Jacob Sheep Conservancy

Jacob sheep breeders, you have reason to be proud: Jacobs are central to new medical research that may lead to new treatments for Tay-Sachs disease, a rare genetic disorder that affects both animals and humans. The disease, which destroys nerve cells from a buildup of toxins in the body, has no cure and usually kills children before they are 5 years old. As reported in the May 24, 2016, issue of The Washington Post, back in 1998, Jacob breeders Fred and Joan Horak started to

The 43rd annual Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival took place May 7-8, 2016, at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, MD. It is the largest and longestrunning showcase of domestic sheep and wool in the United States. This year, more than 40,000 attendees came over the course of the weekend to enjoy upwards of 40 sheep breeds on display and over 300 vendors, along with food, music, demonstrations, and contests. The Jacob Sheep Conservancy once again staffed a booth i

The Board of Directors of the Jacob Sheep Conservancy (JSC), at its annual meeting on May 8, 2016, voted to accept registrations from the American Jacob Sheep Registry (AJSR) as equivalent to JSC registrations. This was done in recognition that both the JSC and the AJSR have the same breed standards for certification and registration, including progeny testing. Progeny testing is the process used to verify the genetic purity of breeding animals whose history is unknown. This

By Roy Deppa, President, Jacob Sheep Conservancy Each year at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival’s Parade of Breeds, the Jacob is introduced and a brief description of the breed is given by the announcer. Included in the description is always a statement that some people say the Jacobs are descended from the original flock of Jacob, as described in the Bible. At the Festival, we are often approached by people who ask about the origin of Roy Deppa, President, Jacob Sheep Con