[Jacob-list] The Eyes Have it!

[Dave & Katrina]

Eyes are an interesting topic. Thanks for bringing it up.  

We have a close-up of a china blue-eyed ewe on our website
http://chicoryjacobs.com/twig.htm .  We also have a ram (closely related)
that has one blue eye and one marbled.  the marbled one started out as blue
also.  I notice that marbled eyed lambs' eyes get more definited as they
mature.  when young the colors look mixed together.
At least that is what we have seen.  
Katrina Lefever, Chicory lane Farm


> [Original Message]
> From: <ranchrat at telusplanet.net>
> To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
 > Date: 5/28/03 8:02:57 PM
> Subject: [Jacob-list] The Eyes Have it!
>
> Heel low:
> 
> Questions about eye color (iris).
> 
> Jacobs may have amber, blue (sky blue), and marbled (amber & blue) iris
color.  
> Lilacs may have a different kind of iris hue, sorta an amber with a grey 
> overtone.
> 
> I believe Jacobs may have one amber iris and one marbled (or blue) iris. 
Has 
> anyone ever seen a Jacob with a sky blue eye and a marbled eye?  What are
some 
> of the unique eye coloration combinations you have seen on one Jacob?
> 
> In canines and equines, blue eyes (wall eyes) often have people thinking
the 
> animal is deaf.  Light colored eyes (sky blue eyes or even amber or
yellow 
> irises) have some having fits that the animal is going to "sunburn" their
eyes 
> (a feeling I do not share) so they attempt to breed for the darkest
irises 
> possible (black being the apparent objective).  ACDogs usually have dark
brown 
> eyes, yellow eyes are a disqualification in the Canadian Standard, and I
have 
> seen blue eyed ACDogs (quite rare but may be quite unsettling like the
yellow 
> eyes because they appear to stare right through you!).  Jacobs appear to
have 
> variations of iris color with no ill linked affects as in deafness or
sunburnt 
> eyes (if such a condition actually exists??).
> 
> What is the feeling about the inheritance of iris coloration?  In some
cases, I 
> have seen marbled eyes appear out of nowhere (phenotype did not tattle
tale).  
> I have seen marbled eyed dams have twin marbled eyed ewes from an amber
eyed 
> sire and a ewe & ram with no marbled eyes have a marbled eyed lamb.  Does 
> anyone know if this condition is a simple dominant/recessive or??  I have
yet 
> to see "sky blue" Jacob eyes up close and would appreciate it if someone
where 
> to post me a jpg or put one up for the list to see.
> 
> I believe it is possible to have a lilac Jacob with sky blue eyes...what
about 
> marbled eyes and does the lilac iris coloration always seem to have a
grey 
> overtone even in the sky blue or marbled condition?
> 
> I think all lambs (people included except maybe true albinos) are born
with 
> bluish eyes that color up.  How long to reveal their adult iris
coloration 
> (amber, marble, blue).  Anyone note the subtle fading of iris color over
time 
> in their Jacobs?
> 
> I believe marbled eyes continue to change over time...do you find the
amber 
> encroaching the blue/black or vice versa or both?  Does anyone have a
marbled 
> eyed Jacob that has remained stable and not had their iris color change?
> 
> Doggone eyes are windows to the soul, 
> 
> 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     ( 
> 
> 
> 
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--- Dave & Katrina O. Lefever
--- oberlef at supernet.com
--- Chicory Lane Farm
--- http://chicoryjacobs.com