[Jacob-list] scurs

[Dave & Katrina]

We also have little experience with this, so let me add a few questions... 
what about a similar situation where the uppers grew back and the lowers
are firmly attached but only about an inch or two long?  Are they still
called scurs or are they just weak horns?  I would think that both 2 horn
ewes and 4 horn rams would mask the scurring traits, right?

We also noticed this year that several of our widely spaced two horn ram
lambs had a long, thin piece horn material growing under the main horns. 
This broke off as the ram matured.  What would you call these guys?

The ram lamb we bought from the Twigg flock (very inbred fieldwoods) has
nicely spaced 4 horns with two scurs (?) or tiny horn buds growing in
between on the right side.  They have popped off twice in the short time he
has been here. Any guess what will happen to him as an adult?  I will try
to post a picture later if I find the time.

And one last situation, one of our ewes, Achta has four pretty horns
...lately, her breeder told me that she was born with an extra set in
between that was pushed out later...I see no sign of them on her now.

So are these extra horns buds different than the lower horn scurs that
people talk about?
Katrina Lefever, Chicory Lane Farm


> [Original Message]
> From: <SharHill at aol.com>
> To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
 > Date: 8/8/02 12:40:11 PM
> Subject: [Jacob-list] scurs
>
> Hi all.  
> 
> I have a question about scurs.  I have a yearling 4 horn ewe who broke
off 
> all 4 horns  when she was a few months old.  The top 2 grew back nicely
and 
> are quite solidly attached, though a bit funny looking with the blunt
tips.  
> However, the laterals grew back as little nubs that move around in the
skin, 
> as if they are not really attached to the skull.  Those are scurs, right?

> (This is my first experience with this and have never seen them before.)
> 
> I was just wondering about the genetics of it.   I will admit right now
that 
> I don't know much about genetics,  so forgive any "dumb" questions or 
> statements I might make. 
> 
> The mother is a 2 horned ewe with very nice solid horns.  The father is a
4 
> horned ram, also with very solid horns.  I assume there is a gene that
causes 
> scurs to appear?  Do both parents have to have it for the scurs to show
up in 
> the offspring?  If they both have the gene, how great is the likelihood
that 
> scurs would show up?  I would be interested to hear how this works. 
> 
> I was also wondering if anyone keeps track of, or knows how widespread
the 
> defect is in the breed.  Also, do scurs ever occur on 2 horned animals,
and 
> do they ever show up on the top horns of 4 horned sheep?  Do they occur
more 
> frequently in ewes or rams or does anyone even know?
> 
> The sire of this scurred ewe also produced several lambs with split
eyelids.  
> Is this in any way connected to the scur issue?
> 
> Thanks.  I'll appreciate any answers I can get to satisfy my curiosity
about 
> this.
> 
> Sharon Hill
> 
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--- Dave & Katrina 
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