[Jacob-list] Polled ewes

[Linda]

I got plenty of them - just ask Dave :-)
 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn


> The phenotype difference between hornless and polled is that polled 

> ewes will have an indentation at the poll or a small scur in the

> indentation (keratin only). Hornless ewes have a smooth head. 

> There should be no hornless rams. Rams from female-hornless breeds 

> should have robust horns.

>

> Genetically, polled is dominant in most breeds, recessive in

> American Polled Dorsets. I have seen polled crossbreds that

> produced 4-horned offspring.

>

> I suspect that hornless is either recessive or incomplete

> dominance. This may explain why some ewes may have smallish,

> fragile horns. Hornless is typical in Shetlands.

>

> Hornless is probably a hold-over from the northern European piebald

> sheep that were mixed with Southern European Merino and/or North

> African derived piebald sheep to form the Jacob's Sheep Purebred

> that we enjoy today.

>

> Quite frankly my dear Linda, your opinions are as good as most of

> my facts.

>

> Neal

>> ----- Original Message -----

>> From: Linda

>> To: aztreaz at earthlink.net ; jacob-list

>> Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 7:45 AM

>> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Polled ewes

>>

>>

>> This is the point where someone more knowledgeable than I am is

>> supposed to jump and answer, before you (and I) start confusing

>> my opinions with facts :-)

>>

>> The difference between polled and hornless is genetic. Hornless

>> refers to the gene for horned in males, hornless in ewes.  Polled

>> refers to no horns in anybody.  It's a somewhat involved genetic

>> interaction.  I have never had a ewe without horns, except for my

>> first two meat breed sheep.  They were definitely polled, but

>> that was back in '92 and I can't for the life of me recall what

>> was top of their heads.  I'm pretty sure there was nothing inside

>> their heads - one of the reasons I switched to Jacobs :-)  I

>> haven't had a Jacob without horns.

>>

>> Again - need someone else to jump in.  Cathy and Gail are asking

>> some interesting questions.

>>

>> Linda

>>

>> www.patchworkfibers.com

>> Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn

>>

>>

>>> --Linda wrote:

>>>> It's more likely your ewe is hornless than polled.

>>>>

>>> ========

>>> What is the difference?  I thought polled meant hornless.  Does

>>> it have to do with the presence of horn buds?  BTW, Gail,

>>> interesting you wrote about your friendly, easy to work with,

>>> hornless ewe.  I now have 11 ewes and my favorite is and always

>>> has been my 11-yr- old hornless or polled ewe.  Most of her

>>> offspring also are/were friendly and they all had horns.  But

>>> the side horns never grew more than an inch. Cathy Moscow, Idaho

>>>

>>>

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>>

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