sheep version of a Siamese cat. They will also have other distinctive white markings such as tear drops, moustaches, sugar lips and white ear rims. Agouti colour patterns are naturally occurring in Southdowns but are usually hidden by dominant white genes.
One of our foundation Agouti coloured Southdown ewes
Registration
We register our white and coloured Roogulli Babydolls with Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia (BSBA). Many of our sheep are registered as BSBA Purebred Babydolls. Where we have used larger purebred Southdowns to introduce new genetics, their lambs are eligible for inspection for registration as BSBA Purebred Babydoll when they are one year old.
Our sheep that are 100% white Southdown genetics are also part of our Roogulli Southdown flock registered with Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association (ASSBA) .
Our sheep that are 100% white Southdown genetics are also part of our Roogulli Southdown flock registered with Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association (ASSBA) .