Jacob Sheep
The Jacob Sheep: An American Relic
The Jacob sheep more closely resembles a common goat, both in confirmation and in coloration. Though he appears to be the opposite, he is actually a black sheep with white markings. At sheering one can clearly see the difference, but in fleece the proper Jacob sheep will look the purest of white with stark black spots and splotches. He also tends to be multi-horned, setting one pair downward and one to the front or off to the sides. It is not unreasonable for either sex of this breed to own three sets of horns, and those unlucky Jacob sheep who are polled cannot be registered. Small in stature, with the males of the species rarely topping 180 pounds, and the females lucky to stack 120 pounds, these sheep make great pets and are often raised solely for this purpose.
Placed on the official rare breeds list in North America sometime during the 1990’s, there are less than 1,000 ewes registered per year. The reasoning behind this low number is a bit of a mystery, though it is safe to say that we tend to utilize sheep as consumable livestock far less than do other countries. Sheep milk is not a common addition to our daily meal planning, nor are sheep steak or sheep stomach, though the medium to fine quality of the low kemp wool is still quite desirable for hobbyists, quilters, and clothes makers. The Jacob sheep in the United Kingdom are quite a bit larger than those we breed here, and this in part due to strained breeding for size and durability over seas.
The North American Jacob sheep being more to the primitive side of the fence has not hurt its reputation in the least. They are rarely crossed with any other breed, though their fine temperament with other animals has given way to an accidental birth or two. The tails are naturally long, and it is rarely considered acceptable to dock it, unlike most other breed standards. The Jacob sheep should have no wool on the cheeks or in front of the horn carriage. The breed should also be without wool on the lower legs, the testicles, the scrotum, and the udders. The tail should hang low enough to protect the anus and the vulva of the animal, and allowing it to grow will not affect the health or conformation of the beast whatsoever.
Twins births are common with the Jacob sheep, and they seldom need any supplemental feed sources in order to sustain good health. Grains must never be offered to a pregnant ewe, as this can cause terrible complications with gestation and birth. Sheering is done once per year, and the hooves should only need to be trimmed once as well. They should be offered an open shelter area to escape the rain, but are otherwise quite formidable and need little pampering.