[Jacob-list] big trip around & misc.

[iseespots]

Marcia and all,

OPP and CAE are very similar diseases.  Lambs bottle-raised on goat's milk
that is from a CAE positive goat will test positive for OPP.  Have never
heard one way or the other if any symptoms of the disease are found in the
sheep or not.  One thing for certain is that the disease is a nasty little
bug that has variable symptomatology in various flocks.  There is an opinion
for every breeder as to the impact on the sheep industry in the US.

You mentioned my visits with various flocks----hope I don't leave anybody
out that I visited, as I can't say that I saw a single flock that I just
didn't love and enjoy seeing.

On my New England trip, I got to see Thom Simmons group and Maizie Hescock's
flock.  Thom has collected animals from Canada and spots on the eastern part
of the country.  I am remembering more 4 horned animals than 2 at his place.
He tends to like the darker animals as I do, but doesn't have as many of the
lighter ones that I have battled (and kept) in my flock.

Maizie's flock is 100% from the importation of her son and is lovely.  Very
few split eyelids that I could detect standing looking at the sheep.  Mostly
4 horned animals with a few 2 horned ones thrown in for good measure.  I got
pictures back yesterday and saw only 1 full large muzzle patch, a number
with spotting on the muzzles, some gray muzzles, and some that are
pink-skinned in her flock.  She said she had never had animals too dark or
too light for the overall 15-85% basic ranges.  She has both 2 and 4-horned
rams.  Very little fusing of the horns.  Fleeces were quite variable in
overall look.  Bone structure was everything between petite and primitive"
to fuller-boned and "improved" to use some of the terminology that has been
thrown about on the list.  There is freckling in her flock in some animals
visible at several feet distance, and these sheep were all still in full
fleece.  In short, a BEAUTIFUL flock of very typical Jacob sheep in great
health and seemed truly happy critters.

My first stop on the wild west trip was at Linda Bjarkman's place.  She has
a neat set-up with several pens.  She showed off her lovely culls as well as
her ewe flock and her ram.  She has purchased from several sources, but when
the ewe that came from me went to stand beside her ewes, it was almost
difficult to tell which was which----the entire flock is so uniform in
overall "look", although there are no two sheep that are the same at all.

Horaks were the second sheep location on the trip.  I had gotten to see
their sheep last year, so there was nothing really new this time.  I did get
to see a horse hauler carry some sheep away, and that was a learning
experience for me in how they are shipped, packed, etc.