Blackwood Hampshire Downs: Nine-year-old Sebastian Beattie and sister Audrey, 7, launch sheep stud

Two farming siblings under 10 are showing just how determined they are to be part of the sheep world by starting their own stud.

If enthusiasm is a measure of the future of Australia’s newest Hampshire Down stud, then success is almost guaranteed.

The Beattie siblings, Sebastian, 9, and Audrey, 7, are the breed’s newest converts and over the weekend submitted an application to formally register their stud as Blackwood.

Sebastian could almost be considered a veteran of the sheep world, after “bugging my dad to work with sheep since I was two”.

And rather than opt to ride on the coat-tails of his father’s success with Poll Dorsets and maternals on the family’s Trentham East property, Sebastian chose the black-faced Hampshire Downs in his quest to become a seedstock producer.

Sebastian and Audrey Beattie with their Hampshire Downs sheep Arthur and Lilac.
Picture: Zoe Phillips

The first step was to buy two pregnant ewes earlier this year, which produced three lambs.

“We had three lambs but one of the ewes had mastitis so we had to borrow a foster mother from dad’s flock to raise one of the lambs,” Sebastian said.

All lambs – one ram and two ewes – grew well and the goal was to show the progeny at the Kyneton Show this year, where they walked away with placings.

It required a huge commitment from Sebastian and Audrey, spending an hour a day teaching the sheep to lead.

“I think I love working with sheep because I grew up on a farm and have always been around them,” Sebastian said.

Picture: Zoe Phillips

“The goal is to show our sheep and to be able to sell rams.”

At the age of seven, Audrey has also caught the sheep-showing bug and one of the Hampshire Down ewe lambs – Lilac – now belongs to her.

“Because my brother was doing a lot with sheep, I really found I wanted to as well,” Audrey said.

At just seven, Audrey Beattie is also loving her involvement with the sheep world and Hampshire Downs especially.

Simon said he was happy to encourage his children in activities that were outside and wholesome.

“We just love that they are not stuck on screens and they have worked hard,” he said.