The
Jacob sheep is a
rare breed of small,
piebald (black and white spotted),
polycerate (multi-horned)
sheep. Jacobs may have as many as six
horns, but most commonly have four. Jacobs are usually raised for their
wool,
meat, and
hides. They are also kept as pets and ornamental animals, and have been used as
guard animals to protect farm property from theft or vandalism and defend other
livestock against
predator.
Generally referred to as an unimproved or heirloom breed (one that has survived with little
human selection), the Jacob is descended from an ancient
Old World breed of sheep, although its exact origins remain unclear. Spotted polycerate sheep were documented in England by the mid–17th century, and were widespread a century later. Unlike most other old world breeds, the Jacobs of North America have not undergone extensive
cross-breeding and
selective breeding; their
body habitus resembles that of a
goat. Relative to their American counterparts, British Jacobs tend to be larger and heavier, and have lost many of their original characteristics through
artificial selection.
History
The origins of the Jacob are obscure, but it is certainly a very old breed. Piebald sheep have been described throughout history, appearing in works of art from the
Far East,
Middle East, and
Mediterranean regions. A piebald breed of sheep probably existed in the
Levant, specifically in the area that is now known as
Syria, about three thousand years...
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