Meridian Jacobs

	Meridian Jacobs
Home Sheep Wool fiber, yarn, & lambskins Classes Handwoven Products Custom Weaving Meet the Sheep Links, Upcoming Event, & Directions Shearing Day	Back to Sheep page JSBA Jacob Sheep Fiber Research Project PAGE 1 Letter to JSBA members December 30, 2005 Dear JSBA Member, The following proposal (PAGE 3 below), written by Gary Anderson, describes an exciting research project in which we (JSBA) are participating. Gary and I have been cataloguing ram registration applications, which I, as Registrar, have stored in filing cabinets. For each application, an available wool sample is confirmed, the estimated age at which the sample was collected is recorded, the number of months growth is recorded if different from the age at sample collection, and a subjective assessment is made of the color of wool sample: white, black, black and white (i.e. can be cleanly separated into two distinct colors) , and mixed (mixture of black and white fibers that likely cannot be cleanly or at least easily separated into two distinct colors). We find that we have a predominance of ram lamb samples because many people register their rams at the first opportunity (after 6 months of age). There has been discussion as to whether or not lamb fleece characteristics are sufficiently predictive of the adult fleece. To help us answer this question we need wool samples from mature rams that were registered as lambs. This is where all of you come in. We are asking for wool samples from JSBA-registered rams that were registered at 6 to 12 months of age. Samples will be identified by code number in this project and individual rams and/or breeders will not be identified in the finished report. The information will NOT be used by JSBA to change registration status. However, those people who submit ram wool samples will get a micron test report back for their own information (please include self-addressed stamped envelopes). We hope that you will help us in this exciting project by submitting samples if you still have these rams (or know where to find them). Use the enclosed form when you submit wool samples. If you have any questions you can contact me or Gary. Sincerely, Robin Lynde rlynde@onramp113.org 707-678-5750 PAGE 2, Samples JSBA Fiber Research Project Sample Take samples from adult rams that were registered at 6 to 12 months of age using the following guidelines: Sample white and black (or lilac) wool separately. Each sample should be about the size of a quarter, cut next to the skin in the location indicated on the diagram below—on the side behind the shoulder. Keep wool locks intact and place in plastic sandwich bag, labeled with ram ID. Mark the diagram below with location of samples OR photograph your ram and indicate location of samples on photo. Include this form. Include SASE if you want the micron results returned to you. Owner name _____________________________________________ Flock number _________________________________________________ Ram name ___________________________________________________ JSBA registration number __________________________________________ Last shearing date ________________________________________________ Date of sample ___________________________________________________ Months of wool growth for sample ____________________________________ Send samples to: Robin Lynde 7811 N. Meridian Rd. Vacaville, CA 95688 PAGE 3 Research Proposal Proposed Jacob Wool Fiber Project History: The Jacob Sheep Breeders Association (JSBA) established its Foundation Flock (FF) in 1989 by registering spotted, horned ewes and rams of assumed Jacob lineage. Due to disagreement on registration requirements, e.g., to progeny test or not, a parallel registry was established (Jacob Sheep Conservancy, JSC). JSBA is the larger organization, but some prominent breeders dual register their animals in JSBA and JSC or in JSC alone. For JSBA registration, a FF ewe mated to a FF ram produces an A-generation lamb. An A-generation ewe mated to an A-generation ram produces a B-generation lamb, and so on. A D-generation ewe mated to a FF ram would produce an A-generation lamb (because of the ram), indicating that generation is not always a perfect measure of registered parents in the pedigree. Moreover, JSC-registered rams might be added to the JSBA Foundation Flock after several generations of breeding within the JSC registry. The registration process includes inspection that for ewes relies on photographs but for rams both photographs and wool samples (taken from a standard site on the animal). Thus, wool samples are available for all JSBA-registered rams (with a few exceptions) for the period 1989-2005. Robin Lynde is the Registrar, which provides ready access to the samples. The Project: JSBA inspectors have raised the concern that fiber characteristics have changed over time, specifically fiber diameter has decreased as breeders select for finer wool. The issue has some members concerned that continued change in wool phenotype is contrary to principles of rare breed conservation; indeed, some breeders believe that Jacob sheep should be preserved bad wool and all. Other breeders are more moderate, believing that changes that improve the breed’s marketability are likely to promote breed conservation; even these breeders, though, worry about changes that fall outside the breed standard. Representatives of the JSBA Board of Directors and Inspection Committee contacted Robin Lynde regarding availability of wool samples from registration applications and the possibility of analyzing a collection of samples for fiber diameter. With a major research university next door, Robin contacted Gary Anderson who contacted Martin Dally (wool expert who is knowledgeable of the process for making measurements), Tom Famula (animal geneticist and statistician), and later Eric Bradford (sheep geneticist). The relatively simple question raised by the JSBA Inspection Committee, i.e., “Has Jacob wool become finer over time?”, might be extended to a case study involving a more general question in rare breed conservation, i.e., “How might the good intentions of breed conservationists influence a rare breed over time”?. The question is especially pertinent to rare breeds, since the gene pools assembled for establishment of breed Foundation Herds/Flock are likely ripe for response to genetic selection. :

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Classes

Handwoven Products

Custom Weaving

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Shearing Day

Back to Sheep page

JSBA Jacob Sheep Fiber Research Project

PAGE 1 Letter to JSBA members

December 30, 2005

Dear JSBA Member,

The following proposal (PAGE 3 below), written by Gary Anderson, describes an exciting research project in which we (JSBA) are participating.

