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

[Betty Berlenbach]

Perhaps it would have been better to have two rams, one with pigmented, one with muzzle, with the caption saying “two examples of types of ideal jacob markings” since some prefer one, some the other. But it is what it is, at this point.  Despite this difficulty for some people, I think the book shows an enormous amount of work, and is very helpful.  I’m guessing that there might well be reason to have a short insert in the booklet that says that though it might look like pigmented is to be preferred to muzzle, and though it might seem like freckling is a foregone conclusion in sheep with knee patches and socks, there are certainly diverse opinions on that and evidence suggests that it is fairly easy to breed away from freckles even in such sheep.  THat way, all opinions might be expressed, new breeders won’t get “WRONG IDEAS” and maybe everyone can rest easy?  

From: Carl Fosbrink 
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 4:08 PM
To: spotted_sheep at bluefrog.com ; peggy 
Cc: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] New Booklet "Guide to Selection ofJacobBreeding Stock"

I must agree that the pigmented noses, large eye patches almost to the nose and white legs are found on English Jacobs. They are acceptable here in America and by the JSBA. Several years ago the Jacobs with black muzzles and feet and knee and hock spots were considered ideal and the Jacobs with pimented muzzles and white legs were considered acceptable. I was told this by an ex inspector and JSBA member who worked on the original guide book and had Jacobs before I did. I am disappointed that new members will be led to believe that pigmented muzzles and white legs are preferred to black muzzles and legs and knee and hock spots. I was unable to attend the 2009 AGM, but sent a list for discussion on items in the Guide Book. One of those questions for discussion was about the wording on the cover photo. None of my points for discussion were changed in the guidebook. While I think the ram on the front page has wonderful lateral horns I do not consider him perfect in horns because of his top horns direction and I do not consider his color perfect because that inferes that pigmented muzzles are better than black muzzles. I also am upset that the few photos in the guidebook that are of Jacobs with knee and hock patches have negative comments assosiated with them. Leg color and freckling are not neccessarily connected. I have four breeding rams that have knee and hock spots and none of them have any freckling.  Several of the original imports of Jacobs from the Isle of Skye to the Chicago Zoo and Jacobs from Africa did have freckling, but it can be easily  selected away from. Edd Bisell said he never saw a Jacob that didn't have four horns and knee and hock spots until he went to Mazie Hescock's and saw her flock. Those later imports had the pigmented muzzles and large eye patches and white legs for the most part, but the breeders of the day were glad to get some new genes without going to another breed and the Isle of Skye and Africa imports were crossed with the English imports quickly. What we have today is a mix and what you prefer is OK, but to say one is perfect is to imply that the other is not.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: spotted_sheep at bluefrog.com 
  To: peggy 
  Cc: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 12:30 PM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] New Booklet "Guide to Selection of JacobBreeding Stock"

  I also noticed the caption under it saying something about the two cover boy's markings being "ideal", when both were missing nose patches (dark pigmented, but no actual spot)...Not really "ideal" in my mind, although totally acceptable... It made me think of British Jacobs actually.

  Marie

  --- mvanbeek7 at gmail.com wrote:

  From: "peggy" <mvanbeek7 at gmail.com>
  To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
  Subject: [Jacob-list] New Booklet "Guide to Selection of Jacob Breeding Stock"
  Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 09:23:35 -0400


  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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