[Jacob-list] Wool quality

[Betty Berlenbach]

I disagree that all jacob lambs which are primitive are born with angel
hair, as they say!  Some have hairy fleece interspersed which sheds out,
some do not, some never lose the hairy stuff.  Jacobs are not dual coated;
in fact, they are rejected for registration if they are double coated. They
are the only primitive I know of this is not double coated, in general.
(Shetlands are half and half.)  Soays, Hebrideans, etc. are double coated.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Higgins" <ranchrat at telusplanet.net>
To: "Jacob Sheep List" <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 3:20 AM
Subject: [Jacob-list] Wool quality


> Heel low:
>
> Jeanette Larson <jeanette392001 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > I am working on an article about Jacob wool. I have 30 ewes in my own
> flock
> > and a huge variety of wool types.
>
> And exactly what one would expect from the breed as per the allowances
> made in the standards.
>
> > I wrote the following sentence for the article after visiting with
> several fiber artists
> > who use Jacob wool. Many people on fiber lists have a negative
> impression of
> > Jacob wool, but I know of others who love Jacob fleece.
>
> Depends I guess on how well they are able to shop for what THEY want in
> a fleece.  There certainly is enough variables in Jacob wool to suit a
> huge assortment of wants.  If someone is disappointed in Jacob wool,
> they are not clearly asking for or assessing what they want in fiber
> from a primitive ovine breed.  Jacob fiber is not going to suit every
> need and certainly it is not going to be everything for everyone, just
> as camelid fiber is not everyone's preferred spinner's choice either.
> Personally, I can't get enough Jacob <<HUGS>> in...so I am certainly
> happy with their wool quality.
>
> > So I wrote the following -  "Because the focus in the United States
> has been on
> > preserving this rare breed, the Jacob wool produced here is very
> inconsistent in
> > quality."
>
> Nope, doesn't do much for me.  From what I have heard about US Jacob
> wools, there is a ton of excellence that they have attained thru careful
> selection processes and breeding.  Some registries inspect Jacob wool
> prior to allowing entry.
>
> Jacob wool is suppose to range from a Bradford count of 44 to 56 and
> Micron count of 34.40-36.19 to 26.40-27.84.  That is the largest wool
> range in any recognized sheep breed.  Sure it's "very inconsistent in
> quality" because the standard allows for that.  The onus is on the fiber
> artisans to choose the fleece that suits them...not for the Jacob to
> conform to outside the standard's parameters.  If we bred consistent
> Jacobs of only the 26.40 microns, we'd lose the versatility of the breed
> for so many other crafting purposes.  That in a nutshell is what makes
> Jacob fleece, Jacob fleece.
>
> If you want boring and predictable, many wool breeds will suit just that
> fancy.  With Jacobs, you gotta be smarter than your average fleecer.  Is
> it worth it, you bet!  ;-)
>
> > Would you agree with this sentence? Why or why not?
>
> As stated, I disagree, so the why is:  Jacob wool might be considered
> inconsistent because of the parameters set out by the breed standard,
> largest wool range in wool sheep.  There is less and less inconsistency
> in a single Jacob individual.  Therefore many fiber artisans learn to
> know each Jacob by name and request year after year, that said sheep's
> wool...'cause they happen to like that particular animal's consistently
> produced fleece.  Sure there will be degradation with age and hormones,
> but all sheep suffer this phenomenon.  ;-)
>
> You get what you put into life; easy and predictably bland, as apposed
> to hardwork and exciting results for your efforts.
>
> I drafted up an article for an interview with a local newspaper last
> year.  I have extracted a paragraph and a bit from my article about what
> makes Jacob Sheep unique.
>
> "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).  They are the only
> multi-horned sheep with a medium fine fleece that is not double coated."
>
> Doggone Jacobs with the golden fleece,
>
> 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     (
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Jacob-list mailing list, sponsored by Swallow Lane Farm & Fiberworks
> Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list