I am often asked if Jacobs are browsers or grazers. Sheep are generally known as grazers and goats are usually known as browsers, but jacobs tend to do both. Browsers eat mostly leaves and grazers eat mostly grass.
As the sheep head out to the pasture in the morning, they start out as one group but quickly break up into smaller groups.
Some start grazing,
while other start browsing.
You can watch them go back and forth throughout the day.
Magoo, our llama, grazes and browses right along beside them. I think he likes the fact that he can reach the leaves they can’t. All of them love the blackberry wall at the back of our property. We are thankful for their ability to eat the blackberries because it keeps the wall where it should be.
Here is Tristan exhibiting that they will eat thistles too. They love them in the fall, but they will eat small amounts right now.
Allegany says it is ALL good!
Stories from the Farm 
Great post, especially in catching them doing both. 🙂 That is one thing I LOVE about Jacobs – their ability to do both. I think it is something the breed should be proud of.
I think it is something the breed should be proud of too!
The primitive sheep are very versatile in their diets, just another good reason to like Jacobs.
Are your sheep the same way? I would imagine they retain a lot of the primitive traits as well.
Your photos have such movement and natural beauty. I’m enjoying your site. Good thing you carry your camera on you, but you must have that ready-eye that is more capable of spotting a great opportunity while others drive on by! To see the beauty what is mistakenly taken for “ordinary” or to spy a gem in the field…THAT is talent. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Lana! You are right, the ‘ready-eye’ is a big part of capturing the moment.
Allegany is so pretty.
Thanks Shari! I had her for sale, but she has convinced me that she should stay 😉
Hey Ken! I have been trying to add you to my blog front page — so you can be on my list of my “Favorite Neighbors,” but it isn’t letting me do it. Just so you know, I am going to keep trying! I love your pictures and the information you provide. Since we can live on our acreage full time yet and are having to live in the city until retirement hits – just about another year, then we can move. I’m learning a lot from blogs like yours. Keep clicking!! I’ll be back later.
Thanks Lana! I have found that WordPress and Blogspot don’t communicate well. Thanks for trying 🙂 I’m happy to hear that you find my little blog informative…comments like this keep me clicking 😉
It must be their primitive nature, Icelandics are the same way. Great for clearing land. We had a section along our creek that was a total wreck, full of brambles, weeds, saplings. Now that’s all gone.