[Jacob-list] Jacob Info

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/16/2004 2:05:27 PM Central Standard Time, ACAMDA at aol.com 
writes:

> information on why Jacobs never became commercially viable, 

I am not sure Jacobs never became commercially viable.  The ARK (6/74), the 
journal of the RBST in England, was concerned about the Jacob in an article 
"Breed of the Month".  In about five years, they describe .... "two fairly 
distinct types of Jacob sheep which can be designated 'Park" and "Improved".  The 
former are those which have evolved in a purely ornamental role, while the 
latter have been developed as a commercial breed by progressive breeders.  As might 
be expected therre is considerable difference between the perfomance of the 
two types: Park weight 94lbs, Improved 133; Park Lambing % 189,k Improved 
lambing % 207; Park lambing % reared 179, Improved lambing % reared 189."

There was a strong commercial market for Jacob wool, Jacob sweaters featurd 
in Land's End etc., the export of lamb carcass to the continent has been very 
strong.

I think it was the article in Oryx magazine in 1969 or 1970 that raised 
concern that the "Park" sheep would be eclipsed and eliminated by conservation 
through commercializing for an "Improved" breed.  I think that this is largely 
what has occured and the RBST removed the Jacob from its 'watch list' because its 
numbers increased so greatly.  

Thus a distinction made by the ALBC Jacob(American) and Jacob; the former 
being more closely alligned with the Park Jacob.  However, some Jacobs imported 
to North America were selected for commercial purposes; some were imported by 
zoos.

Fred
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