[Jacob-list] Breeding Ewe Lambs

[Cheryl Terrano]

HI Laura,



A two cents worth from our 10 years experience in Jacobs....



Within our own flock, we elect NOT to breed our ewe lambs. For us, it boils down to numbers and trying to maintain a certain number of lambs being born each spring. This, however, was not always the case. When we first purchased our sheep, we began with 2 proven ewes (lambed out by their first birthday) and 3 ewe lambs that we bred that fall. Or proven ewes twinned and our ewe lambs each singled. I should point out the singles were all large lambs and one ewe had great difficulty in her delivery, losing the lamb. Over the next 2 years, we continued to breed our ewe lambs on their lambing year without difficulty.



We have experimented also?in breeding one twin ewe while?allowing?the other twin remain open and have found a consistent difference in development size of the same ewe at 2 years of age. The ewe bred as a lamb often was 10-20% smaller in overall body size than the ewe left open in her first year. Ewes we bred at 18 months who subsequently lambed out by the 2nd birthday often twin their first time (this was in about 85% of our cases). So, production numbers over their lifetime only differ by that single lamb produced on their first year. When we have elected to breed a ewe on her lambing year, we generally chose the largest ewe lambs who are often singles themselves born to first time mothers. One other note was?we also found that certain ewes bred as lambs would often single two years in a row?before twinning consistently in later years. Odd, yes, ?but certain bloodlines we have here seem to be quite regular at that particular lambing schedule.



What we have found most consistent over the years is definitely the maturity of the ewe mentally. Our?2 year old ewes who lambed their first time (twins or singles) seem to be calmer and more?patient mothers. Many (not all) of those who lambed their first birthday were still very good mothers but did seem to take longer to fully bond to their lamb. A handful?required 1-2 extra days in the lambing jug when compared to the first-time mothers who were another?year older. Our Jacobs are all excellent mothers and that is a trait we expect in all our progeny. We did, however, notice a slight difference in the ewes temperament to be calmer with an additional year of growth before mating.



Of course, these are our own personal shepherding experiences and what works for us. We take many options into consideration when planning our breeding groups.?We are approaching our 11th lambing season and we have chosen NOT to breed ewes on their lamb year. It works for us but may not be practical for another flock or shepherd(ess). I'm certain you will receive some interesting replies to your question and hope other breeders will contribute their experiences to this thread.



Good luck!
Mike & Cheryl Terrano?

Painted Rock Farm --- WV



http://paintedrockfarm.blogspot.com
http://www.paintedrockfarm.com

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-----Original Message-----
From: Laura C Frazier <farmgirlarts at triad.rr.com>
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
Sent: Thu, Sep 24, 2009 6:41 pm
Subject: [Jacob-list] Breeding Ewe Lambs


I'm soliciting folks' opinions about and experiences with breeding ewe lambs that are 6 or more months old.?



This list is SO helpful. Thanks everyone!!

Laura



Laura C Frazier

FarmGirl Arts

(336) 971-3834

Kernersville, NC

http://home.rr.com/farmgirlarts






On Sep 24, 2009, at 5:59 PM, jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com wrote:



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?? 1. Mountain state fair sheep show (hobbyknobfarm)

?? 2. Jacob Owners - Alberta & Canada?? (ranchrat)

?? 3. Congenital Problems in Jacobs (ranchrat)







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Message: 1

Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:32:39 -0400

From: "hobbyknobfarm" <hobbyknobfarm at main.nc.us>

Subject: [Jacob-list] Mountain state fair sheep show

To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

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We just had our wool sheep show here in Asheville. Elke brought 3 lambs, one of which was a very nice Jacob ewe lamb from her ewe and my ram Andy (well, Andy actually was a result of a purchase of a bred ewe from Cheryl 3 years ago, but he was born here) Anyway, that little ewe lamb was 1st place in fine wool (we have no Jacob class at our fair) and Grand Champion fleece in fine wool - she is a very nice ewe lamb, and is for sale by the way, and the judge is a fleece/spinner/breeder so she really looks at fleeces when she judges. I had to toot Elke's horn as she is not on this list. You too can show some Jacob's at SAFF here in October. I imagine this little lamb will be there then along with my one ewe lamb and maybe a yearling if I have the energy to get her used to the halter again.?

Elizabeth?

www.hobbyknobfarm.com

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Message: 2

Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:21:55 -0600

From: "ranchrat" <ranchrat at telusplanet.net>

Subject: [Jacob-list] Jacob Owners - Alberta & Canada??

To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

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A question posed to the list.how many Canadians are left possessing

Jacobs?? Here in Alberta, I can list many who no longer have Jacobs, the

stats are very scary and I suppose I should go on the Canadian Livestock

Records registry database and see if any of these former owned Jacobs

are listed there under different ownership now.? I have heard many

threaten to "get out of Jacobs" through some means such as making

pepperoni out of their flock unless a valid owner steps forward soon to

buy their Jacobs.? No worries, ALL livestock is facing the same fate.not

picking on Jacobs solely by any means.? Even on this List there has been

downsizing and flock sales..sigh!




In just the past few years, Alberta Jacob breeders gone now are: Lisa,

Leonard, Judy (too old I believe now), Tyler, Bonnie, Pamela (may have

taken some up North); there are probably more that even this I did not

become acquainted with.the Can Rare Breeds flock is gone, dispersed.I

believe there is only myself and Linda/Dan now left in Alberta and

that's unsettling.? There are many livestock owners literally "dumping"

livestock at auctions all over the Prairies.if they had troubles with

producing their own feed, they sure would have it now trying to buy it.

We, fortunately, put by all our alfalfa in June and even purchased all

our livestock rations and grains at lower per bag prices than even last

year's.? We're good for just over two years now.but even we are

concerned about future costs to keep on what we have.? Not to do this

would be living under a rock.? Hauling in the oat straw bedding this

weekend and there, same price as in year's past.we locked in beginning

of this spring with our order.




One or two Jacob sheepers don't a happy "flock" make!




Tara Lee Higgins - Rat Ranch, Alberta

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Message: 3

Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:22:05 -0600

From: "ranchrat" <ranchrat at telusplanet.net>

Subject: [Jacob-list] Congenital Problems in Jacobs

To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

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Heel low:




<Jacobflock at aol.com> Fred Horak wrote:




3. The "standardization" of the Jacob in North America can be laid to

the ?

small gene pool, often referred to as a genetic bottleneck and flock ?

structure (few rams).? The study by the USDA-NGP (2/04) covered over

2,000 births?

and indicated the rapidly increasing percent of inbred? animals from

1983?

to 1994 and a more positive trend of reduced? inbreeding from 1995 to

2002. ?

The 1983-1994 period was a period that? contributed greatly to "fixing"

the?

Jacob=American traits but? also marked a period of a relatively high?

incidence of congenital? problems in the breed.




I have a 2003 Jacob ewe from what I consider are VERY inbred lines and

she is stone cold deaf.? Manages quite well in the flock, but is a

little "off" due to her condition.? Needless to say, I've never allowed

her to have progeny.




Would you consider the deafness to be directly linked to her inbreeding?

I have no real background in how ovines inherit deafness, tho I do have

a lot of experience in the canine incident of deafness (BAER testing

generations and differing levels of decibles along with the proven

"white hair" incident of deafness).




What other congenital problems have been identified in the Jacob breed

regarding issues limiting genetic diversity (setting breed type by

inbreeding).




Doggone,




Tara

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