Jacob’s sheep
NAME:
Jacob’s sheep
ZOO NAME:
Desert Dawn and High Stockings
CLASS:
Mammalia
GENUS:
Ovis
SPECIES:
aries
WEIGHT:
100-150 lbs.
LIFESPAN:
13 yrs.
DIET:
Plants, grains, hay or grasses
PREDATORS:
Snakes, Birds, Large Mammals
RANGE
English breed or sheep with Scandinavian roots, now domesticated in the U.S. and Europe.
HABITAT
Open Grasslands with ample grazing room.
CHARACTERISTICS
A multi-horned breed of sheep, the Jacob’s Sheep has black and white spots and thick wool. They have triangular faces and thin legs. Both males and females have two, four or six black horns.
BEHAVIOR
Jacob’s Sheep do not show as much flocking behavior as other breeds. They are comfortable on their own as much as with their group. They get along well with goats and other livestock. Jacob’s Sheep can be skittish unless handled from an early age.
REPRODUCTION
Ewes (female sheep) are seasonal breeders. They typically have their lambs in the spring, following a 5 month gestation period. Generally, these sheep have 1 lamb per year and sometimes give birth to twins.
THREATS
There are less than 5,000 Jacob’s Sheep left on the planet.
ANIMAL FUN FACT!
Jacob’s Sheep have been around since the 1500’s.The name “Jacob’s Sheep” comes from the biblical story of Jacob taking all the speckled and spotted sheep as his own from Laban’s flock. Some believe that the Jacob’s Sheep breed originated from Jacob’s flock.
These animals have been used in England as “attack sheep” to protect farms