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Unique Charm of Harlequin Sheep: An American Treasure

In the world of livestock, miniature sheep breeds hold a special place, and among them, the Harlequin sheep stands out as a true gem. Developed in the United States, this hornless, joyful breed with its distinctive spotted patterns and occasional blue eyes has captured the hearts of many breeders and enthusiasts alike.

American-Bred Excellence

The Harlequin sheep breed was meticulously developed by Kathleen Sterling, owner of Black Sheep Farm East in Virginia, around 35 years ago. By carefully selecting and breeding a variety of sheep breeds, including Karakul, Tunis, Corriedale, Lincoln, Border Leicester, Romney, Montadale, and Southdown rams, Sterling achieved her goal of creating a breed with the size and conformation of the Southdown, but with a unique, varied fleece. The Harlequin sheep we know today is a testament to her vision and dedication.

Easy to Handle, Hornless and J0yful

One of the most notable features of the Harlequin sheep is that they are naturally hornless, or polled. This characteristic makes them safer and easier to handle, reducing the risk of injury for both the sheep and their handlers. Their joyful disposition makes them a delight to raise, as they are friendly, easy to manage, and well-suited for shepherds of all ages, from young children to seniors.

Kim Gore of Seeing Spots Farm, VA

The Historical Harlequin

The Harlequin sheep as we know it today was developed by Kathleen Sterling, owner of Black Sheep Farm East in VA about 35 years ago. A variety of breeds were used to develop the Harlequin breed including Karakul, Tunis, Corriedale, Lincoln, Border Leicester, Romney, Montadale, and Southdown rams. 

When Ms. Sterling’s goal of consistently producing a sheep the size and basic conformation of the Southdown breeds with fleece of varied color, staple length and texture was realized some 15 years ago the flock became a closed breed meaning she had achieved what she wanted the breed to look like, along with other characteristics. Harlequins used to come in a standard size  even though technically that still fits the definition of miniature sheep (26" at shoulder). 

In 2018, the registry was handed over to Jill Christopher. At that time, it was decided to continue the breeding focus on shorter sheep overall, yet the standard has not changed.. Since 2018 approximately 15 sheep were admitted under our Open Registry evaluation, yet many of the lambs given HSSR registration were from registered Babdyoll Southdowns.

photo courtesy of Black Sparrow Ranch

2023: A Turning Point

To counter misconceptions and defamation by Babydoll Southdown breeders on Social Media, a change needed to be made to allow for an influx of new genetics to get us to an American Purebred status in 500 registered Harlequin sheep - the number frequently quoted as the minimum needed for enough diversity to sustain the breed standards. As part of that change, the Open Registry process was closed at the end of December 2022. Read on about our exciting future.

The Future of Harlequins

While the Harlequin has standardized itself as a handsome breed of its own, breeders continue to improve on the size and “look” in achievement of Ms. Sterling’s vision. 

To that end, and to continue to breed the size downward, the registry is allowing lambs that are the result of a registered Harlequin cross bred to a registered Babydoll Southdown. 

This allows us to introduce the new bloodlines needed to reach that target of 500 American Purebred (AP) Harlequin sheep. 

Once we’ve reached that number, the breed will be closed to all outcrossing.

Why Babydoll Southdowns?

The reason is simple. Southdown rams were chosen to be a part of the breed mix that has become known as Harlequins. 

Although the rams used were the larger, American Southdown, we felt using the original petite version that was originally from the UK was a more true example of what Ms. Sterling envisioned. As some of the original, smaller Southdowns were re-discovered by Robert Mock in 1986 and subsequently renamed "Babydoll Southdown" to distinguish them as closer to the original Southdown, and because Southdowns are naturally polled also, this was the right choice.

Why Harlequins?

photos below courtesy of KidKat Ranch

Easy to Handle

Harlequins are a type of miniature sheep, with adult ewes typically weighing between 80-120 lbs and rams weighing 90-150 lbs. Due to their small size, they are suitable for all age groups, from young children to senior shepherds. 

One of their notable features is being naturally polled, which means they don't have horns and reduces the risk of serious injury. 

In addition to their manageable size, Harleys are known for being a hardy breed, which can withstand different environmental conditions. They are also easy lambers, producing multiple offspring over many years, which makes them suitable for small-scale farming or as a pet for enthusiasts.

Highly Prized Wool

Harlequins, like their Babydoll wool counterparts, are renowned for their fine, medium staple length wool. In fact, when Babydoll/Harlequin crosses occur, a beautiful, rich, dark, cocoa brown fleece is produced.

Additionally, when the tri-color fleece is processed, the resulting roving often has an attractive light gray color.

The wool from most mature Harlequins can be separated into off white, brown, gray, and tan to create roving in these specific colors. This feature makes Harlequins a desirable breed for wool production, as their wool can be utilized in a variety of textile applications.

Cost Effective

Although Harlequin sheep are a relatively rare breed, they are surprisingly affordable. If you're looking for a breed that can help you obtain or maintain an ag exemption on your land or serve as a 4H or FFA project for your kids or grandkids, Harlequins are definitely worth their "weight in gold". 

They are versatile animals that can thrive in different environments, whether it's on the farm, in your backyard, or even in the show ring.In fact, the value of Harlequins is reflected in their performance at various livestock shows. 

 

Harlequin Sheep
in the Ring

The breed made its debut at the Great State Fair of Texas in 2017, where Steven Williams showcased them and earned impressive rankings of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Subsequently, Williams went on to display them at the world-renowned Houston Stock Show and earned two Reserve Champion titles. 

These accolades demonstrate that Harlequin sheep are not only affordable but also a valuable investment for anyone looking to add them to their farm or livestock show program.

Photo Courtesy of KidKat ranch
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