About the Jacob’s Four-Horn Sheep
General Information About the Jacob's Four Horn Sheep
The Jacob sheep is a striking, ancient domestic breed known for its piebald coat and multiple horns. While typical sheep have two horns or none, Jacobs are multi-horned, most commonly sporting four distinct horns. Both males and females grow horns, though rams display larger, more impressive headgear.
The breed’s name comes from the biblical story of the patriarch Jacob in the Book of Genesis, who bred speckled and spotted sheep. Historical accounts and art trace spotted, multi-horned sheep to the Middle East and Mediterranean before they appeared in England by the 17th century. Wealthy landowners kept them as decorative “park sheep” on grand estates.
Description of the Angora Goat
Body
- Weight: Mature rams weigh 120 to 180 lbs. Ewes weigh 80 to 120 lbs.
- Build: Slighter and more agile than commercial sheep, with a narrow frame, straight back, and high muscle-to-bone ratio.
- Head & Legs: Slender, triangular head free of wool on the face and cheeks; medium-length legs with wool extending only to the knees or hocks.
Coat & Fiber
- Pattern: Distinctive piebald (patchwork) pattern of dark black, brownish-black, or lilac patches over a white background.
- Markings: Frequently feature a symmetrical white blaze on the face and dark cheeks (badger-faced markings).
- Wool: Soft, medium-grade fleece that covers the body and long woolly tail.
Head & Horns
- Presence: Both rams and ewes carry horns.
- Four-Horn Setup: Typically consists of two long, vertical center horns pointing upward (which can reach up to 40 inches in rams) and two smaller side horns that curve or spiral down along the side of the head.
- Color: Solid black or occasionally black-and-white striped; pure white horns do not occur.
Recommended Calibers
Use a minimum of a 6mm (.243) caliber rifle to hunt Jacobs four horn sheep.
Where to Hunt Jacob's Four Horn Sheep
In the USA, Jacob’s four horn sheep are hunted on high fence exotic game ranches in Texas and Tennessee.
They are also hunted at a few estates in South Africa and Argentina.
What is Considered a Trophy Jacob's Four Horn Sheep
A trophy Jacobs four horn sheep will have upper horns measuring at least 30 inches long.
Cost to Hunt Jacob's Four Horn Sheep
Jacob’s four horn sheep generally have a $1,000 to $4,500 trophy fee plus the daily rate for hunting at the high fence preserve.
