Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum
HyVee Face-to-Face-Farm
Jacob's Sheep
Ovis aries
Animal Class:
Mammals
Diet:
Herbivore
Status in the Wild:
Stable
Horns of Plenty
The most distinguishing feature of Jacob’s Sheep is their impressive horns. Like some other sheep, both rams (males) and ewes (females) have horns. They generally have one or two pairs, but some Jacob’s Sheep have six horns! The ram’s horns can reach 30 inches or more, while ewe’s horns are shorter and more delicate.
“Shear” Desire
Jacob’s Sheep wool is light, easy to spin and contains little lanolin (a waterproofing substance). People who spin wool into yarn or string love Jacob’s Sheep wool. Approximately 5-10 pounds of wool is collected off each of the Zoo’s animals each year. The annual trim helps keep them cool in the summer.
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