Luxury sheep steal the spotlight at Senegal's high-profile beauty contest

In Senegal, elite sheep take center stage in a dazzling beauty contest where their elegance is met with cheers, music, and fireworks.

These striking animals—especially the prized Ladoum breed—are symbols of prestige, paraded in an open arena to the excitement of an enthusiastic crowd.

Known as the "Ferrari" of sheep, Ladoums are showcased in one of the country's most celebrated annual events, competing across three categories: adult male, adult female, and young/promising.

Judges score each sheep based on traits like size, beauty, horn shape, height, and skin texture. Winners take home cash and food prizes.

This year's top male, Prive, is just 19 months old but estimated to be worth over $100,000. "It feels amazing to be here," said his breeder, Isaiah Cisse, as he lovingly prepared Prive for his moment in the spotlight.

Unlike common sheep used for food and religious sacrifice, the Ladoum are luxury livestock—bred over years to represent wealth and social status. These animals can fetch prices as high as $70,000 or more, far surpassing the $250 typical for ordinary sheep, and they attract buyers globally.

Weighing up to 400 pounds and standing about 4 feet tall, Ladoums are admired for their impressive size, spiraled horns, and gleaming coats.

As the competition took place in Dakar, each sheep was guided onto a stage to be evaluated, accompanied by live Assiko music and chants praising the animals.

"You won't find sheep like these anywhere else," said Judge Elhadji Ndiaye. "Ladoum are truly unique."

Young breeders are also making their mark. Twenty-two-year-old Musa Faye named his sheep Diomaye, after the country's president, and is already preparing for future competitions.

"I play with him and spend a lot of time training," Faye said. "I know he'll win next time."

The event also showcased up-and-coming enthusiasts like 12-year-old Ibrahim Diagne, who dreams of entering the contest one day. "My parents love this, and now I do too," he said.

Sheep rearing in Senegal is a longstanding tradition passed down through families, often seen as more than just a livelihood—it's a cultural legacy.

That legacy continues for breeders like Maniane Ndaw, whose young sheep Alou won Best Junior Male this year—following in the footsteps of his champion father. "It brings me so much joy," Ndaw said. "It proves the strength of the bloodline."