Certification, Registration, and the Progeny Test 

The Progeny Test is the best way we know to ensure that animals are purebred. It is based on the genetic law that states, "like begets like." This test is used to determine the purebred status of UNKNOWN sheep, that is, sheep who have not been progeny-tested and sheep who have no known background. Since the Registry is still "open," these sheep may be considered for registration.

Progeny testing is important for at least two reasons:
1. You cannot know the genetics of an animal by looking at it. Only if it reproduces acceptable offspring can it be called a "Jacob." A breed is defined as a group of animals who reproduce true to breed type. Not all spotted, horned sheep are purebred Jacobs.
2. It is important to determine if a sheep is a crossbred sheep BEFORE it is issued registration papers. This saves the breeder from spending time and money on a sheep that will never serve him well, and saves some embarrassing moments when sheep buyers do not get expected results from the “registered” sheep they bought. It is important to keep crossbred sheep and their offspring from entering the gene pool of this rare breed.

Registration of an unknown animal is a three-step process.

Step One - Certification Application. Submit all the information you can on the animal on this form, along with clear photos. The photos are evaluated by three certifers from the JSC. If at least two of the three certifiers concur that the sheep looks like a Jacob sheep (no obvious crossbred traits showing), the sheep passes and receives certification. Only sheep from non-JSC-registered parentage must submit to the certification process. The JSC is interested in purebred genetic status only. We do not evaluate conformation or aesthetic aspects of the sheep. The animal is measured against the breed Standard.

Pictures should clearly show the front, rear, and right and left sides of the animal. They should be close color photos showing details of horns, color and feet. The best photo location is a grooming stand or platform. Some people place their animals on plywood or the bare ground so that hoof details are clear, and not obscured by turf. Distant photos in a field or photos containing multiple animals are not acceptable. Film or digital photography are both acceptable.

Step Two - Breed for Progeny. Once the sheep has received approval by the Certification Committee, you are ready to breed the sheep for the first time. If you already have lambs from this sheep, you may present them as progeny by submitting the Certification Application for each of them. If you do not have past lambs from these sheep, the first year's lambs are submitted and certified. Then the sheep is bred to a different (and if possible unrelated) sheep the second time. Obviously, a ram can be registered after one breeding season with offspring from two ewes. A ewe takes two seasons to produce lambs from two different breedings. Submit certification applications and photos for all of the lambs produced as progeny test results for the parent sheep.

Step Three - Application for Registration. Once your sheep has been certified and you have submitted lambs from two breedings for certification and those lambs have passed the certification process, you may submit an Application for Registration for the parent sheep. The progeny lambs may be registered with that same form by filling out the bottom of the page. Their registry then becomes based on having registered parents. Once the sheep is issued a Registration Certificate, you do not have to progeny-test that animal again. You do not have to progeny-test its lambs, as they will be offspring of registered sheep.

Once sheep are registered, their future offspring may be registered in a one-step process with the combined “Certification and Registration Application.”

If you have a sheep that fails the registration process, you may appeal to the Certification Committee who will evaluate your request and possibly allow you to repeat the progeny process with a different mate.

Notes on Special Situations

When photographing progeny lambs, it is best to wait until they are at least two months of age so that they may mature sufficiently for fair evaluation. For instance, a young lamb may not demonstrate its true horn structure or may show baby wool forward of the horns (a fault) that will shed out in a few weeks. If photos are not clear, the certifiers may request new shots be taken before they can make a fair evaluation. In these cases, the certifiers may issue a Delay, while the lamb in question matures, or while waiting for clearer photos.

If you submit your applications and photos through the US Mail, we recommend that you keep copies of everything you send to the Registrar. If you do not hear from the Registrar, do not hesitate to get in touch with her to avoid unnecessary delays. We are now accepting applications and photos via e-mail. Please keep your own archive copies of these as well.

When you sell a JSC Registered sheep, please see to it that all of the paperwork is in order for the new owner. We encourage the breeder/seller of any sheep to complete a Transfer form and send it in to the Registrar with the original Registration papers, as a courtesy to the buyer. Many new buyers do not get this accomplished on their own.

Breeders who want to progeny-test their sheep often start from different directions. Some have sheep that were never registered while some have sheep from the JSBA (Jacob Sheep Breeders Association) that have a long line of registered ancestors. It is easier if you are sure that ONE of the pair that you are breeding is a known animal: one that you are comfortable is a purebred Jacob sheep. If none of your sheep is known (having produced acceptable Jacob lambs before, having come from generations of JSBA registered sheep or are JSC registered stock), you may consider buying or borrowing a known ram. The importance of this is that if there are unacceptable traits in the lambs, it is easier for you to know which sheep may be crossbred. If you have a group of sheep that are all unknown, you can lose a year having to repeat the breedings of both sheep.

Good luck with your breeding program! Please contact us if we can offer any advice or service. We’re here to help.