[Jacob-list] Breeding Ewe Lambs

[Linda]

Your findings over the years are really interesting - thank you.
For me, it also often boils down to numbers. If I only want to breed X 
number of ewes, it makes the most sense to breed the older girls and 
leave the ewe lambs open.
We've had lambs born here since '93 and have never had a problem with 
any Jacob yearling ewe raising her lamb successfully. But, I do think 
they require a little extra attention - just in case. I should rephrase 
that - they may need a little extra watching, but new shepherds often 
jump in too quickly, which can confuse a young mother.
I've only got one ewe lamb right now. If she didn't have RubyBelle for 
company, I would have her in a breeding group.

Linda


Cheryl Terrano wrote:

> 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 schedu le.

>  

> 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

>

> God longs to bring us to the place where we ache so much with His 

> heart that to do nothing is simply no longer an option. (MATT REDMAN, 

> The Unquenchable Worshipper)

>

> We will live as strangers and pilgrims on this earth, with sacrifice, 

> commitment, tears and fasting, and touch the lost world with our 

> lifestyle and commitment. (KP YOHANNAN, Founder, GOSPEL FOR ASIA)

>

> WHEN EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE SHAKEN IS SHAKEN, THE ANCHOR THAT HOLDS IS 

> THE WISDOM OF THE CROSS. (Jason Upton, Key of David Ministries, from 

> the CD 1200 ft below sea level).

>

> If you want to see God's power at work, you must get out of the church 

> and into the world. Watch the extravagant lengths which God will go to 

> reveal Himself to people who don't know Him. Then you will learn how 

> truly awesome our God is. (Author Unknown)

>

>

> -----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 

> <mailto:jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com> wrote:

>

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>> Today's Topics:

>>

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

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

>>    3. Congenital Problems in Jacobs (ranchrat)

>>

>>

>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>>

>> Message: 1

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

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

>> <mailto:hobbyknobfarm at main.nc.us>>

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

>> To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com <mailto:jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>>

>> Message-ID: <8CBC213BC3FD46DBAFD759AEFDECDC9F at daron1>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>>

>> 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 <http://www.hobbyknobfarm.com/>

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>> Message: 2

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

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

>> <mailto:ranchrat at telusplanet.net>>

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

>> To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com <mailto:jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>>

>> Message-ID: <000501ca3d54$a992d540$7814b8a1 at RIVENDELL>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>>

>> 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 

>> <mailto:ranchrat at telusplanet.net>>

>> Subject: [Jacob-list] Congenital Problems in Jacobs

>> To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com <mailto:jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>>

>> Message-ID: <000a01ca3d54$b0ebefc0$7814b8a1 at RIVENDELL>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>>

>> Heel low:

>>

>> <Jacobflock at aol.com <mailto: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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-- 
Patchwork Farm Jacob Sheep <http://www.patchworkfibers.com>
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