WELLSPRING FARM JACOB SHEEP

Wellspring Farm has been raising Jacob Sheep since 2004, and is a member of the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association.  We offer registered breeding stock, fiber animals and jacob wool products for sale.

The Jacob sheep is a small to medium size breed, with ewes ranging from 80 to 120 pounds and males 120 to 180 pounds.  Jacobs are spotted sheep, with black or lilac spots or patches on a white fleece.  Males and females have horns producing two, four or even six horns. 

Fleeces produced by Jacob sheep are enjoyed by handspinners both for their fiber quality and range of natural colors that can be achieved.  

Not only a beautiful breed of sheep, the Jacob is a very hardy breed and is ideal for small flock owners and large scale breeders.  More Jacobs can be maintained per acre than the larger, more modern breeds.  They show good resistance to parasites and foot problems.  Ewes lamb easily, are devoted moms with good size udders and lambs are up and nursing quickly.  We have  had one lamb standing and nursing while it's twin was being born.  The Jacob sheep is a primitive breed that makes a good additon to a small family farm.

The Jacob Sheep Breeders Association (JSBA) was formed in 1988 through the encouragement and guidance of the American Minor Breeds Conservancy (now the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy).    It's mission is the ensure the conservation of this breed through inspection, registration and education.

The Jacob Sheep takes it name from Jacob, father of the 12 Hebrew patriarchs.  As a young man, Jacob worked for his uncle Laban in Paddan-aram, or the Plain of Aram.  Aram is the hebrew name for ancient Syria.  After tending his uncles flock for many years and marrying two of his cousins, Jacob was compensated for his work by receiving all the spotted animals as his wage.  He placed spotted branches around the watering holes to encourage ewes to conceive spotted lambs.  The story also tells how God told Jacob to only use spotted rams for breeding.  This sound advice created an almost entirely spotted flock and is probably one of the oldest documented references to selective animal breeding.  Eventually he took his very large flock of sheep back to Canaan where he was born.  As an old man, Jacob took his flocks of spotted sheep to Egypt where he could be near his son.  

Documentation throughout history indicates the breed probably originated in what is now Syria some 3000 years ago.  This breed then moved through North Africa, Sicily, Spain and then on to England.  Jacobs have been known in their present form for over 350 years in England.  Jacob Sheep were originally imported into the United States in the early 1900's.