The Olde English Southdown Miniature Sheep are a hardy breed with an ancient heritage. The foundation of this breed are direct decendents of the original Southdown Sheep brought to America from England in approximately 1803. In America, the little sheep were crossbred for meat production ultimately leading to the larger and taller Southdown Sheep of today. Meanwhile, in England the small standardized breed remained popular for their extreme hardiness, tenderness, and flavor. Unfortunately, the numbers of these sheep showed a sharp decline during World War I and the breed was almost extinct by the end of World War II due to the demand for larger cuts of meat. Fortunately, Robert Mock had the foresight that the small Southdown had a place in the miniature world. He established the Foundation Flock for the "Babydolls" from the remnant small flocks found scattered throughout England. Only a few hundred individuals of the original breed remained in 1991 when Mr. Mock established the registry for "Olde English Babydoll Miniature Southdown Sheep".
