Barbados Black Belly

The Barbados Black Belly is a breed of sheep from the Caribbean island of Barbados. Although it is likely the Barbados Blackbelly has African ancestry, there seems to be clear evidence that the breed, as seen today, was developed by the people on the island from sheep brought by ships fairly early in the period after Europeans first arrived. Blackbelly sheep of both breeds are able to tolerate heat and exhibit more stamina than most breeds of sheep. They are fleet of foot and in many ways resembles deer. They are hair sheep which means they don't grow wool, but instead they have coarse hair. If raised in cooler climates, they often develop a wool undercoat that they shed in the spring.