Fw: [Jacob-list] Primitive or not?

[George Benedict]

----- Original Message -----
From: George Benedict <benedict at snet.net>
To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 10:43 AM
Subject: Fw: [Jacob-list] Primitive or not?


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: George Benedict <glb123 at optonline.net>
> To: <benedict at snet.net>
> Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 10:37 AM
> Subject: Fw: [Jacob-list] Primitive or not?
>
>
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "George Benedict" <glb123 at optonline.net>
> > To: <MarmontJacobs at aol.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 9:42 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Primitive or not?
> >
> >
> > > To speculate that "size, strength, and looks are the criteria for
> natural
> > > selection" is to epitomize the worst of anthropocentric views on the
> rest
> > of
> > > the animal kingdom. We are not, a race of giants nor do we have 7
stone
> > > flies and cockroaches to contend with (except in certain parts of SE
> > > Asia...). Seriously though, the style of breed stewardship that Gordon
> and
> > > David Linicome advocate is one of breed conservancy not human-imposed
> > > "evolution" toward a bigger, better more beautiful Jacob. And whose
> > criteria
> > > of "better" and beautiful shall we chose?
> > >
> > > Gordon and I together and independently have sought for the last 3 or
so
> > > years to find remnant flocks of the old Park Sheep Jacobs that
prevailed
> > in
> > > the UK before the human induced "evolution" of the mid to late 20th
> > century
> > > that created the big and beautiful black and white spotted polycerates
> > > referred to as Jacob Sheep today in the UK. Any student of the history
> of
> > > Jacobs is aware of the dramatic changes to the breed, presumably a
> result
> > of
> > > the crossing with such breeds as Horned Dorsets during and prior to
the
> > > 1970's, that resulted in the modern Jacob so prevalent in today's UK
> Show
> > > Circuit. At this point you are indeed "blessed with a good sized gene
> > pool"
> > > of black and white spotted polycerate sheep. And, they are indeed
> > > magnificent animals in their own right but they are not the Jacob
sheep
> of
> > > old.
> > >
> > > So, Gordon need not "debate" the obvious with the JSS or any other
group
> > of
> > > breeders. No one is asking the Breeders of Modern UK Jacobs to undo
what
> > > they have done.  It is, rather, a simple plea to ask breeders and
other
> > > interested folk to remember the small elegant and sturdy breed of
sheep
> > from
> > > which the modern Jacob in the UK is derived; The Ancient and Venerable
> > Jacob
> > > that needed little husbandry and required scant attention from the Vet
> and
> > > certainly did not rely on surgical intervention for birthing.
> > >
> > > The goal is not to register these animals in the JSS. But, instead, to
> > > recognize the heritage of the JSS Jacob and to conserve the quite
> distinct
> > > gene pool of the Park Sheep Jacob. I would further suggest that the
> depth
> > of
> > > "interest" far exceeds the depth of "knowledge" within the JSS if
> everyone
> > > shares your views.  Rather than asking Gordon to go through the tedium
> of
> > > educating the readership of the JSS, I suggest that all members
> thoroughly
> > > read David Kinsman's book " The Black Sheep of Windemere". There will
be
> a
> > > quiz posted next week....
> > >
> > > Yes Gordon, I have been reading these posts. Carry on...and hope to
see
> > you
> > > and Julie later this year.
> > >
> > > Cordially,
> > > George Benedict
> > >
> > > BTW your sheep (Gordon) as best I can tell are well within the size
> > > distribution curve of American Jacobs as are some of the other "Park
> > Flocks"
> > > we visited. The beautiful beasts at the Yorkshire Show and at other
> shows
> > > visited are indeed magnificent. I was quite taken by them visually.
But
> > > alas, they are not the Ancient Jacob you and I seek. Do you think its
> the
> > > Dorset influence?...nudge nudge.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>