[Jacob-list] primitive traits

[Edd Bissell]

Primitive traits to me are:

first - visual - non commercial looking - narrow nose patterns, testicles 
carried high in the males - cow hocking i.e. ability to place feet in a 
narrow walk pattern - a kimpy, shedding, short type wool before man 
manipulated the wool types [and this wool type was evident to me in the old 
American type Jacobs in the early years]  = look at a Mouflon and then look 
as say a Commercial breed sheep - a certain carriage, look, stance - if you 
have seen it you know it......maybe just a non lethargic look.

second - ability to thrive on sparse vegetation,  ability to survive harsh 
environments when needed - ability multiply their species without mans 
imput - the early Jacobs were able to do the above 3 things and still 
should be.  Shetlands, Mouflons, Soay, etc fall into these 
categories.  Easy birthing -  extremely important to me in primitive traits.


Thru the years the animals that I have raised I certainly consider as 
pmitive type animals - Mouflon, Navajo-Churro wool , ChurroHair, Shetland, 
Scottish Blackface [althought you could not consider these as a 
kimpy=shedding wool breed!!!!!]Fainting Goats, Water Buffalo, Maran 
chickens, Hamburg chickens [although they were not broody], Fallow deer, 
Great Pyrenees dogs, - none  of these breeds were demanding animals - now 
Wilshire Horn, Texas Dall [bred primarily for Trophy Horns], any other type 
of Texas trophy type animals that had been "made" in that hot, sands, type 
environment,  Angora goats, etc were horribly time consuming - internal 
parasites, foot problems, prolapses, fly strike, pulling lambs, etc - did 
not take me long to figure our that they were NOT for me.  Once man has 
manipulated an animal for MORE milk, wool, meat, or any other by product it 
looses its primitive traits = BUT in the rural mountains area of the South 
you still find localized pigs, sheep, goats, etc that have been on farms or 
in area that still used them as quick meals or something that can be 
utilized as food without preservation even in warm/hot  weather. = Guiney 
hogs, Nervous/Fainting/brush type goats, local sheep breeds [these still 
have a roane/Tunis type look. = you still find these type sheep in our area.

Edd Bissell
New Market, Tn.
www.eddbissell.com