[Jacob-list] Polled ewes

[Linda]

This is the point where someone more knowledgeable than I am is supposed to jump and answer, before you (and I) start confusing my opinions with facts :-) 

The difference between polled and hornless is genetic. Hornless refers to the gene for horned in males, hornless in ewes.  Polled refers to no horns in anybody.  It's a somewhat involved genetic interaction.  I have never had a ewe without horns, except for my first two meat breed sheep.  They were definitely polled, but that was back in '92 and I can't for the life of me recall what was top of their heads.  I'm pretty sure there was nothing inside their heads - one of the reasons I switched to Jacobs :-)  I haven't had a Jacob without horns.

Again - need someone else to jump in.  Cathy and Gail are asking some interesting questions. 

Linda 
 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn


> --Linda wrote:

>> It's more likely your ewe is hornless than polled.

> ========

> What is the difference?  I thought polled meant hornless.  Does it

> have to do with the presence of horn buds?  BTW, Gail, interesting

> you wrote about your friendly, easy to work with, hornless ewe.  I

> now have 11 ewes and my favorite is and always has been my 11-yr-

> old hornless or polled ewe.  Most of her offspring also are/were

> friendly and they all had horns.  But the side horns never grew

> more than an inch. Cathy Moscow, Idaho

>

>

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