[Jacob-list] Primitive?

[Laura C Frazier]

Neal,
Thanks so much for the details concerning the rump and birthing, etc.  
My father-in-law raises commercial Suffolk crosses and all that you  
say about breeding for the broad rump, large hips is SO true! That's  
exactly what he talks about in the breeding program. Add to that the  
practice of docking up into the rump and you have a huge recipe for  
anal and vaginal prolapse and birthing problems. He does this mostly  
for his grandkids who compete in two market lamb shows a year. He's  
very competitive with other breeders for those top honors. We sell  
lamb too and so that is part of the breeding program. It's so hard to  
believe that we humans actually breed in painful hardships just for  
shows and cuts of meat, then add in bad practices like surgical  
docking into the spine.

Love the "We all know it when we see it." ;-)

Laura C Frazier
FarmGirl Arts
(336) 971-3834
Kernersville, NC
http://home.rr.com/farmgirlarts



On Nov 4, 2009, at 6:42 AM, Neal and Louise Grose wrote:


> I don't think color should figure in on this. Color is more a  

> factor of blood- lines and chance.

>

> We tend to think of primitive as being defined by smaller animals,  

> but we need to be careful about that. Breeding for small-ness is  

> just as bad as breeding for big-ness.

>

> Resistance to parasitosis is often cited as primitive, and this is  

> a very good attribute; but, Soay sheep, which are primitive by  

> definition, have little resistance because they were not developed  

> in an area that subjected them to large parasite loads.

>

> I look at body style and conformation. The hallmark of domestic  

> livestock improvement is the selection for extended loin area and  

> larger hams. This is accomplished by breeding for a round, course  

> bone and a less flexible broad ligament (the ligament that overlays  

> the pelvis). Large hips increase the area that produce the more  

> expensive cuts of meat, but also dramatically increase the  

> incidence of birthing problems since this is the widest area that  

> must pass through the birth canal.. This birth problem is  

> multiplied by the less flexible broad ligament, which prevents the  

> pelvis from separating during the passage of the fetus. Primitive  

> sheep and cows have relatively narrow and sloping rumps, and  

> flatter bone. Even the "improved" lines of Jacobs Sheep that are  

> often criticized have relatively narrow rumps and strong front ends  

> (think of them as linebackers with no necks narrow hips).

>

> Mostly, we just think that we know it when we see it.

>

> Neal Grose

>

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Laura C Frazier

> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 9:41 PM

> Subject: [Jacob-list] Primitive?

>

> I'd like to have some clarification about the characteristics/ 

> traits of the "primitive" Jacob sheep. I've heard/read of some  

> individuals being referred to as "primitive", including my ram, and  

> I'd just like to better understand this. Less black? Finer bones?  

> Smaller in stature?

>

> Thanks!

> Laura

>

> Laura C Frazier

> FarmGirl Arts

> (336) 971-3834

> Kernersville, NC

> http://home.rr.com/farmgirlarts

>

>

>

>

>

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