[Jacob-list] Comment on "American Jacob"/Breed/Landrace

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

If we can generally agree that a Jacob (1) is a "dominant black, recessive 
piebald, polycerate (horned in both sexes)" we have basically described the 
Jacob as a breed and (2) is adaptable, parasite and disease resistance, has 
good mothering ability, low or moderate management we further add to the 
breed definition.  It is a two part definition of its genotype; a phenotype 
(look) and behavior (performance).

I applied the term landrace in my earlier post by highlighting what I 
consider the uniqueness of the Jacob(American) but did not define landrace.  
The ALBC definition, which is close at hand, is simply "a livestock breed 
shaped through natural as well as human selection. Landraces demonstrate a 
high degree of environmental adaptation, fertility, and parasite and disease 
resistance, but show less phenotypic consistency than standardized breeds."  

A breed standard defines a breed, distinguishes one type from another.  Most 
often it is done on 'looks'.  Sometimes it is done on genotype traits that 
are not primarily related to looks.  

The Jacob happens to be primarily defined phenotypically.  What other breeds 
have the phenotypic expression of the Jacob genotype..."dominant black, 
recessive piebald, polycerate in both sexes, medium tail"?  Many breeds have 
one or another phenotype trait but not in one genotype.  So in a sense, we 
have that baggage of phenotypic inconsistency to deal with before we get to 
the rest the genotype. 

Likewise, phenotypic diversity is not the same as genetic diversity.  I think 
you arrive at a standardized breed when you can look at the sire and dam and 
draw a rather accurate picture of the progeny before it is born...an element 
of predictability.

Are breeds defined apart from phenotype?  I think there are some. Consider  
breeds defined as "parasite and foot rot resistant".  There are no agreed(?) 
phenotypic traits to distinguish the breed by horns or color although flocks 
could be 'identified' among the original 400,000 sheep that ran 'loose' in 
the 1930s-40s(?).  The test for this breed to meet the 'standard' might be 
"dumping a load of parasites in the swamp and let the sheep live there for 
six months".  Those that survive are true Gulf Coast Natives, Piney Woods, or 
Florida Natives.  Perhaps all three 'breeds' are the same...but have 
different names?  I think the Cotswold association has a unique 'breed 
standard process' ; record all births, must have progeny records and only a 
certain % get 'registered', others get dropped.  They have a standardized 
performance criteria.  I may be off base but if a Cotswold breeder type out 
there knows the facts, set me straight.

Fred Horak