JJAACCOOBB SSHHEEEEPP IINN TTHHEE SSHHOOWW RRIINNGG IINNFFOORRMMAATTIIOONN FFOORR JJUUDDGGEESS JACOB SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION August 2006 Jacob Sheep in the Show Ring Jacob Sheep Breeders Association Page 1 INTRODUCTION As Jacob sheep increase in popularity, they are appearing more often in the show ring. The purpose of this packet is to help acquaint judges with the unique characteristics of the Jacob breed, and with the fitting and showing preferences of the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association (JSBA). This document includes: x An overall proposed scorecard, immediately following this introduction; x An overview of the Jacob breed; x The Association’s recommendations regarding fitting and showing; x A discussion of breed characteristics; x The JSBA Breed Standard (Appendix A); x A Glossary of Terms (Appendix B); while most of these terms will be familiar to judges, a few are somewhat specific to this breed; and, x Information on card grading (Appendix C). A Short History of Jacob Sheep Jacobs are a British long-tailed, polycerate breed dating back three to four hundred years. They are known as "Park" sheep because the earliest recorded flocks were kept on large country estates to enhance the beauty of the landscape. Until the 20th century these sheep had little in the way of selective breeding for traits such as meat and wool quality. Although importations to the United States and Canada prior to the 1960’s and 70’s are not well-documented, it is possible that Jacob sheep were brought into the to North America at an earlier date, particularly for purposes of display in zoological exhibits – possibly as early as the turn of the 20th century. In Britain, Jacobs have been crossed to Dorsets in the South and Cheviots in the North and can now compete with the larger, selectively bred meat breeds. In North America, they have remained more primitive. The earliest ones were snapped up by hunters, private zoos and game farms for their "trophy" heads. The American Jacob is today closer to the earliest recorded flocks than those found in Britain. By retaining its small size, its large horns and its distinctly colored markings we should be able and proud to pass on to future generations this exceptionally unique breed. A four-horned ram showing good breed characteristics. Jacob Sheep in the Show Ring Jacob Sheep Breeders Association Page 2 This group of two-horned and four-horned Jacob ewes show the color patterns and other characteristics that are typical of the breed. About the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association The Jacob Sheep Breeders Association (JSBA) was formed in 1988 to provide a registry for purebred American Jacob sheep, and now represents more than 200 breeders from the United States and Canada. According to statistics provided by the America Livestock Breeds Conservancy, JSBA registrations account for about 80 to 90 percent of the American Jacobs registered annually. From the inception of the registry in 1988 through 2004, JSBA registered more than 8,700 Jacobs. All sheep registered by JSBA must pass an inspection, and must be shown to meet the breed standard. However, given the limited genetic pool available, and the Association’s goal of maintaining as much genetic diversity as possible, the standard is intentionally written to be inclusive of a fairly broad range of animals. Thus, some diversity in the show ring, including two- and four-horned animals of various sizes and marking patterns, is not only acceptable but to be encouraged. It is not our goal to produce large, uniform, “commercial” animals. All animals that place at the top of their classes should, however, exhibit typical breed characteristics, and should be sound, hardy animals – as is also characteristic of the Jacob breed. Jacob Sheep in the Show Ring Jacob Sheep Breeders Association Page 3 Card Grading In some (but not all) shows, a “card grading” system may be used as an alternate means of evaluating breeding stock. Under this system, all animals are graded as excellent, good, acceptable, and unacceptable while still penned. All sheep rated “excellent” are then shown against one another in the ring. This system helps to avoid a situation where a judge who is unfamiliar with the breed could place a sub-standard animal over one that the association considers to be ideal. Breeders are then able to select quality animals based on the judge’s evaluation, without the inference that one “type” of Jacob is inherently superior to another type. Additional information on card grading is included in Appendix C of this packet. UUUU U The purpose of this guidance is to advise those judging Jacobs of the characteristics that the Association and its members consider more and less desirable. It is our hope that showing Jacobs will help to introduce this