[Jacob-list] Jacob Newspap er Article – Editor Wanted!!

[ranchrat at telusplanet.net]

Help you guys


I had a reporter call me this morning to do an article on the Jacob Sheep in 
the agricultural section of a newspaper, issue comes out next week.  I meet 
with them tomorrow and this is what I have come up with scanning thru all the 
Jacob info I have around here.  

I am including info off our association’s brochure, a copy of our breed 
standard and these two sections I am listing below, 1) history and 2) Jacob 
uniqueness, the reporter wants to know what is unique about Jacob sheep 
compared to other sheep breeds.  I am still wet behind the ears when it comes 
to giving the Jacob just homage, so please lend a hand and correct my errors 
and omissions!

Anyone want to give this a proofing and edit?  Please send a copy of your 
response directly to me at ranchrat at telusplanet.net since I am on “digest” mode 
with the Jacob list.  Thank you!  I am meeting with our president tomorrow 
morning to go over what I have collected and get a picture of her ram Poker for 
the article to be included with a piccy of my ewe lamb Mia.

I’ll check my e-mail later tonight and first thing in the a.m.

Gotta love a deadline
grumble grumble!

Tara 
-- 
    ____(\                Tara Lee Higgins                  /)____ 
   (_____~>        Rat Ranch - An ACD is for LIFE          <~_____) 
  ( ``  ``          ranchrat at telusplanet.net                ``  `` ) 
   \                       Alberta Canada                         / 
    )  http://www.telusplanet.net/public/ranchrat/index.html     ( 


HISTORY

One of the oldest breeds in the world.  Jacob history is clouded in unknowns 
but basically, Jacobs are described as "Spanish sheep with four horns."  
Egyptian wall paintings depict horned sheep-1800 BC, Scythian gold necklace 
from 1000 BC, and Sicilian pottery from 600 BC.  It is suspected that the Jacob 
came from the Mediterranean, through Spain (by the Moors) to the British Isles 
to North America and from the Mediterranean to China and then North America.  
Some also attest that the Jacob is a multi-horn Norse breed from Scandinavia 
and northern Scotland.

Genesis 30 verse 32, recalling the word “cattle” includes sheep, goats AND cows 
- beasts that were consumed, herded and kept in flocks/groups.  Some 
translations read “spotted sheep” instead of “spotted goats.”

“I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the 
speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the 
spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.”  
- “The Bible,” King James Version

The Jacob sheep was kept as a curiosity in sixty British public parks during 
the 1900’s, and the “park sheep” nearly went extinct in 1911.  The Jacob Sheep 
Society in England improved the Jacob as a commercial breed for meat and fleece 
and now scientists differentiate the Jacob unimproved as Jacob (American) as 
opposed to the England Jacob which is a commercialized breed.
Zoos have imported Jacobs (1954 Winnipeg) and Rare Breeds Canada had a flock 
which they have just turned ownership over to the Jacob Sheep Association of 
Canada.  Todd Hescock of the “Jacob’s Ladder” prefix imported Scottish Jacobs 
in 1977 to Nova Scotia and eventually this flock was exported to Vermont in 
1983 after a long quarantine period.


********************************************************************************


CHARACTERISTICS UNIQUE TO THE JACOB SHEEP:

An ancient wool breed that is primitive and domestic.  The Jacob was an 
historic English “park sheep” and was left to fend for themselves.  They were 
brought in once a year for shearing and the unimproved Jacob fleece consists of 
a protective coat that may contain kemp and hair.  Primitive Jacob lines have 
lambs born with a protective hairy birth coat that sheds out at 3-6 months and 
is resistant to cold and moisture.  Fleeces range from a Bradford count of 44 
to 56 and micron count of 34.40-36.19 (44) to 26.40-27.84 (56).  This range of 
wool is the largest recognized range for any wool sheep breed.  Crimp and 
quality vary over an individual’s body.  Jacob fleeces are open, soft and light 
containing little grease (lanolin) with a staple length of 3-7 inches, a weight 
of 2 to 5 pounds, and a healthy luster and sheen.  Some describe a sheared 
Jacob fleece likened to a “cobweb” when describing its openness.  Jacob fleeces 
are in high demand by handspinners, felters and weavers.  Sunbleached black 
Jacob fleece may appear in many shades of brown, so a single undyed Jacob 
fleece may provide white, black, brown and grey fiber.  Jacob hides and horn 
buttons provide other unique crafting opportunities.

Jacob ewes and rams are polycerate (multi-horn).  Horns are dark or white 
striped, one, two or three paired (2-4-6 horns) with preferences for even 
balanced sets that do not inhibit grazing.  Rams are quite striking and may 
have horns two or more feet in length.  The two horned rams may be double 
curled.  Jacob sheep may not be polled and both sexes must have horns though 
the ewes have more feminine horns.

Body conformation is longer than tall and “goat-like.”  Jacobs have a unique 
ground covering gait.  Ewes are 80-120 pounds and rams 120-180 pounds.  Ears 
are small, head is triangular, carried upright, and small-not coarse, face is 
clean with no wool forward of the horns.  Legs are free of wool and fine 
boned.  The unimproved Jacob is a seasonal breeder with a single lamb the first 
year and twins & singles up to 15 or 20 years of age.  Triplets are not rare 
and Jacobs ewes are excellent protective mothers.

Genetically, the Jacob is a black (dominant) or lilac (deep grey or blue/purple 
cast-recessive) sheep with white markings—recessive piebald.  Eyes may be amber 
to brown, marbled blue or sky blue.  Lilac Jacobs have lighter gray/blue eyes.  
Jacob breed specific markings are dark eye patches, white poll, blaze and 
chest, dark muzzle, ears, cape over shoulders & neck, udder or scrotum, white 
legs with dark markings on hocks, knees, pasterns and hooves.  Random spotting 
occurs on the rest of the body with the preferred 60 percent white to 40 
percent dark.  Each Jacob has its own unique coloration and may be easily 
identified by its individual markings so much so that some use photographs to 
document positive identification.
	Jacobs are extremely healthy and renown for being resistant to foot 
problems and internal parasites. Many Jacob flocks are on OPP and volunteer 
Scrapie health programs.  Deworm, vaccinate and provide a balanced mineral and 
they will flourish on pasture.  Most producers give them no grain and feed 
straight Alfalfa during Alberta’s winter.  Jacobs are small, easy keepers and 
forage very well for themselves.  Some browse on brush by standing up on their 
hind legs.  Tails may be docked or undocked as they reach about to the hock. 
Crossbred Jacob offspring are often completely black.
Jacobs have personality; they are playful, exhibit intense curiosity, strong 
family ties and display a keen sense of humour.  They bond well to their flock 
tender but are suspicious of strangers.  They have a loose herding instinct and 
would rather follow than be herded.  They are ever watchful, preferring to 
observe from a distance.  Jacob sheep are characters with often unexpected 
personalities.  Some describe them as more endearing than dogs.

- E N D -