[Jacob-list] Newbie Question

[Peg Bostwick]

Hello, Tashia.   I’m glad that you are enjoying your Jacob sheep.    

 

I doubt that your sheep were born “naturally” bob-tailed.   Most shepherds dock their lambs tails when then are quite young, although they may be docked later.  Generally, the reason given for this is cleanliness, and so that manure on their tails will not attract flies.   Some breed groups (especially the meat breeds) have, in the past, encouraged docking of tails very short (so that there is virtually no tail left).  This has been discouraged, though, even in commercial meat breeds, as very close docking can cause nerve damage.

 

On the other hand, some heritage sheep breeders prefer to keep their sheep “natural” by not docking them.  Some strongly oppose docking.  Others strongly feel that docking is necessary for the well-being of the animal.   You will definitely find some of each – docked or not – on websites.   Tails of Jacob sheep that are left long are not “fat” – not when you see them shorn.  But they can look quite fat when the sheep is in full fleece.   Some other breeds – especially some from the middle east – have a true “fat” tail, which becomes very large and fat if not docked – it is where the animal naturally stores fat.

 

We dock most of our lambs, but have also had a number of Jacob sheep that are not docked, and they have not been a problem for us.  In part, I suspect that the need to dock depends on the part of the country that you are in, whether flies are a problem on your farm, humidity, and similar factors.   I would urge you, if you decide to dock your lambs, to leave at least a few inches.  I think that this not only avoids the damage caused by docking too short, but also gives the ewes in particular some protection from the sun and insects where they have sensitive skin without wool below the tail.   If you look through the photos, you will likely see some sheep with a “half tail” or one that is a few inches long.

 

Hope this helps.   Good luck with your sheep… Peg

 

Peg Bostwick

peg at sweetgrass-jacobs.com

517-626-6981

 

From: jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com [mailto:jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com] On Behalf Of tlund at eclipsebordercollies.com
Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2011 1:51 PM
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
Subject: [Jacob-list] Newbie Question

 

Hi everyone, 

 

We are new to Jacobs and really love them.  We have 5 wethers and one ewe.  We will be adding more ewes and a ram next year.  So here is my question: 

 

I have been looking over webpages and wondering why some Jacobs have the long fat tail and others are bob tailed?  Mine came bob tailed naturally.  Are these different lines or crosses? 

 

Thanks in advance and have a great day. 

Tashia Lund 
Eclipse Border Collies 
955 Highway 81 NE 
Cummings ND 58223-9552 
www.eclipsebordercollies.com 
701-330-3195 

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