Mutton Hill Akron O.

8 Jacob sheep born in February 2023. 

This is a British breed. One story is they were found in Ireland as survivors of the Spanish Armada 1588. For a long time they were called Spanish sheep. George Stubbs, *1724—1806†, taught medical students anatomy. Stubbs taught himself anatomy, and painting. He painted Jacob sheep, i read. Someone must of read about Jacob, and his uncle and father-in-law Laban. "Go round through all thy flocks, and separate all the sheep of divers colours, and speckled: and all that is brown and spotted, and of divers colours, as well among the sheep, as among the goats, shall be my wages" — Genesis xxx.32. They are a smallish sheep, often with four horns, sometimes two, sometimes six. They also look goatish. They have piebald (of two colors) wool.

The shepherdess is Edie Steiner. She is a teacher in Akron. Here she opens the gate for four of her border collies: Lincoln, Owen, Luke, and the April born Bruce. Sixteen year old Rudy did not enter.

Summit County Historical Society oversees the remnant of Simon Perkins' landholdings. For some years now, they have programmes of education and demonstration. Yesterday was Working Dog Wednesday. Simon Perkins' father, Simon Perkins' was employed by Moses Cleaveland, and unlike Cleaveland, he did not return to Connecticut, but stayed on in Ohio. He was co-founder of Akron, and one of the largest landowners in Ohio. His son came to manage the Akron properties in 1834. The stone mansion was finished in 1837. The farm was on the 1795 western border of the United States. In 1844, Simon the younger hired the John Brown to raise 1,300 Merino sheep on the 150 acre farm. The quality of their wool was recognised to be excellent.

These sheep are the lawn mowers of the farm, and are engine free. That is either Lincoln or Owen putting them in pace. The sheep came back in 2016, and i think were Merinos; but this year they are Jacobs. While in the British Isles for at least 350 years, they were not much seen in the United States until the 1980s.

These border collies are from a Scottish line. Border collies are considered the smartest of dogs. They are energetic, and a good one can somewhat comfortably keep a hundred sheep in order.

mowing crew

They do seem to like to huddle closely, even in a gallop.

Notice the horns, which are mostly hollow, and can break off.

The one front right is not piebald, and slightly more goat like.