Sheep contraption...

[AZinAK]

Saw this recently and was curious as to if anyone has any insight as to what it's used for? I'm guessing it's used for judging curl, but not sure. It is used in Canada, B.C. or the Yukon if I remember right.


AZinAK

 

[ChugiakTinkerer]

Link perhaps?

 

[AZinAK]

If remember right, it was just a photo posted somewhere. If it explained it at all, i wouldn't be trying to figure out what it is all about. We have a wide array of knowledge on here so I'm hoping someone might know.

AZinAK

 

[4merguide]

I can't say for sure, but I'm thinking that it just may be a clamping block to hold it in place while being scored...???

 

[Bambistew]

I'll see if I can dig up a link, I think I have a power point presentation show how it works if my attempt to describe is to cryptic.

Its the "jig" used in the Yukon for measuring "full curl" sheep. They have a bit different definition of full curl. IIRC the curl has to come up past the bridge of the nose? With the jig there are no judgement calls. It's either pass or fail. They also take a lot more measurements of growth rings, both dia and length if I recall, and plot them on a chart. This also helps determine age a bit better than eyeballing an annuli.

If you notice in the picture, the bridge of the nose on the skull is level with the two platforms on each side. The rear of the horn is set on the back of the platform as a secondary reference pint. Put a straight edge across the platforms and you'll notice the horn tips pass the plane... hence full curl by their definition.

I'm on the fence with this method, however it eliminates any judgment made... down side, some tight curled rams will never break the bridge of the nose when viewed from the side... the upside, they also have a minimum age rule.

 

[iofthetaiga]

They have a bit different definition of full curl. IIRC the curl has to come up past the bridge of the nose?

http://www.env.gov.yk.ca/publications-maps/documents/huntwisely_sheep.pdf

 

[AZinAK]

I was kind of figuring it had to do with determining full curl but wasn't sure. It would be nice if F&G could come up with a jig like this or better to take the guess work or each persons interpretation out of it. Something like this with a back up of some kind of jig that could be used to few the curl from a side angle that is straight to the curl for those flared horns that may never make the nose let alone the bases as mentioned (curl in a circle trick). I can imagine these in my head. Maybe I'll try to make a couple and try them on a couple sets to see how functional, accurate, and applicable they would be. I like accuracy and as much of the guess work gone so there aren't four individuals all coming up with different opinions and all holding your fate more or less.

AZinAK

 

[iofthetaiga]

It would be nice if F&G could come up with a jig like this or better to take the guess work or each persons interpretation out of it.

The difficulty here arises from the fact that Alaska's definition of full curl does not allow for planar indexing to any fixed reference point on the skull. The only jig I've seen demonstrated which suites the purpose of Alaska's definition is the "pipe method", and it seems cumbersome at best. If Alaska would adopt the definition used in Canada wherein "full curl" is defined as a horn "which is of sufficient size that when viewed in profile, it's tip extends upward beyond a straight line drawn from the rear-most base of the horn to the center of the nostril." (2014 Alberta regs); every ADFG sealing station could use such a jig as pictured, and there would be no further "guess work"; only plane geometry. Field judging based on Canada's definition is much easier as well. If ever there was a worthy proposal for regulation change in Alaska, this would seem to be it.

 

[SkookumJoe]

The Palmer office uses a jig