About our farm
Sweet Sourland Farms is family owned and run, offering local forest and agricultural products.
Barbados Blackbelly sheep are on the Livestock Conservancy Priority list, status Threatened.. We are one of 2 Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International (BBSAI) member breeders in NJ. We’re also members of the Livestock Conservancy, are fiber providers for the “Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em” (SE2SE) program, as well as the Garden State Sheep Breeders Association and the Northeast Organic Farmers Association/NJ ((NOFA/NJ).
Our lambs are bred here and raised on pasture with their mothers. All foundation rams and ewes were gene tested and selected for scrapie resistance. All are AA on codon 136. Our 2 rams are RR (resistant) and ewes either QR (moderately resistant) or RR on codon 171.All were tested for parasite resistance in July and August 2024, and their lambs were tested in 2025, with low FAMACHA scores validated by low fecal egg counts (VT lab) All are BBSAI registered.
We do checks to weigh, trim hooves and assess body condition, parasite status and general health of all our animals. All receive annual CDT vaccination, and our farm is registered with the USDA Scrapie prevention program. We maintain a closed herd for biosecurity. We also have livestock protection dogs to safeguard our sheep.
Barbados Blackbelly Sheep
APRIL 2026 EWE LAMBS AND RAM LAMBS AVAILABLE
Email or Call to reserve for July pick up.
Barbados Blackbelly sheep are a rare heritage breed of Caribbean hair (shedding) sheep, known for their heat tolerance, parasite resistance, aseasonal breeding for spring or fall lambs. Ewes are prolific with a high rate of twins, low rate of difficulty lambing, with excellent mothering. All have browsing habits and lean carcass traits, similar to goats. Both sexes are naturally polled (no horns) and do not require shearing, crutching, disbudding or tail docking. Slow growing black hooves need trimming only 1-2x/year. Very hardy, low input small ruminants!