[Jacob-list] Lambing stories:

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

Fred Horak here.  Katrina has seen something unusual, a lamb without an anus; 
the defect is called artesia ani. Artesia ani is a congenital defect causing 
a build up of feces, distension of the abdomen and death.  There was a case 
of artesia ani in a Jacob reported last year; the result of very close 
breeding.

A couple years ago and each from time to time, the "Journal of the JSC" has 
carried lists of, reports and articles on various Jacob birth defects.  Birth 
defects happen.  Some might be preventable by examining breeding 
relationships but they are not preventable if no one is willing to suggest 
they occur nor report them and seek a cause when they do occur.  

Bonking and burying a defect does nothing for the Jacob breed or breeders.  
For ten years, or longer, there has been one birth defect reported and shared 
among Jacob breeders, condylar displasia.  In the past  few years, more 
defects are being reported and their probable causes are being identified.

For example, last year we reported our experience with Twinkle Toes; a case 
of adactyly, no hooves.  This year two more Jacob breeders reported the 
problem.

Another defect, not previously reported, was reported this year, a lamb that 
looks like it has four ears (two extra small "ears"); perhaps otognathia.  
Has anyone else seen this defect?  

Cases of severe ataxia from condylar dysplacia (skull/spine joint 
misalignment) have been reported.  A watch for a lysosomal storage disease 
called gangliodosis, a progressive "spinal cord" problem...it occurs in pure 
bred cats, dogs, sheep and in some "close" human groups...(generally 
observed, say, in the first six months) has been requested and about six 
cases of gangliodosis from across the country have been reported.  It is 
genetic.

Parrot mouth (brachygnathia), dwarfism and even infertility have been 
reported.

There are many defects; lethal and sub-lethal.  The sub-lethal move through 
the breed quietly, unobserved, unreported and then someone says, "I think I 
have seen a problem".   If it remains unobserved, or worse, observed and 
unreported, the various lines are at risk.  Defects are most often autosomal 
recessive genes...autosomal means they can be carried by rams and ewes...they 
are not sex linked.  Recessive means that they are not seen until two 
recessives "match" and show the defect...they can get carried from generation 
to generation.  Defects most often appear and get passed by close breeding, 
inbreeding (line breeding gone bad).  The lethal defect is either non-viable 
or aborted; they just get buried.  

It is my initial observation (I am not a vet but we support..make the house 
and car payments...for several vets) that crossing the 15% inbreeding 
coefficient seems to show some dwarfism, crossing the 20-25% threshhold sets 
up an observable significant visible defect either in the subject itself or 
in its offspring.  The Jacob gene puddle is the prime source for defects; not 
getting out of the puddle by using different and unrelated rams can make the 
puddle a genetic defect mess.  

OPINION: Conservation depends on conversation, sharing observations.  We owe 
thanks to the Jacob breeders that have reported defects and remain anonymous 
and those that are willing to share their observations.  They have addressed 
this difficult issue as part of conserving the breed.  I am optimistic, that 
after ten years, the genetic health...not just the spots and horns...of the 
Jacob breed is being considered.  Registries are often thought of as lists of 
pure bred animals that look right. More than that, they are books of breeders 
willing to share genetic information vital to conservation breeding. END OF 
OPINION.

Fred Horak
1165 E. Lucas Road
Lucas,  TX  75002