less-common breed to the public in a positive manner, and that such competitions will be a positive experience both for members and those who judge our sheep. For additional information, please contact: Jacob Sheep Breeders Association Business Office 83136 Rattlesnake Road Dexter, OR 97431 541-747-6149 www.jsba.org Jacob Sheep Breeders Association Recommended Scorecard DESIRABLE (“HIGH”) ACCEPTABLE (“MEDIUM”) UNACCEPTABLE (“LOW”) Conformation (30%) x Relatively small, fine-boned x Back not level over x Rams over 180 lbs; ewes x Straight back with rump shoulders over 130 lbs. sloping toward tail head x Square rump, not sloping x Very large, heavy boned x Legs set square, no wool x Slightly cow-hocked animal below the knee x Somewhat Roman-nosed x Large, square-jawed head, x Head slender and triangular, x Eyelid with minor evidence pendulous ears no wool forward of horns in of a split upper eyelid that x Wool on legs or face adults; small alert ears will not cause injury to the (forward of horns in adults) x Brown, blue, or marbled eye x Split eyelid deformity that eyes without evidence of causes injury or discomfort split upper eyelid to the eye x Tail docked, or reaching x Unsound near hock Fleece (30%) x Medium, open, with soft x Finer, short, dense fleece x Very coarse fleeces grading springy handle x Longer, coarser fleece that 38.9 microns (40 Bradford x Staple length of 3-7” is more hairy in appearance count) or coarser x With or without crimp, but x Presence of some freckling x Very fine fleeces grading uniform and desirable for obvious in the white wool 23.5 microns (60 Bradford handspinning x Small amount of kemp count) or finer x Clean line between colored x Lacking in uniformity, or x Double coating and white patches with excessive britch wool x Short, brittle fleeces with x Minimal if any kemp; lambs x Significant “bleeding” heavy kemp may, however, have some between colored patches x Fleeces that shed loose fibers that are NOT and white areas x Excessive quilted kemp appearance x Excessive mottling or freckling, with “salt and pepper” appearance Jacob Sheep in the Show Ring Jacob Sheep Breeders Association Page 5 DESIRABLE (“HIGH”) ACCEPTABLE (“MEDIUM”) UNACCEPTABLE (“LOW”) Breed Characteristics (30%) x Well-marked, a white sheep x Minimal color on body, but x More than 85% colored, or with black or lilac patches, with typical Jacob color giving the appearance of a neither too light nor too pattern black animal with minimal dark. x Missing or slipped eye white markings x Two large eye patches; patch, or having only one x More than 85% white pigmented nose (in adults) facial marking (one eye x Having no facial patches or muzzle patch present patch or muzzle patch) x All black legs x Legs white or with colored x One to three dark colored x Forward growing horns that patches, but not all black; legs harm the animal or impair black or striped hooves x Horns less well- spaced, the ability of the animal to x With even number of strong, may be partially fused or graze well-balanced and spaced evenly fused at base in x Polled sheep horns adult rams x Rams with scurs (except in x In general appearance, fine- x Slightly forward tipping addition to full horns) boned, somewhat primitive, horns that will not impair x Ewes with scurs in place of and alert grazing or harm the animal top (primary) horns x Ewes with scurs in place of x Very large and heavy boned lower (secondary) horns x Somewhat coarse in appearance Showmanship (10%) x Reasonably clean and x Some trimming and x Animals recently sheared attractive but with minimal washing to present an without sufficient wool for grooming of fleece attractive animal evaluation x Natural in appearance x Adult ewes that have x Excessively fitted x Well-conditioned, but not lambed in somewhat lower x Very poor condition with expectation of same condition amount of cover as a meat breed BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION Overview of the Jacob Breed American Jacobs are a spotted, multi-horned, Old World sheep that, unlike many other breeds, have not undergone extensive breeding to satisfy the commercial marketplace. They have a more primitive body shape, are relatively slender-boned, and provide a flavorful, lean carcass with little external fat. The fleece is soft, open and light in grease, making it highly sought after by handspinners. Jacob sheep are also attractive to owners of small flocks because they are hardy, resistant to parasites and foot problems, lamb easily, and have strong mothering instincts, thus demanding a minimal amount of attention. Most serious Jacob breeders are concerned with conservation breeding -- that is, with maintaining genetic diversity within a breed having a relatively small number of individuals. Jacob sheep are currently listed as a “Rare1” breed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.