[Jacob-list] Jacobs at fairs in general

[Dr. David R. Lincicome]

1520 hrs/Saturday 25 August 2001

If you will consult the last issue of the Journal of the Jacob Sheep
Conservancy you will find an article on why it is not in the best
interest of the Jacob Breed to show them comparatively.

David Richard Lincicome, Ph.D.,PAS, DACAP
Guest Scientist, USDA

2512 at nethawk.com wrote:

> Yvonne Hart wrote:
>
> <Here in West Michigan, our fair is 98% club lambs-sound familiar?  My
> son took a Jacob out for showmanship, and was snickered at.  I was
> told by someone that fiber sheep showmanship is different from meat
> breeds'. It appeared to me that the judge (that openly stated she had
> no knowledge of the Jacobs)  was handling my son's sheep like she was
> checking its meat. How that was possible with a good three inches of
> wool on it, I do not know.  Is there a difference between fiber animal
> and meat animal showmanship?>
>
> Hi Yvonne,
>
> We experienced the same thing last year, but this year, the second
> year my 10 year old daughter showed Jacobs, no one laughed at her.
> Last year the crowd kind of chuckled at the extreme difference in  the
> sheep breeds, and the judge ignored her, but this year the judge
> commented on the soundness and excellent breed characteristics of her
> ewe lamb (which is Tritan's daughter), and also that she had done an
> excellent job of getting her lamb fit and groomed for the class.  She
> placed 2nd in showmanship and got Grand Champion in breed class--but
> she was the only Jacob.  The judge did say she had a very nice lamb
> though, even though she was the only one.  The neighbor --Matt
> McCarthy , who is also a member of this list and avid Jacob
> collector.... chickened out at the last minute, but he may show next
> year, which would further promote the breed in our county.  Matt did
> buy a beautiful 2 horned ewe at MFF so he should have even more very
> nice lambs to show next year.
>
> I think that you should hang in there, there are good judges out there
> that do appreciate the wool breeds.  They do check meat quality in
> wool breeds as part of the confirmation and breeding quality, but they
> shouldn't necessarily compare it with a meat sheep. They want to know
> how conditioned the lamb is regardless of the breed.
>
> Bonnie
>
> Bonnie and Herb Sutten ~** Sheepy Thyme Farm**~Edmore, Michigan~**~
> Llamas, California Variegated Mutant Sheep &  Natural Colored
> Romeldales
> Jacob & Shetland Sheep, French Angora Rabbits,  ABCA Border Collies
>
> http://www.agdomain.com/web/sheepythyme/ ** email:
> sheepythyme at nethawk.com
>
>
>
>