[Jacob-list] What is this sheep, anyway?

[Linda]

There were some very good and thought provoking points brought up in this thread.  

But, don't we all do some sort of selection?  How can we not?  I sometimes think that if I had a huge flock I would 
maybe
keep a few of the forward horned ewes because of their positive traits. But, I have a small flock and I dislike forward
horns (ALOT).  One forward horned ewe is 12.5 % of my ewe flock - too high a percentage for my taste. I have set a size
limit on my flock.  Everytime I go beyond that limit, or buy some new bloodlines, I have to get rid of something. The 
best get sold, the mediocre go to the freezer.  I 
believe this occurs in even the largest flocks.   It is unlikely that
anyone out there keeps every single lamb. Or that there is a buyer for every lamb we can't keep.  At some point 
most breeders need to get rid of something.  Of course, I choose to keep the ones I like best.  I imagine many breeders
do the same.  And when 75% of your lamb crop turns out to be rams, even if they are great animals, some will often end 
up in the freezer.

That's selection. And since this is my flock and I pay the bills, I do select according to my preferences.  I realize 
that I cannot hope to have the diversity in my small flock that will be found in some of the 50+ ewe flocks.  But, my 
flock, selected by me and for me, does contribute to preserving the breed even while reflecting my preferences.

Linda


On Tue, 19 Sep 2000 14:37:24 -0400, Dr. David R. Lincicome wrote:
>1408 hrs/Tuesday 19 September 2000
>
>Your thoughtful letter has resonated with me, for I too have wrestled
>philosophically about the purposes and objectives of our commitment
>to
>Jacob Sheep.  I am disturbed by the expressions of so many Jacob
>owners
>about selection for this or that characteristic, about expressions of
>preferences, about discarding specimens not having pleasing set of
>horns,
>about color ratios too this or too that, etc.  Why do they disturb
>me?


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