Jacob ewes are naturally good mothers. They are not excessively big animals by modern commercial standards and are quite prolific, twins are not really a problem. The challange for us is that we are at 1000 feet in a rather windy and wet environment with all indications from global warming of it getting rather less predictable.

Whilst looking to maintain the breed standards we are interested in the efficiency of the ewes and their wool production. We hope in our own way to fully utilise the wool and hope that at some point in the future a more mainstream use will be developed for this wonderful material. To that aim whilst looking for good natured ewes that can raise two lambs unaided at a reasonable daily live weight gain we are keeping an eye on the quality of the fleece as well.

We lamb our main crop of lambs outdoors in late March early April. As we are small we are able to keep the ewes in a small field thus helping us keep an eye on things, although experience soons makes it clear that you need to keep an almost constant eye on first time lambers.

Lambs are tagged on day two, weighed, tailed etc. We also score the lambs for vigour and size. This is only the start of their monitoring but most important.

Jacob Ram Lamb

Jacob lamb already looking good, he is quite slow growing though and we will currently struggle to finish him before the next crop arrives. Hopefully with selective breeding we will!

Until then he can enjoy life.