BARKING
ROCK FARM
Frequently Asked Questions About our Livestock...
Q. What IS progeny testing?
A. In an effort to identify purebred Jacobs and in order to
conserve this uniquely beautiful breed of sheep for future
generations, Barking Rock Farm has followed a progeny-testing program
to determine the relative breed purity of individual sheep prior to
registration. Briefly stated, this program simply means that BEFORE a
candidate animal can be registered, it must be bred to two different
mates - each of which is as unrelated to the candidate animals as
practicable. Only if ALL offspring from these two matings
display true Jacob traits and characteristics will the candidate be
registered. This is the "test" in progeny testing; the
offspring (progeny) are examined (tested) to determine that they
display qualifying traits. All of our Jacobs are currently registered
with the AJSR.
Once a breeding pair has been registered through the progeny-testing program, all of their future offspring are then elegible for registration with no further testing provided they display true Jacob traits and chartacteristics.
This sound principle of verifying the genetic purity of breeding
animals through progeny testing will work with other breeds as well.
At Barking Rock Farm, we progeny test our Barbados Blackbelly flock
as well as our Jacobs.
Q. What sort of vaccinations will my new
stock have received?
A. We routinely vaccinate for entertoxemia (also known as
overeating disease) with Colstriditum types C&D; tetanus; and orf
(also known as soremouth and contagious ecthyma.) Some animals may
also have been vaccinated for rabies.
Q. Does Barking Rock offer stud service?
A. Not under ordinary circumstances, although we may make
exceptions for local sheep owners who have purchased ewes from us.
Please inquire about cost and current availability.
Questions about Horns? Follow this link...
© 2006 Barking Rock Farm All Rights Reserved. This page updated 5/3/06.