Fw: [Jacob-list] Primitive or not?

[George Benedict]

----- Original Message -----
From: George Benedict <glb123 at optonline.net>
To: <benedict at snet.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 10:37 AM
Subject: Fw: [Jacob-list] Primitive or not?


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "George Benedict" <glb123 at optonline.net>
> To: <MarmontJacobs at aol.com>
> Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 9:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Primitive or not?
>
>
> > To speculate that "size, strength, and looks are the criteria for
natural
> > selection" is to epitomize the worst of anthropocentric views on the
rest
> of
> > the animal kingdom. We are not, a race of giants nor do we have 7 stone
> > flies and cockroaches to contend with (except in certain parts of SE
> > Asia...). Seriously though, the style of breed stewardship that Gordon
and
> > David Linicome advocate is one of breed conservancy not human-imposed
> > "evolution" toward a bigger, better more beautiful Jacob. And whose
> criteria
> > of "better" and beautiful shall we chose?
> >
> > Gordon and I together and independently have sought for the last 3 or so
> > years to find remnant flocks of the old Park Sheep Jacobs that prevailed
> in
> > the UK before the human induced "evolution" of the mid to late 20th
> century
> > that created the big and beautiful black and white spotted polycerates
> > referred to as Jacob Sheep today in the UK. Any student of the history
of
> > Jacobs is aware of the dramatic changes to the breed, presumably a
result
> of
> > the crossing with such breeds as Horned Dorsets during and prior to the
> > 1970's, that resulted in the modern Jacob so prevalent in today's UK
Show
> > Circuit. At this point you are indeed "blessed with a good sized gene
> pool"
> > of black and white spotted polycerate sheep. And, they are indeed
> > magnificent animals in their own right but they are not the Jacob sheep
of
> > old.
> >
> > So, Gordon need not "debate" the obvious with the JSS or any other group
> of
> > breeders. No one is asking the Breeders of Modern UK Jacobs to undo what
> > they have done.  It is, rather, a simple plea to ask breeders and other
> > interested folk to remember the small elegant and sturdy breed of sheep
> from
> > which the modern Jacob in the UK is derived; The Ancient and Venerable
> Jacob
> > that needed little husbandry and required scant attention from the Vet
and
> > certainly did not rely on surgical intervention for birthing.
> >
> > The goal is not to register these animals in the JSS. But, instead, to
> > recognize the heritage of the JSS Jacob and to conserve the quite
distinct
> > gene pool of the Park Sheep Jacob. I would further suggest that the
depth
> of
> > "interest" far exceeds the depth of "knowledge" within the JSS if
everyone
> > shares your views.  Rather than asking Gordon to go through the tedium
of
> > educating the readership of the JSS, I suggest that all members
thoroughly
> > read David Kinsman's book " The Black Sheep of Windemere". There will be
a
> > quiz posted next week....
> >
> > Yes Gordon, I have been reading these posts. Carry on...and hope to see
> you
> > and Julie later this year.
> >
> > Cordially,
> > George Benedict
> >
> > BTW your sheep (Gordon) as best I can tell are well within the size
> > distribution curve of American Jacobs as are some of the other "Park
> Flocks"
> > we visited. The beautiful beasts at the Yorkshire Show and at other
shows
> > visited are indeed magnificent. I was quite taken by them visually. But
> > alas, they are not the Ancient Jacob you and I seek. Do you think its
the
> > Dorset influence?...nudge nudge.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>