“What nice goats” is a phrase we typically hear about our sheep. How could anyone confuse the two? Probably because our sheep are Jacob sheep.
The name Jacob was inspired from the Bible. In the book of Genesis there is a passage describing Jacob’s sheep as a horned and spotted. Some believe that means that Jacob sheep were originally a Middle Eastern breed (see the NPR article below). However, according to the Livestock Conservancy Jacobs could be found in Britain as early as the 1600’s and are generally thought to be a British animal in origin. They were introduced to North America in the mid-1900’s. Today they are a threatened breed.
Jacobs are an unusual sheep because they are a ‘primitive’ breed. What that means is that they have not been bred into something other than what they are – like an heirloom plant. The Jacob sheep is a small, sturdy, and mostly self-sustaining animal. Their bodies resemble goats in stature but they are certainly less gregarious. They can have anywhere from two to six horns that can face any number of directions.
These creatures need very little intervention in their lives other than human scratches and feedings. They hardly need vet care, don’t typically get sick or need help birthing (typically multiple babies), and they do not require much supplemental grain in the summer months. Jacobs produces tasty lean, high protein meat – similar to venison. We have a flock of meat sheep.
Our other flock is the fiber animals – and their fiber is impressive. Jacob sheep fleece is easy to dye, is quite high in lanolin, and has a variegation that is naturally, aesthetically pleasing. The Aran Isles made the ‘Fisherman’s Knit’ sweater (or jumpers as they are known across the pond) famous not only for their beauty but also for the dry warmth that they provided farmers and fisherman in damp, wet environments. The lanolin in wool repels water until the garment is more than 30% saturated. It was a favorite of the Highlanders of Scotland for the same reason.
We keep Jacobs because they are a sustainable sheep that can earn their keep in several ways, but more importantly, by keeping Jacobs we increase their visibility. The more people see them, eat them, spin their wool, the more demand will increase for them. Increased demand for the North American Jacob means a shift from a threatened breed to a piece of living history preserved today.
Sourcing and Further Reading:
Daniel Estrin, “Farmers on Mission to Return ‘Old Testament Sheep’ to Holy Land,” NPR – All Things Considered, (January 2, 2017).
“Jacob Sheep,” Jacob Heritage Farm, www.jacobsheritagefarm.com/jacob-sheep/
“JSBA Breed Standard,” Jacob Sheep Breeders Association.
Livestock Conservancy, https://livestockconservancy.org
“The History of the Aran Sweater,” Sweater Shop, https://www.sweatershop.com/blog/history-of-aran-sweaters
Veronica Baas, “The History of the Fisherman Sweater,” Society 19, (July 20, 2019), https://www.society19.com/
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