[Jacob-list] Great Information Re:Primitive

[Linda]

I sent that along before finishing the post. A family crisis intervened 
as I was writing.

The quote below is not mine - it's from the archives and was written by 
Carl Fosbrink years ago.

I was going to add that I don't think we see tracking as often as we 
used to. RubyBelle always reminds me of a runway model with one foot in 
front of the other as she walks. I am uncertain about considering 
shedding belly wool as a primitive trait, as I did see that in the 
commercial sheep I had.

What I was really getting at in my half done/baked post was to wonder if 
we might sometimes use the word "primitive" when taking about _physical_ 
attributes to refer to the way Jacobs used to be back in the 
organizational days of JSBA. It was not that long ago that JSBA voted to 
stop registering ewes that had only scurs. Were those scurred ewes 
"primitive"? Are manes on rams "primitive"? Kemp? There have been 
changes over the years over what is accepted for registration as well as 
what we like to see in our sheep. The original breeders that worked to 
establish JSBA and JSC had to travel far and wide to gather sheep to 
work with. I'm sure that not all the sheep they found remained in 
breeding flocks. Not all of the original traits - especially (for 
me)weak ewe horns - are what defines a Jacob (again, for me) at this 
point.  We could argue forever on what constitutes a "primitive","real", 
or "the way they were back then" Jacob fleece. I love the diversity of 
our breed. I don't compromise on horns or hardiness, but I love having 
big and little sheep, dark and light sheep, and fleeces that are soft 
enough for next-to-the-skin projects, bouncy and crimpy enough for 
knitted garments, less crimpy and lustrous for wonderful woven projects, 
and even the coarser fleeces for rug weaving.

Linda

Chris and Tina Griffin wrote:

> The knowledge of this group continues to astound me.  I would have 

> quoted the literal Hebrew had I been home and I am so glad that 

> multiple versions were quoted since my original posting.  Now Linda 

> had to add some new information that really got my juices flowing.  A 

> sheep browsing on its hind legs, that would be interesting to see.  Of 

> all the primitive traits that Linda brought up, our sheep exhibit all 

> but the browsing.  I wonder if I can train them?!?

>

> Chris

> www.griffinsark.com

>

>>

>>> Awhile back there was a discussion on the list about

>>> primative traits of Jacob sheep. The following traits

>>> were listed: udder close to body, ease of lambing,

>>> track narrowly, slender legs, presence or alertness,

>>> deer shaped body, shedding of belly and sometimes neck

>>> wool, standing on rear legs to browse, good mothers,

>>> sloping croup, triangular shaped head. From the recent

>>> discussion on the list it appears  we could add

>>> jumping and pronking ability and down type fleece to

>>> the list also.

>>>

>>

>> -


Patchwork Farm Jacob Sheep <http://www.patchworkfibers.com>
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