[Jacob-list] Primitive Jacobs

[Chovhani]

I'd be very grateful if someone could point me to photos of Primitive Jacobs, because despite listening to many discussions about them over the years on this group, I'm still not really sure how they differ. 
Melanie


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: gordon johnston 
  To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2002 6:06 PM
  Subject: [Jacob-list] Primitive Jacobs


  Hello everyone,
   
  Thanks for your comments on my quest for small, old-type Jacobs. It's not easy to go out looking for them in the UK at the moment. Although FMD has allegedly gone, 40,000 sheep were slaughtered in December alone in Northumberland. One farm lost 2000 sheep on New year's Day. The terror continues. With no shows or sales this last year, there has not been the opportunity to ask around. A good opportunity would be at the JSS agm, but for whatever reason this is being held in early April when I will be in the midst of lambing, outdoors, naturally, 900+ feet up a Scottish hillside. The Hebridean Sheep Society agm will be in February - seems a bit more sensible time of year to me. 
   
  Although  Mrs Marlow-Spalding may disagree with me, I still think breeding Jacobs for size may not have been unreservedly beneficial. Commercial farmers are hard pressed as never before and are even less likely to consider taking on Jacobs as commercial sheep. I see the Jacobs future as a smallholder's sheep. People love them for their markings and character - the size in not so important whereas ease of handling may well be. My particular interest is in genetic diversity. With any sheep, the moment you produce a breed standard you artificially limit the gene pool.  We need breed standards but we also should take care to keep diverse bloodlines going. So if I can find my primitives, I will try and keep them going. I rather like the idea of importing Semen from the USA - the original importations of Jacobs to the USA I think were from Scotland so it would be nice to bring some home. I suspect the cost and bureaucracy would be something else though. I do have one lovely ewe who exhibits primitive characteristics and was measured by George Benedict when he visited last. If George is reading this, perhaps he could say how Trixie compared with US breed standards. She was bred by Helen Baillie, so the genes haven't all gone!
   
  If I succeed, I will certainly let you know.
   
  Best wishes to all, Marmot flock especially,
   
  Gordon.
   
          
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