Gary and I have been cataloguing ram registration applications, which I, as Registrar, have stored in filing cabinets. For each application, an available wool sample is confirmed, the estimated age at which the sample was collected is recorded, the number of months growth is recorded if different from the age at sample collection, and a subjective assessment is made of the color of wool sample: white, black, black and white (i.e. can be cleanly separated into two distinct colors) , and mixed (mixture of black and white fibers that likely cannot be cleanly or at least easily separated into two distinct colors).

We find that we have a predominance of ram lamb samples because many people register their rams at the first opportunity (after 6 months of age). There has been discussion as to whether or not lamb fleece characteristics are sufficiently predictive of the adult fleece. To help us answer this question we need wool samples from mature rams that were registered as lambs. This is where all of you come in. We are asking for wool samples from JSBA-registered rams that were registered at 6 to 12 months of age.

Samples will be identified by code number in this project and individual rams and/or breeders will not be identified in the finished report. The information will NOT be used by JSBA to change registration status. However, those people who submit ram wool samples will get a micron test report back for their own information (please include self-addressed stamped envelopes).

We hope that you will help us in this exciting project by submitting samples if you still have these rams (or know where to find them). Use the enclosed form when you submit wool samples. If you have any questions you can contact me or Gary.

Sincerely,

Robin Lynde
rlynde@onramp113.org
707-678-5750

PAGE 2, Samples
JSBA Fiber Research Project Sample

Take samples from adult rams that were registered at 6 to 12 months of age using the following guidelines:

Sample white and black (or lilac) wool separately. Each sample should be about the size of a quarter, cut next to the skin in the location indicated on the diagram below—on the side behind the shoulder.
Keep wool locks intact and place in plastic sandwich bag, labeled with ram ID.
Mark the diagram below with location of samples OR photograph your ram and indicate location of samples on photo.
Include this form.
Include SASE if you want the micron results returned to you.

Owner name _____________________________________________
Flock number _________________________________________________
Ram name ___________________________________________________
JSBA registration number __________________________________________
Last shearing date ________________________________________________
Date of sample ___________________________________________________
Months of wool growth for sample ____________________________________

Text Box:

Send samples to:
Robin Lynde
7811 N. Meridian Rd.
Vacaville, CA 95688

PAGE 3 Research Proposal

Proposed Jacob Wool Fiber Project

History: The Jacob Sheep Breeders Association (JSBA) established its Foundation Flock (FF) in 1989 by registering spotted, horned ewes and rams of assumed Jacob lineage. Due to disagreement on registration requirements, e.g., to progeny test or not, a parallel registry was established (Jacob Sheep Conservancy, JSC). JSBA is the larger organization, but some prominent breeders dual register their animals in JSBA and JSC or in JSC alone.

For JSBA registration, a FF ewe mated to a FF ram produces an A-generation lamb. An A-generation ewe mated to an A-generation ram produces a B-generation lamb, and so on. A D-generation ewe mated to a FF ram would produce an A-generation lamb (because of the ram), indicating that generation is not always a perfect measure of registered parents in the pedigree. Moreover, JSC-registered rams might be added to the JSBA Foundation Flock after several generations of breeding within the JSC registry.

The registration process includes inspection that for ewes relies on photographs but for rams both photographs and wool samples (taken from a standard site on the animal). Thus, wool samples are available for all JSBA-registered rams (with a few exceptions) for the period 1989-2005. Robin Lynde is the Registrar, which provides ready access to the samples.

The Project: JSBA inspectors have raised the concern that fiber characteristics have changed over time, specifically fiber diameter has decreased as breeders select for finer wool. The issue has some members concerned that continued change in wool phenotype is contrary to principles of rare breed conservation; indeed, some breeders believe that Jacob sheep should be preserved bad wool and all. Other breeders are more moderate, believing that changes that improve the breed’s marketability are likely to promote breed conservation; even these breeders, though, worry about changes that fall outside the breed standard.

Representatives of the JSBA Board of Directors and Inspection Committee contacted Robin Lynde regarding availability of wool samples from registration applications and the possibility of analyzing a collection of samples for fiber diameter. With a major research university next door, Robin contacted Gary Anderson who contacted Martin Dally (wool expert who is knowledgeable of the process for making measurements), Tom Famula (animal geneticist and statistician), and later Eric Bradford (sheep geneticist).

The relatively simple question raised by the JSBA Inspection Committee, i.e., “Has Jacob wool become finer over time?”, might be extended to a case study involving a more general question in rare breed conservation, i.e., “How might the good intentions of breed conservationists influence a rare breed over time”?. The question is especially pertinent to rare breeds, since the gene pools assembled for establishment of breed Foundation Herds/Flock are likely ripe for response to genetic selection.