[Jacob-list] docking

[Dave & Katrina]

We have both docked and undocked Jacobs...and I am very tempted to not dock
next year.  I do think that for the most part, docking with Jacobs is just
an unfamiliar look to most people.  I find that a sheep that has gotten
messy will be just about as dirty docked as undocked, although granted not
many of our sheep get tags or loose in the first place.  Now that I have
gotten used to the look, I like it and it is very interesting watching the
tail length of the animals.  

Personally, I find quite a range of tail in the lambs in our flock.  Not
always following lines either.  I do take tails into consideration when
evaluating a lamb, since both organizations mention tail length as a
indictor of breed purity. I would not cull a nice lamb only for its tail,
though  I use it as a deciding factor if there is something else I am
questioning.  For the most part, I still dock, although I think I will let
myself 'play' with the Twigg sheep and leave them undocked. At this point
tails are not high on my list of priorities,...there are so many things to
think about with these sheep... but I do document if a lamb has a extra
long or extra short tail.  I have heard long tails are associated with the
more modern breeds while short tails more with the primitive breeds. 
Jacobs are somewhere in between. The topic is interesting and might be
noticed more if the trend was toward undocked Jacobs. It could be the breed
is past the point where following this trait does much good. 
-Katrina Lefever, Chicory Lane. 

> [Original Message]
> From: Kris Sudduth <sudduth at adelphia.net>
> To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
 > Date: 9/11/02 9:50:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] docking
>
> when I raised standard breeds while living in Tx...I did dock those tails
to
> go with their breed standard...I did the 4 fingers or so measurement cuz I
> thought the girls especially needed that "cover up" from the Tx sun!....so
> the foot in my mouth statement I made of ..I thought Jacobs were longer
then
> standard breeds meant I had not seen any jacobs ever...south or
north...that
> had been docked...all were au naturalle!....and if they werent
natural..then
> they did a heck of a job making them look correct.  I thought they were
> suppose to be left alone...ya know...part of what they are so to speak?
> I guess depending on what part of the country your in...it makes a
> difference in the end sale?!
> 
>                     ~~Kris~~
>                  Burlington, Vt
>          sudduth at adelphia.net
> www.cloudnineacres.homestead.com
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Jacob-list mailing list
> Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list


--- Dave & Katrina 
--- oberlef at supernet.com
--- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet.