[Jacob-list] Scur referendum

[Neal and Louise Grose]

Hi everybody, I hope that we now have a few days to take a breather.

I think that it is important for JSBA members to take a look at the referendum on scurs and vote either for it or against it. I have always felt that it was important for owners of a breed to join a breed association and participate, "wether" you agreed with the majority view or not. This particular referendum has a broader implication for our breed and touches on some of the issues that have come up on jacoblist in recent months.

I initially opposed changing the language in our Breed Standard reduce the acceptability of scurs. My first thinking on this issue has not changed:
* Like all horned breeds, scurs are likely a part of the genome.
* It is difficult to tell the difference between a large scur and a small horn without dissecting the animal, which reduces its value as a breeder.
* We do not know very much about the genetics of scurs and horns in Jacob Sheep. There is no one controlling scur gene. Like most traits, it is probably controlled by several interdependent genes.
* I have yet to hear a good explanation of how a four horn sheep can have genetic horns in the primary position and genetic scurs in the secondary one.
* The environmental influence on this trait are likely to be quite large. 

My conclusions have become somewhat different. 
* Scurs are clearly undesirable in a horn breed. 
* We would expect that the proportion of sheep with scurs should decrease over time due to selection and culling. From what I can tell, that has not happened.

My feeling is that at this time, and for this trait, we can stand some improvement in the breed.

Neal Grose
Harmony, NC

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