Jacob (sheep) - Conservation Status

Conservation Status

Conservation charities such as the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) of North America and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) of the United Kingdom are responsible for the documentation and preservation of rare breeds of domesticated animals, including the Jacob. There are also several breed registries whose only focus is the Jacob, such as the American Jacob Sheep Registry and the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association. In the United States, identification of Jacobs as endangered and ensuing registration of sheep began in 1985. As of 2009, the ALBC has listed the American population of the Jacob as a "threatened breed" and a conservation priority. The breed is estimated to have fewer than 1,000 annual registrations in the United States and a global population of less than 5,000. Identifying purebreds is a continual challenge for American breeders, and the marketing of crossbreeds (such as the Jacob-Dorset) as purebred Jacobs to unsuspecting buyers has presented a significant obstacle to the conservation of the American population. However, the RBST in the United Kingdom do not view the Jacob as being at risk as there are in excess of 3,000 registered breeding females.