Technical Information

Field Officer

The Society structure includes an elected Field officer, appointed to provide guidance to members about the breed standard, and also to continue to review the breed standard and future direction of the breed. The Field officer is a member of the Society Council and is always an experienced breeder and judge. They travel around the regions, attending shows, sales and regional events. They also give advice to members of the Society on their flocks, their breeding policy and any aspect of flock management. They are also responsible for ensuring that judges appointed by the society are undertaking their duties properly and professionally.The Field Officer also provides technical information to the Society on various aspects of breeding and keeping sheep and the current advice can be accessed using the links at the end of this page.

Our current Field Officer is Mrs Jean Blacknell and can be contacted using the details below:

Mrs Jean Blacknell, Loynton Farm, Loynton, Stafford, Staffordshire. ST20 0QA

Tel: 01785 284229
E-mail: jeanblacknell@gmail.com

The Pat Bromley Trophy 

The following technical information is provided and updated by the Field Officer for use by members.

• Guidance on the Electronic Identification of Sheep click here
• Electronic Tag order form from Dalton click here to downoad
• Guidance on Food Chain Information to be provided with sheep going to slaughter click here and model document for sheep keepers in Scotland click here
• Guidance for Flock Competitions and Assessments click here and click here for the assessment card
• Guidance on EID in Northern Ireland click here
• Guidance on movement of sheep in Northern Ireland click here
• Guidance on Appendix registrations and inspections click here

Breed Standard

General Appearance
The Jacob sheep is an alert, active sheep being upstanding and deep bodied, white with well-defined black patches. The head and neck are generally black with a white blaze on the face extending down the chest. Both sexes are horned.

Head
The head should be clear of wool forward of the horns. All sheep should have a clear white blaze. A symmetrical blaze with even black cheeks is preferred. In adult sheep, a pink nose in conjunction with a broad white face is undesirable. A dark nose is preferred. Dark bold eyes are preferred with no tendency to split eye-lid deformity. Ewes should have a fine feminine appearance, whilst rams should be thicker set and masculine.

Horns
Jacob sheep are always horned, with either two or four in number. Where there are four, the top pair should grow upward from the top of the head and have no forward growing tendencies. There should preferably be space between the top and lower horns. Where there are just two horns there should preferably be space between the roots of the horns at the crown of the head, and grow so as to leave space between horn and cheek. Black horns are preferred. Horns should at all times give the animal freedom from injury and comfort when feeding.

Body & Neck
The back should be straight, level from the base of the neck to the setting on the tail, which should be broad. The tail should be set well up on the chine with well-developed thighs and well-sprung ribs to form a good bottom line. The neck should be strong, of medium length and well set on the shoulders

Legs
Legs are medium boned and of medium length, clear of wool below the knee and hock. Legs should preferably be white with little or no black.

Fleece
The fleece is of a medium quality, white with well-defined black patches. It is preferred that the skin beneath the white wool be pink, and black beneath the dark wool. There should be little or no kemp. Mottled wool and skin is undesirable.

British Wool Marketing Board Grades
350 - Selected (Fine) Bradford Count 54 – 58
Micron Count 25 - 27.5
351 – Jacob Bradford Count 46 – 52
Micron Count 30 – 33
Staple Length 75mm to 18Omm (3' to 7)
Good degree of springiness
Average weight of fleece 2 - 3 kgs (4 - 6 Ibs)