[Jacob-list] Warm fuzzy lilacs

[Mary Ellen Hansson]

Neal and all,
 
I would also say there are warm and cool tones to the chocolate lilacs.
My history is with rabbit colors.  The lilac I produced here from a
"gray lilac carrier" and a "chocolate lilac" was more of a grayed
chocolate.  I would have definitely put it in the chocolate category
before the gray, but there was a mixed feel to the color of that animal.
In this group of sheep from MD, I see variations of the lilac.  Wish I
had more to look at than I do, but .....
 

Mary Ellen Hansson

ISeeSpots Farm www.iseespots.com

Jacob Sheep, Fiber, Spinning equipment,

Books, Patterns, Knitting/Crochet/Tatting

 

-----Original Message-----
From: jacob-list-admin at jacobsheep.com
[mailto:jacob-list-admin at jacobsheep.com] On Behalf Of Neal and Louise
Grose
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 5:56 AM
To: Jacoblist
Subject: [Jacob-list] Warm fuzzy lilacs


Hi listers,If you can stand a little more on 'lilacs':
 
 I recently spoke to someone who has a good eye for color. She indicated
that there are indeed two shades of black in Jacob sheep. The type that
we have here are a "warm" black (what I have described as "dark
chocolate black"). The other is a "cold" black such as we would see in
Holstein cows. Both of these are clearly dominant genetically. As I see
it, there are several possible explanations for this difference:
1) There is a physical difference in the fiber. In essence, fuzzier
fiber diffuses light and yields warmer color.
2) There are two dominant genes for black.
3) There is a genetic difference in the recessive colors under the black
that "bleeds through".
4) It's just too darn hot here, the little darlings are getting cooked. 
 
OK. Now for that messy 'lilac'. Breeders have suggested that we have
several shades of 'lilac' color: lilac lilac, chocolate lilac, gray
lilac and pink lilac (Hah, just kidding Sue!). The question is, are
these:
1) different genes? or
2) different expressions of the same gene due to differences in the
underlying color?
 
If these are different genes, then we might expect to see odd
expressions of color when the different colors are mated. The little
experience that I have is that "chocolate" mated to "gray" yields
"chocolate". If these are different genes, then we might get black
instead, and this doesn't seem to be the case. 
 
If there are differences in the underlying color, then perhaps
"chocolate lilac" is associated with "warm" black. 
 
I would be interested in hearing back from others any experience that
others may have in crossing shades of lilac, as well as results from
mating lilac Jacob to other breeds. 
 
Neal Grose
 
 

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