By Carol Howe

The Jacob breed of sheep has been around for centuries.They once lived on English estates and around country homes.This British breed is unique because of its black and white fleece and its noticeable horns.

Both sexes are horned,and they can have two,four and, sometimes,even six horns.The four-horned rams attract considerable attention with the two vertical horns,which can grow as long as two feet,along with the two side horns.If a ram has only two horns,they are of the typical double-curl type. The ewe ʼs horns are considerably shorter and more delicate than the ram ʼs.

The Jacob fleece is highly sought after by handspinners and weavers due to its white with black spots.The wool is medium grade.The black wool grows out of black skin and is considerably shorter than the white wool. The white wool grows out of white skin.

It is a desirable characteristic of the Jacob that the wool is 40 percent black and 60 percent white.The Jacob ʼs legs are mostly white,with black hooves,knees and hocks.It is preferred that the Jacob be “badger-faced,” with black cheeks and a black muzzle and a white blaze.The nose needs to be black,as do the horns and ears.

The Jacob is an old,primitive-type breed,with the ewes weighing about 100-120 pounds. The rams should weigh in at about 120-170 pounds.The Jacob fleece weighs only in the vicinity of 3-4 pounds.The Jacob ewe normally has a single lamb or twins,lambing easily.The ram lambs are born with the horn buds already showing.

The Jacob is very goatlike in its temperment. They are a highly curious breed and are very agile. The Jacob is an easy keeper, with few health problems.

Jacob sheep are one of the oldest breeds in the world.It is said they are descended from sheep that Jacob tended for Laban in the Old Testament.However,it is more probable that they are descended from colored sheep brought to Spain by the Moors, and from the multi-horned Norse breeds from Scandinavia and northern Scotland.

Jacob sheep were first found in the United States in 1985 by the American Minor Breeds Conservancy (now known as the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy).The Jacob Sheep Breeders ʼ Association was formed in 1988.By 1988,more than 5,000 Jacobs were registered,but they are still listed as rare by the ALBC. The Jacob has a flavorful,lean carcass,with little external fat. The carcass yield is high in comparison to more improved breeds.

References:
Oklahoma State University website
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Ltd.website
Got Pets Online website
Jacob Sheep Breeders Association website