[Jacob-list] Fw: Split Eyelids, More questions

[schmick54 at aol.com]

BRAVO !! Well said.

Mick


-----Original Message-----
From: R. Unzicker <runzicker at verizon.net>
To: Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
Sent: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 6:38 am
Subject: [Jacob-list] Fw: Split Eyelids, More questions



?


?





I have had several rams that were champions in the show ring.? Some I bought from other breeders as ram lambs.? None?of these came from parents who were shown.??I also raised some that did very well in the show ring.?? However, I do not? purchase a sheep because I think they will do well in the show ring.? I buy or keep rams I have raised that give?me diversity of blood lines, that I think will complement my ewes, and ones that I personally like because of their horns set, markings, temperament etc.? I have been known to sacrifice one of these traits? if I really liked everything else about a particular ram.? 

?

Who I happen to own at the time of the show usually determines who I show.? I show??to promote and advertise the breed, not to win in the ring. I usually sell any ram lambs I raise if I have a buyer?so who is left?here is who may get shown.? This means that?occasionally I come in near the bottom but I think it is more important to support the various shows so I show what I have.? If I buy a ram?lamb, I do not usually sell them.? Although I did sell one I had bought only months before because a teenage? breeder needed a ram and everything I had left was related to his flock.?? That?ram lamb was named a champion ram,? beating out my own yearling.? ? Not sure who was happier,? the young man who showed Meridian Emmett or myself at seeing the pride this young man took in his Jacobs!

?

I have shown a ram with a split eye lid. Not proud of that but that is what I had at the time.? I didn't expect?him to be champion but so many judges do not know Jacobs and probably never heard of a split eye lid.?? I really do not like splits but I liked everything else about the ramand he passed inspection ?so I decided to use him.? None of his offspring had split eye lids.? I think I was just lucky though.? I also showed a two horned ram that I really liked.? I had never kept a two horned ram before.? That is how much I liked him.? He was champion several? times.? Great ram in all respects except one.? When we did a sperm count on him,? he?had twelve sperm, all dead.?? Interesting side note is that his twin was champion ewe more than once also.?? She was bred to lamb as a two year old.? She was the only ewe that did not conceive this year.? So much for bring a champion!? My point to all this is, buy the ram that you think is best for your flock.? Do not buy just because a 
 particular animal won in the show ring.

Royal


----- Original Message ----- 

From: Linda 

To: Gotothewhip at aol.com ; jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 

Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 8:11 PM

Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Split Eyelids, More questions




Lots of Jacob breeders show. That's not a 'gasp'. It's breeding ONLY for show that bothers me. ?I have a great deal of respect for many of the breeders that consistently win. None of them breed "for the show ring".

?

If we culled every Jacob with a notch, as I heard they did in the UK at one time, we'd have a breed with only two horned sheep. You cannot get rid of SUED without getting rid of plicate animals. 

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What's the market for a Grand Champion ram? Just curious as I haven't seen many going on to be flock sires in serious flocks. ?

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Does anyone want to comment? It's an interesting topic - does performance in the show ring factor into your decision when buying sheep?

?

Linda

who is working to get a Jacob class at SAFF this year - but won't feel bad if I lose and won't feel proud if I win


?

www.patchworkfibers.com

Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn




> OK.. I have 2 of them... Both sired by the ram I culled last



> year... Thankfully they are the only ones by that ram.? There are



> no sheep in the flock with split eyelids other than these 2 lambs.?



> He did not have SUED.?



>



> How common are SUED's?? Im guessing that they are a reason to not



> SHOW a particular animal... But what about a ewe lamb?? Is it a



> reason to cull her as well??



>



> There was talk on previous posts ?about research done in years



> past, but I must have missed the ink to the information.? As you



> all know, Im new to the Jacobs, and enjoy having them , but also



> enjoy the (GASP) Showring!? SO , the genetics that play into this



> are VERY important to me.. Especially if this is a issue in the



> showring and with breeding animals.



>



> My big goal is to produce rams that have one well in the ring, and



> are sold to breeders as producers who have a bit of a record.... I



> know, I'm a bit over involved.



>



>



> Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.





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