Jacob (sheep)

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The Jacob sheep is a primitive multihorned sheep breed, patterned with black and white spots. Jacobs are grown for their wool, their meat, and their hides, but they make good pets as well. Currently Jacobs are listed as threatened by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, which means the breed has "fewer than 1,000 annual registrations in the U.S. and estimated fewer than 5,000 global population."

1 Conformation of the Jacob
2 History of the Jacob Sheep
3 Keeping Jacob Sheep
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Conformation of the Jacob

American Jacobs are primitive sheep that resemble goats in their conformation. They are small (rams weigh about 120-180 pounds, ewes 80-120) and angular, with triangular faces, thin legs, and long bodies with sloped rumps. The ewes have small udders held close to the body; rams' scrotums are also close to the body and free from wool. Jacobs may be cow-hocked. British Jacobs tend to be heavier, larger sheep that have lost many of the primitive characteristics through cross-breeding in the past and through breeder selection for larger sheep.

A Jacob sheep should not have wool forward of the horns or on the cheeks, and should not have wool on the legs or the scrotum/udder. The tail is long if not docked. Jacob owners do not usually dock the tail completely (as is the practice currently with some breeds) even for market sheep, but leave several inches to cover the anus and vulva.

Both the rams and the ewes have horns, usually two or four but sometimes as many as six. A polled (hornless) sheep is not eligible for registration.

[edit] Wool

The wool of the Jacob sheep varies with the animal in question. In general, Jacobs have open fleeces weighing no more than about five pounds and of medium-fine quality. The Jacob is considered a down breed and the fleece feels somewhat springy. Most Jacobs will have some kemp (coarse, hair-like fibers) in their wool, which is natural for primitive breeds, but excessive kemp throughout the fleece is considered undesirable.

Jacobs are shorn once a year. Some individual sheep will show a natural "break" in the fleece in springtime, which sometimes leads to a natural shedding of the fleece, particularly around the neck and shoulders. The wool is sought after by handspinners.

In some sheep (particularly British Jacobs, which have denser fleeces), the black wool will grow longer or shorter than the white wool. This is called "quilted fleece" and is an undesirable trait.

[edit] Coloring

Jacobs are white sheep with black spots, although not all spotted sheep are Jacobs. The ideal Jacob has sharply delineated spots (without excessive freckling), and spots over the eyes, on the nose, and on the knees. Each individual's spot pattern is unique, however. Occasionally a Jacob sheep will have brownish-gray spots instead of black, called "lilac."

Jacobs that are mostly black or which have few or no spots are generally indicative of past cross-breeding.

[edit] Horns

Jacobs are multihorned (polycerate) sheep. Sheep may have from two to six horns, although two and four horned animals are the norm (British Jacobs are most often two-horned). Polled (hornless) sheep show evidence of past cross-breeding and are not registerable.

Horns are black, but some individuals may have striped horns. White horns are considered a fault. Ideally, horns should be smooth and balanced, strongly attached to the skull, and should grow in a way that will not impede the animal's sight or grazing abilities. The horns in two-horned sheep, and the lower horns in four-horned, grow in a classic spiral shape. Upper horns most often grow upward. Rams have larger horns than ewes. Scurs, the term for horns that are unattached to the skull (or only loosely attached), are considered undesirable.

The multihorned trait is linked genetically to a condition known as split eyelid. In mild cases the eyelid shows a "peak" but does not impair vision or cause discomfort. Extreme cases of split eyelid result in a complete separation of the eyelid in the middle, and these sheep should not be used for breeding.

[edit] History of the Jacob Sheep

Jacob or Piebald Sheep are an English Breed with a possible Scandinavian background. It has only been recently the name Jacob Sheep has superseded the older name, Piebald Sheep. These sheep are descendants of the sheep the Norse brought to the British Isles. The Norse traveled the seas with livestock as they sought new lands to colonize and farm. Where ever they settled they planted their domestic animals.

It is a well loved myth that Jacobs are related to the fat-tailed sheep of the Middle East. There are no genetic markers nor is there any historical evidence pointing to any connection to Eastern breeds of sheep. The colorful stories have been perpetuated mostly by the romantic sounding name which refers to the Biblical story of Jacob in the old testament of the Christian Bible. Genesis 30:31-70 It tells how Jacob took every speckled and spotted sheep as his own from Laban's flock. The breed was formerly known as "Spanish sheep," but these sheep did not originate in Spain. Like so many British breeds with an unclear history the legend persists that the Jacob washed up in England after the wreck of the Spanish Armada in the 16th Century. There are records of spotted sheep (including four-horned sheep) existing in Britain at about the same time that make it clear this breed is indeed very old.

Jacobs in Britain were often kept as park sheep--decorative animals grazed on estates--which probably kept the breed from dying out.

Jacobs were probably first imported to Canada and the United States as zoo animals due to their exotic appearance, but records are scarce. Some individuals acquired Jacob sheep from zoos around the 1960s, but the breed remained very rare in North America for several decades. Identification of the breed as endangered and ensuing registration of sheep began in 1985.

Jacobs have been used as attack sheep in Gloucestershire, in the manner of attack dogs, to protect farm property from vandalism.[1]

[edit] Keeping Jacob Sheep

Jacob sheep are hardy animals with high resistance to parasites and disease. Hooves generally only need trimming once a year, even on soft pasture, and sheep only need shearing once a year. Jacobs are seasonal breeders and twins are common.

Jacobs do not need supplemental grain. Feeding grain during pregnancy can cause birth complications. Adequate pasture, hay, and loose minerals (formulated for sheep, not cattle) fulfill the Jacob's nutritional needs. Shelter from rain and weather is needed, but the shelter can be open and simple.

Jacobs do not show much flocking behavior. They can be skittish if not used to people, although with daily handling they will become very tame and make good pets. Jacobs mix well with goats and other livestock, although care should be taken if Jacobs are kept with dehorned/polled goats or sheep. Fences should be close-woven to minimize the possibility of horns getting caught.