Jacob Sheephave deck the large estatesand country homes of England for many centuries . Their telling horns , black - and - bloodless expression and spotted torso no doubt kick in to their popularity and endurance .
Their actual origins are n’t fuck . However , documentation throughout history indicate that the spotted or pied sheep may originate in the earth now do it as Syria some 3,000 year ago . Pictorial evidence traces move of these sheep through North Africa , Sicily , Spain and England .
A Storied Sheep
you could get many romantic taradiddle about the Jacob Sheep . One contain they are verbatim descendants of the lot acquired by Jacob during the clock time he work for his Fatherhood - in - jurisprudence as mentioned in the Bible ( Genesis 30 ) . Another story states they washed ashore from shipwrecks during the essay 1588 invasion of England by the Spanish Armada during the sovereignty of Elizabeth I.
Jacobs differ from other British and northerly European polycerates ( sheep with multiple horns ) .
They also differ from other primitive breed in that they have a medium - fine sheepskin and no outer coat . Other primitive breed are twice - coated , having a fine inner coat and a coarser , longer out coat .
Read more : These farm animal breeds agree large on modest farms !
Distinct Breed
Importation of Jacob Sheep to the United States and Canada has occurred in modest bit since the early 1900s . These have been dust all over the continent , and many were crossed to other strain .
Some refer to these crosses as Jacobs , even though many carry no resemblance to the breed except that they exhibit spots and multiple horn .
Other breeds of sheep do produce spotted dear and/or polycerate offspring . spot or multiple car horn do n’t needs indicate a Jacob Sheep .
register more : raise lamb comes with a lot of joys — and occasional sorrows , too .
Old World Sheep
American Jacobs are old cosmos sheep , with a primitive eubstance form and more thin bones . Unlike many other previous world breeds , Jacobs have n’t undergone improved breeding and outcrossing to satisfy the commercial-grade market .
Jacob Sheep provide a flavorous , lean carcase with little external fat . compare to the more improved breeds , the breed swash a high carcass yield from hang weighting to deep freezer .
Due to fine ivory anatomical structure and less body adipose tissue , you may carry more of these sheep on ley than the modern breeds , with 25 to 50 percent increases reported . Ewes call for less supplemental feed during times of increased nutritional need .
Jacob Sheep also lamb well , usually with no help . The lamb rise up and nurse vigorously without help .
Many English shepherds include Jacob ewes in commercial flocks in due to their hardiness , relief of lamb and strong mothering inherent aptitude . ram and Ewe both keep easily , with a resistor to parasites and foot problems .
The fleece is soft , open and light in grease . These qualities make it highly sought after by handspinners .
The Jacob Sheep is highly merchantable as breeding livestock . Farm gate sale of freezer lamb , tanned pelts , handspinners ’ fleeces , horns for walking sticks and clitoris convey the breeder financial return as well as the joy of seeing this handsome strain on the farm .
The Livestock Conservancy recognize North American Jacobs as different than British Jacobs in that most antecedent of the American variety were imported before British breeders take more for size and uniform appearance for commercial markets . This is why Jacobs are on TLC ’s Conservation Priority List .
This article was write and copyrighted bytheJacob Sheep Breeders Association .
