Jacob sheep
The Jacob sheep is a British heritage breed of piebald domestic sheep, known for dark-and-white patches and typically four or more horns.
Domestic sheep: The domesticated form of the mouflon, raised worldwide for wool, meat, milk, and skins. Jacob sheep are one breed within this domesticated species.
Wool: A textile fiber formed from the fleece of sheep and certain other mammals. Jacob fleece supplies a distinctive, naturally varied wool.
Jacob: A patriarch in the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, whose story includes a flock of marked sheep. The breed’s name is traditionally linked to the biblical account of Jacob’s flock.
Manx Loaghtan: A rare sheep breed from the Isle of Man, usually bearing four horns and a brown fleece. Like Jacob sheep, it is a British multi-horned breed, but its fleece is brown rather than piebald.
Piebaldism: A pattern of unpigmented skin or hair appearing in distinct patches alongside normally pigmented areas. The breed’s contrasting dark-and-white fleece is a piebald pattern.
Hand spinning: The craft of twisting fibers into yarn with a spindle or spinning wheel. Jacob wool is used by hand spinners who value its colors and texture.
Genesis: The first book of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament, containing narratives about creation and the patriarchs. Its story of Jacob’s selectively marked flock helped inspire the breed’s name.
Hebridean sheep: A small, dark-coated sheep breed from the Hebrides, usually carrying two or four horns. Its dark fleece and island history distinguish it from the Jacob’s patchwork coat.
Sheep horn: A permanent bony core covered by keratin that grows from a sheep’s skull. Jacob sheep are notable for often carrying multiple pairs of horns.
Sheep meat: Meat from sheep, commonly classified as lamb when from a young animal and mutton when older. Jacob sheep are also raised for meat, alongside their fleece.