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It has been bred in England for at least 350 years, [8] [12] and spotted sheep were widespread in England by the mid–18th century. The British landed gentry used Jacob as ornamental sheep on their estates and kept importing the sheep which probably kept the breed extant. [7] A breed society, the Jacob Sheep Society, was formed in July 1969. [13]
There have been incidents of polycerate goats (having as many as eight horns), [9] although this is a genetic rarity thought to be inherited. The horns are most typically removed in commercial dairy goat herds, to reduce the injuries to humans and other goats. 4 horns are the norm for the Austrian goat breed Vierhornziege (four-horned goat). [10]
Navajo-Churro sheep at the San Francisco Zoo with four horns. Churros are small sheep with long, thin tails, horizontal ears, [1] and a double coat. Ewes are 40–60 kg (88–132 lb), while rams are 55–85 kg (121–187 lb). The sheep are long-lived and can be productive for up to 15 years. [2]
If the horns are approximately the same size, the sheep may fight to establish dominance. However, if the horn of one sheep is larger than the other, the sheep with the smaller horns will generally back off. Those sheep are usually young sheep whose horns have not had enough time to grow. [2]
Four breeds of sheep, in the illustrated encyclopedia Meyers Konversationslexikon. This is a list of breeds of domestic sheep. Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are partially derived from mouflon (Ovis gmelini) stock, and have diverged sufficiently to be considered a different species. Some sheep breeds have a hair coat and are known as haired sheep.
Although horns occur in a single pair on almost all bovid species, there are exceptions such as the four-horned antelope [38] and the Jacob sheep. [39] [40] The unique horn structure is the only unambiguous morphological feature of bovids that distinguishes them from other pecorans.
The Jacob Sheep Society of the United Kingdom themselves suggest a Middle Eastern origin of the breed as does (to a lesser degree but still) the American Jacob Sheep Breeders Association. There are multiple verifiable facts and the article should not portray one over the other.
In the past century the sheep's colour has stabilised as "moorit", that is shades between fawn and dark reddish brown, though the colour bleaches in the sun. [6] Manx Loaghtan usually have four horns, but individuals are also found with two or six horns. [7] The horns are generally small on the ewes but larger and stronger on the males.