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About Jacob Sheep... Jacob sheep are an old world breed dating back several thousand years. W  hile their exact heritage is unknown, pie-bald or spotted sheep have been
mentioned in historic accounts for several centuries. Named after Jacob in the Bible
(Genesis 30), these sheep most recently appeared in England several
hundred years ago, where they graced the Estates of the Nobility. By 1970 Jacob sheep were
so rare in England that the Jacob Sheep Society was formed to help preserve them. Due
largely to their efforts Jacob sheep numbers have increased dramatically in Great Britain.
Jacob sheep had been imported in small numbers into the US and Canada since the early
1900’s. In 1988 The Jacob Sheep Breeders
Association (JSBA) was formed in the USA to ensure the conservation of Jacob
Sheep through inspections, registration and education. The American Jacob is still
considered a rare breed by the American
Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC).
Several
Why
we raise Jacob sheep...
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breeds of sheep can produce spotted lambs but Jacobs are the only breed which remain spotted for
life. Jacob sheep carry the polycerate gene which allows them to produce multiple horns,
and both rams and ewe are horned. They are a small to medium size breed with ewes weighing
from 80 to 120 pounds and rams ranging from 120 to 180 lbs. Jacob fleece is
a medium grade
(24-33 microns, Bradford count 44-56s, demi-luster), with an open character, a soft
springy handle and little or no kemp, or britchyness. Staple length is 3" - 7"
and fleeces weigh from 3-6 lbs with little grease and a high yield.