[Jacob-list] Fiber: black/white/fading/freckles/ticking

[Linda]

My comment was on part of Fred's original post. There is more to the 
post than what I quoted. There are more things in play than just 
minerals/nutrition.
Fed the same, the graying is more likely to be genetics. Neal's post on 
sunbleaching relates to fiber diameter. 
Graying/fading/roaning/sunbleaching are not the same. Not sure what you 
mean by "faded".
Genetics, feeding, management ( keep them coated or in the shade), all 
contribute to fleece color.

Linda



im rapunzil wrote:

> I have a pair of Jacobs - ram lamb and a ewe lamb purchased from the 

> same farm.  They were the same age but of different parents. 

>  

> The ram arrived faded and the ewe is black as night.  So I don't know 

> about the iron theory.....

>

> /You live by writing your poems on a farm/

> /and call that farming./

>

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

> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:44:18 -0400

> From: patchworkfibers at windstream.net

> To: Jacobflock at aol.com

> CC: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com; nlgrose at yadtel.net; Hobsickle at aol.com

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Fiber: black/white/fading/freckles/ticking

>

> Fred brings up something that I really hadn't thought about.

> I'm familiar with the effects of copper on holding color. It's 

> important for black rabbits if you want to keep a good deep black, so 

> I watched it when I had show rabbits.

> But, I've never given a thought at all to iron. Our previous farm was 

> just two miles away as the crow flies and we had a well. The water 

> there was very high in iron. Our well was better than others in the 

> neighborhood, but still pretty high. The people up the hill had to 

> filter their well water so they could drink it. We get our water here 

> from a spring at the top of the hill, so not sure if it's also high in 

> iron. Next time I'm in town, I'll ask our friend at the health 

> department about it.

> I don't plan to move or buy bottled water for my flock :-)

>

> Linda

>

> Jacobflock at aol.com <mailto:Jacobflock at aol.com> wrote:

>

>      

>     Melanins binds to a variety of compounds and metals.  Iron tends

>     to neutralize the anti-oxidant property of eumelanin but copper

>     tends to strengthen it.  _*Thus a diet richer in iron tends to

>     promote fading,*_ copper reduces fading and promotes the structure

>     of eumelanin.  Water, soils, mineral, forage etc in the

>     environment richer in copper would tend to fix the black color and

>     reduce fading from UV rays.  Is it possible that there is some

>     measurable difference in the breeders environment (water test,

>     soil test, feed test) that might indicate copper is richer or

>     poorer (like selenium measures).  Some data might be available

>     from soil tests, hay tests, and water review boards that would

>     suggest local environmental conditions.  Might MI be a copper rich

>     environment?

>      

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>     -- 

>      

>

>

> -- 

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

>

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