[Jacob-list] Re: Lambing at two years

[MarmontJacobs at aol.com]

Hi Mary Ellen,
                     In the UK, most breeders of Icelandics lamb them at a 
year. I don't breed mine until over the year - although they are a primitive, 
the animal keeps on growing until around 4 years it seems. They are rare 
here, but still I don't. Stubborn or what?

It must be hard to tell if most growth in Jacobs is done by a year unless 
people keep non-breeders to compare them with? Certainly in the UK where the 
Jacob is mostly not a primitive any more although retaining the easy-lambing, 
good fleeces etc of it's forebears (foresheep?), much growth carries on in 
the second year and is very noticeable in rams, so yes we have our first 
lambs as the ewe matures. Just because an animal is capable of producing, we 
find it better all round to leave them a year (and we get a better shearling 
fleece too). Almost all registered Jacobs in the UK come from sheep bred at 
over the year.

I have twin ewe two year olds - one has just had her first set of lambs at 
two, the other had a single ewe lamb last year as an accident. Cherry and 
Camilla were very similar at weaning, but there is now a noticeable 
difference in size - 25lb in weight when weighed for worming last year 
(condition scores about the same), and the ewe lamb which we still have is 
far short of the size of our normal yearlings although mum was in good 
condition at her birth. Not exactly scientific, but interesting.

There has been quite a bit of talk of problem weak lambs born to yearlings 
lately. Interested to hear your thoughts.

Trisha, Wales