Calfkiller Valley Farm
Calfkiller Valley Farm
Registered Barbados Blackbelly Sheep
Welcome to Calfkiller Valley Farm
About the Sheep
Barbados Blackbelly Sheep are a species of hair sheep, primarily raised for meat. Their meat is low in fat and cholesterol, making it a healthful choice and the flavor is mild compared to other breeds of sheep.
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In 1904, the first four ewes and one ram were imported from the island of Barbados. In 2004 there were fewer than 200 Barbados Blackbelly remaining in the U.S. Today, there are over 3,000 of these beautiful sheep in the U.S. Their popularity is high and for good reason. They are an easy to raise sheep and are disease and parasite resistant. They normally lamb on pasture and are good mothers. Most often lambs are born as twins or even triplets and since these sheep reproduce non-seasonally, meaning they breed year round, they have become a popular breed for many who want to raise their own meat and want to know what they are feeding to their families.
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Barbados Blackbelly sheep are naturally polled, which means they do not grow horns. They are a small-framed sheep and their meat is mild, even in an older sheep. They are a slowly maturing sheep and do not reach their ideal weight until about two years of age.
At Calfkiller Valley Farm, our sheep are not vaccinated. The breed is hardy, disease and parasite resistant and are raised on pasture as grass fed livestock.
And welcome to Calfkiller Valley...
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Wait! It's not what it sounds! Calfkiller Valley and the beautiful Calfkiller River were named after a Cherokee chief who lived in the valley when the first European settlers arrived in the area following the American Revolutionary War. We know, it's one heck of a name for a livestock farm but we love it here and our sheep do too!
