[Jacob-list] registration question

[Neal and Louise Grose]

I am going to skip what JSBA has as policy and go right to heart of the 
previous question asked by Peggy. I think part of the reason that we do not 
see more outliers is that most experienced breeders do not send them in for 
registration. Perhaps we would rather cull them than get a reputation with 
substandard animals.

"How do these things happen in an established line of Jacobs Sheep?"

As much as we might like to ignore it, there is variation in these type 
traits and the sudden odd thing popping up is to be expected. This does not 
mean it is desirable, and I do not in the least question the inspectors if 
they fail such animals. Including them in the flockbook would increase the 
odds that we will have more non-standard sheep in the future, which would 
undermine the value of other animals in our flock.

Extreme color percentage is more common as an out-lying trait, but I have 
seen wool forward of the horns as well. Of the two, wool forward of the 
horns is MORE LIKELY to be evidence of cross-breeding, but I would be a 
little skeptical of anyone that automatically regarded this as 
cross-breeding. Neither of these things is the result of a single gene that 
pops out showing the "polluting effect" after many generations.

Excessive white or excessive color are the result of natural variations in 
the piebald expression. In a random sampling of animals without selection 
against the trait, the color range will expand and there will constantly be 
more and more out-liers.

In my experience, selection for greater fineness of fleece and more wool 
quantity will eventually produce some individuals with "bangs". This may 
well shed off after the first year or so.

It might be better to always evaluate our sheep only as mature animals. 
However, we need to remember that our goal with Jacobs is hard to achieve, 
because we are seeking to keep them average within a range. Unlike Merino 
where you can't get the wool too fine, or monster show Suffolks where you 
can't get the ******* too big, we have to select against both extremes. 
Percent color, horn set, wool fineness and weight, etc., all supposed to be 
kinda in the middle.

Neal Grose


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Heather Hettick" <hettick1 at yahoo.com>
To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] registration question



>

> I have really light ewe lamb I’m agonizing over this year.  She otherwise 

> looks good with nice horns, overall Jacob confirmation and she’s a blue 

> eyed lilac.  I doubt she has much over 10% color though.

>

> Doesn’t JSBA have an appendix registration or something like that for ewes 

> who don’t quite meet the standards or has that changed?

>

> Heather Hettick

> Moonstruck Farm

> Creston, OH

>

>

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>

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