[Jacob-list] New Booklet "Guide to Selection of Jacob Breeding Stock"

[Linda]

And neither should we accept undesirable traits under the guise of 
diversity.

Linda

On 8/11/2011 8:21 AM, Cheryl Terrano wrote:

> I too received my booklet in the mail last week. In reviewing the 

> guide, it appears that a great deal of work went into the development 

> of this work and I say thank you to all that contributed.

>

> I would hope all breeders take into consideration that a guide is 

> simply that - a guide. It provides information. At the bottom of page 

> 3, second column and in *bold *print reads*"The document is in no way 

> intended as anything but a guide".* I hope readers take note of that 

> important statement. Furthermore, I hope that this booklet of 

> information does not cause breeders to use it as a set in stone 

> example simply for choosing the "look" of an animal while discarding 

> the genetic value of the animal as a whole. I have enjoyed ALL the 

> discussion thus far about its pros and cons and understand/share some 

> of the concerns Peg (and others) have expressed in choosing animals 

> based upon certain traits, such as horn number, marking or some other 

> individual trait. As for the cover, I too would have enjoyed seeing 

> both ram and ewe, 2 horn and 4 horn on the cover. In my opinion, a 

> "head shot" alone does tend to send the message that four horns are 

> preferred, rare trait or not. The phrase "ideal horns and coloring" 

> are a little misleading to me simply because the photo only shows the 

> head of the animal. It does not show the ram's body, color pattern, 

> conformation etc. as some of the others photos within the pages of the 

> guide do. But, like the old saying goes, "You can't please all the 

> people all the time." :)

>

> Personal experience has shown me that often times the publishing of 

> "guides" sometimes brings a concrete, almost cookie cutter approach to 

> trait selection. I also feel this was _not_ the intent of this 

> particular publication. Again, a guide is a guide is a guide. In my 

> opinion, I feel Jacob sheep breeders would do best for the breed to 

> avoid that cookie cutter approach of selecting one or two specific 

> traits to concentrate on. The breed as a whole offers a unique 

> diversity of usefulness in a variety of environments. Jacob sheep seem 

> to thrive wherever they are, whether it be the harsh cold of Canada to 

> the dry, hot areas of Texas and every where in between. Not many sheep 

> breeds are as versatile as the Jacob!

>

> As with any breed of livestock, we all should frequently examine and 

> then re-examine our individual efforts in conserving the Jacob sheep. 

> I should point out that, once livestock breeders begin to select and 

> breed for one or two specific traits, then our efforts have shifted 

> from true conservation efforts to an improvement breeding approach. 

> That, in itself, can be detrimental to any breed of livestock and, 

> left unchecked, can result in some pretty disastrous consequences. No 

> single registry, group or individual breeder is immune from its 

> effects and we should never solely depend on a single registry, group 

> or individual breeder to keep this in check. We are human and, by past 

> history, that alone shows we have a tendency to mess things up.

>

> That said, I would recommend an additional reading of the American 

> Livestock Breeds Conservancy book entitled /A Conservation Breeding 

> Handbook/ by Carolyn Christman and D. Phillip Sponenberg. HINT: You 

> can read the first chapter from the ALBC store for free via their 

> website store before deciding to buy. This book is a short read, easy 

> to understand and offers valuable information about the conservation 

> of heritage breeds of livestock. I particularly like the written 

> comparisons of conservation vs. improvement breeding programs as shown 

> in Chapter 2. It outlines the pro's and cons of each and is not 

> species specific (i.e. it is the same approach if you are breeding 

> sheep, cattle, poultry, etc.). Chapter 3 has very good information 

> about positive and negative selections along with details on selection 

> intensity. If nothing else, it too is a guide that provides valuable 

> information for any breeder to consider when developing his/her farm 

> goals and long term plans for the animals they raise and their 

> individual breeding program.

>

> Just my two cents worth,

> Cheryl Terrano

>

> 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: marguerite van beek <mvanbeek7 at gmail.com>

> To: Royal Unzicker <runzicker at verizon.net>

> Cc: Jacob List <Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

> Sent: Mon, Aug 8, 2011 3:39 pm

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] New Booklet "Guide to Selection of Jacob 

> Breeding Stock"

>

> To all:

>

> I agree it is a wonderful book very informative and much appreciated, 

> but as everyone knows that is is extremely difficult to sell a two 

> horn ram in this area, regardless. It has been talked about so often 

> between the breeders but reality is they are not sell able. And it is 

> a breeders choice to breed 4 or 2 horn or only 4 horn but it would 

> have been nice to see a two horned animal on the front cover as well. 

> And I for one had heard on several occasions of breeders stating that 

> the only "true" Jacob is a four horn animal. I am just tired of having 

> exceptional two horn rams in the past that had to be destroyed because 

> of the previous statement. It just would have been nice.

>

> I should have said and didn't *"thank you"* to Ingrid for the work on 

> the booklet and the JSBA.

>

> Peggy

>

> On Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 2:06 PM, Royal Unzicker <runzicker at verizon.net> 

> wrote:

>

>     Hi Peg,

>     Sorry if this came across negatively to you. I think four horn

>     sheep were used as there is more frequently an issue with four

>     horn sheep than with two horn sheep. And it seemed helpful to show

>     how horns can change as they mature. Since this is a guide to

>     alert breeders, especially new breeders, it seemed more beneficial

>     to use four horn animls. As it states under the photos, both sheep

>     are rams. In any case, I have never heard anyone say two horn

>     Jacobs are of less value than four horn Jacobs. I do find that

>     sometimes breeders are willing to pay more for four horn animls

>     just because they like their look. I find the same is often true

>     for Jacobs with black on their legs or feet. That does not imply

>     that JSBA thinks four horn Jacobs or Jacobs with black feet are

>     more valuable than other Jacobs. It should be a breeder's choice

>     as long as the sheep fall within the breed standard..

>     This guide has been in the works for many years and there have

>     been numerous revisions. I am sure there is not copy that will

>     please everyone. However, I do hope the guide will be of value to

>     the majority of our members.

>     Royal Unzicker

>     Inspector Chair

>

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

>         *From:* peggy

>         *To:* jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

>         *Sent:* Monday, August 08, 2011 9:23 AM

>         *Subject:* [Jacob-list] New Booklet "Guide to Selection of

>         Jacob Breeding Stock"

>

>         *I just received my copy of the “Guide” and right off the bat

>         here we are putting a four horn ewe and a four horn ram on the

>         front cover. No two horns. So anyone looking at that would

>         certainly think that four horn is the only “Jacob” because if

>         two horn was just as important then they also would be on the

>         front cover. I don’t care if I stick my neck out on this one

>         but come on didn’t anyone think???*

>         **

>         *The front cover should have been divided into four pictures

>         one of each. I thought we discussed this at the AGM in NJ how

>         important two horn Jacobs are. I guess not and the message

>         stinks.*

>         **

>         *Peg van Beek*

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

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>

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>

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