Tell me about Jacob Sheep...

[Bleenie]

I found an Ad on craigslist for some new lambs, they are just adorable

. and even still beautiful as adults. I don't want to keep an animal if it's going to be useless though, or just because its cute.

Can anyone tell me about this breed?
As easy to bottle raise as goat kids?
what can I do with a Doe?
Purposes/Uses?

Thanks everyone

Here's the picture they had up...

 

[michickenwrangler]

You may want to PM SpectrumRanch, they have some (with huge horns! I might add)

 

[lilwhispers]

Jacobs are very interesting they are the longest specifically bred sheep breed. Rumored to have been started by Jacob in egypt in bible times. Thay can have 2 - 6 horns and come in a variety of colors

 

[Bleenie]

6 horns!?!?

I have only seen them with 4, but I love the look.

Does anyone else raise them or has had them in the past?

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

We raise them.
Here is what I think about them. Others may have different views. DH is asleep, otherwise I would have him tell me his words to type. The Jacobs are his project that he has been working with for over 20 years.

We are having to start over, because coyotes killed around 28 of them a few years ago...leaving him with 1 ram and 1 ewe. We found 1 purebred ewe we liked and purchased her. We have been cross-breeding for now, until we find more ewes that we want.
That is what prompted us to get Great Pyrenees dogs. DH had one, but he died of old age...his presence had a lasting effect on predators, they didn't come back until old Jake was gone for a couple of years.

Ours have 4 horns, unless we cross them with another breed, then we get 5, 6 or more horns. When they have that many, the horns sometimes grow together or a horn will split, making it not as sturdy and apt to break off.
The horns are very soft for a long time. You need to make sure they aren't in herd situations that the young rams will get knocked around and get their horns broken.

They are lighter and take longer to mature than most meat breeds, though they are good to eat.
The rams make fantastic trophy heads.

They are a lot lower maintenance and hardier than modern sheep. This breed has not been "improved" by man like other breeds of sheep for production purposes. This is why you don't see them everywhere, they aren't economical for large producers.

We love ours!! When other sheep owners were doctoring, seemingly constant for hoof rot, worms, pinkeye, ringworm, and calling us for help with lambing troubles ...our Jacobs were fat and sassy, no hoof problems, no lambing problems, no pinkeye, etc.

I have a few Dorper sheep too, and they require more feed and care than the Jacob's.

Got to love what Mother Nature creates and man doesn't mess with!!!! We think they are a great breed!

Jean

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Wow, just wow! I never heard of Jacob sheep. I have to 'go googling' for more pics now!

Lisa

 

[Bleenie]

Jean,
Thank you for telling me about your guys experience with them. That big guy is just beautiful!..I'm a total sucker for the 'different' critters

Do you use their fiber for anything? or do you only raise for meat?
How are their personalities? are they friendly or more standoffish?

At what age is it best to butcher for eating? (i have never had goat or lamb)

Thank you so much

 

[lilwhispers]

Now his horns have caracter

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

We don't use their wool for anything right now. I have been looking for someone who would be interested in having it. I don't care about making any money from the shearing, just enough to pay for it to be done. Our clippers just plain wore out, so the cost right now in our area is $10.00 per sheep, to have it done. Right now, I don't have the "extra" $400.00 for a good sheep shearing clipper.

I have had spinners tell me that if you mix the sheep wool with rabbit hair wool ( angora or jersey wooly), it makes fantastic yarn. I have sold some jersey wooly rabbits for wool production, but those people had their own sheep to mix with it, so they weren't interested in mine.

I thought about learning how to spin the wool, but then reality kicked in and I know I don't have the time to start another project right now.

We love ours because of the ease of upkeep, and of course the unique appearance.
We usually sell the bucks either for meat use or for breeding purposes. For meat, our customers like them under a year old. They do grow a slower than production breeds. A good range would be 8 - 10 months old. Some customers like them younger, I guess it depends on how they intend to cook them.
We haven't used any for meat for ourselves, but there may come a time when we will need to. DH prefers pork, so we raise them for that purpose.

As far as personality and friendliness, that depends how much you mess with them.
We have some that are real friendly, and others who are more stand-offish. I try not to mess with the ram too much. When he decides to come to me, he likes to rub his horns on me...OUCH! Since he has 4, there isn't way for me to avoid his affection.
The ewes will stand and let me rub on them, mostly while they are eating. If you get them too friendly, they will try to jump up to get their heads in the feed bucket as you're carrying it, I have spilled a lot of feed this way!
So, it is at your discretion as too how friendly you want them.

We move ours a lot from pasture to pasture, so all we have to do is holler for them, and open a gate while they are looking at us. They will then run through that gate, and we go to the next gate, call them and open it. Same thing, they run right through it. I always have a straggler...one I had as a pet while she was young, she will slowly walk to the gate, and sometimes I have to go behind her to hurry her up or she will stop and graze between steps!!! Silly sheep!

As with any breed of sheep: Do NOT ever stand in front of an open gate when they want to go through it!!! They will try to jump over you, and will hit you about chest high and flat knock you down! I know!!! It hurts.
If you are trying to move them, and are trying to block their escape, you have to keep moving towards them. If you stand still, they will run over you! Just some info learned from experience...

Jean