[Jacob-list] wooly eye

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/8/2008 10:57:38 PM Central Daylight Time, pcj at efn.org 
writes:


> Karen Askounis, DVM wrote:

> >Hi list members

> >

> >I have a kind a survey for you. I had one lamb this year with a dermoid. It

> >is an area at the edge of the cornea (at the junction of the clear area and

> >white area of the eye)that is growing wool. These occur in many species.

> >They contain the wrong cell types for the area and usually grow hair or in

> >this case wool. I found a reference that it is inherited in Hereford cattle

> >but is not considered inherited in dogs. Our local ophthalmologist has

> >removed one from a Jacob in the past but could not find an answer in her

> >references regarding whether this would be considered inheritable. Well we

> >will not be using him for breeding just in case but I thought I would see 

> if

> >any of you have had this occur and if so did you recognize is as more

> >frequent in certain lines etc..

> >

> >  

> We had one lamb that had what sounds like this condition.  We observed 

> it at shearing time, when we collected all the lambs we hadn't already 

> laid hands on to check them out, made a note that we would cull her 

> later in the year, and that we didn't think much of her wool anyway.  

> She appeared to be blind in that eye, but not in any discomfort.  Our 

> shearer, who had experience with many sheep, had not seen it before. 

> 


With two reports of dermoid cysts it might be a positive step for the Jacob 
breed and conservation breeders to consider a continuing review.  Let me 
digress.

If a primary flock goal is the conservation of the breed, then deleterious 
congenital defects and source(s) should be more fully identified. There may be a 
role for the vet pathologist and and eye specialist.   If "wooly eye" is a 
genetic recessive I suspect it should be curtailed for the sake of the breed; if 
not then a cause may be identified for the "wooly eye"/hair shaft adnexa.  If 
conservation of the breed is not a top priority a repairable congenital 
defect may not seem like a big deal.

Hair and associated glands (sweat, etc) come from "primary follicles"; wool 
comes from the surrounding "secondary follicles".  That is, and this may be 
germaine, the Jacob is a primitve breed having a greater number of primary 
folilces per square cm. at birth than some other breeds ... and we know that for 
every primary follicle there are an associated 10-15 secondary folicles which 
produce wool.  Which leads to the question .... does "wooly eye" have associated 
priamry hair follicles?  Is "wooly eye" in the subject Jacobs comparable to 
the Suffolk and Merino?

Both incidents of "wooly eye" reported are noted as "cull sheep".  This may 
be the dead end that leads to the "Impressive Syndrome" and HYPP.  You will get 
a better glimpse into this hairy mess if the breeding is repeated ... perhaps 
several breedings.  The subjects ram and ewe should be rebred to see if the 
problem can be repeated; if so, the parents are probably problem carriers ... 
and then you look to their parents ... etc.  Are there lines or source sheep?  
Forget about the flock name prefix, go to pedigree tables.  Does your source 
flock shepherd ... they came from somewhere ... have any insight.

I told you I was digressing ... it's your own fault if you made it this far.


Fred Horak
St. Jude's Farm
1165 E. Lucas Roaad
Lucas, TX 75002


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