[Jacob-list] Re: Fw: Color woes

[WenlochFrm at aol.com]

Right on, Tom. I couldn't agree with you more. There are two things that are 
worrisome to me, the first being overstandardization of the breed, and the 
second is the impact the show ring will have on the breed as showing becomes 
more popular.

Joan Franklin


In a message dated 4/11/00 5:19:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
creagchild at monad.net writes:

> 
>  >
>  >I think you raise a very important issue concerning registration, one that
>  >perhaps will never go away.
>  >
>  >The American Livestorck Breeds Conservatory has suggested that there are
>  >really four different categories into which breeds may fall:
>  >
>  >Standardized (a predictable set of features developed by human-directed
>  >breeding programs)
>  >Landrace (a variable set of features within parameters as a result of both
>  >human and natural selection)
>  >Industrial ( standardized "to the max")
>  >Feral  (one of the other three which has returned to the wild; often
>  >cross-bred, except where geographically isolated).
>  >
>  >While the Jacob is considered "Standardized," I think it's important to
>  >point out that many folks will point to the distinct difference between 
the
>  >American Jacob (which the ALBC considers rare) and the English Jacob.
>  >
>  >The English Jacobs are clearly more standardized, being popular as "park
>  >animals" gracing the lawns of country estates.
>  >
>  >American Jacobs seem far more variable, leaning a little more towards the
>  >Landrace end of the spectrum.
>  >
>  >Which of the styles you prefer is, of course, completely up to your tastes
>  >as a breeder, but I do think we should recognize that English Jacobs and
>  >American Jacobs have departed on precisely this point of the degree of
>  >standardization.
>  >
>  >My own, purely personal approach is to avoid a high degee of
>  >standardization.  Jacobs existed as north african sheep long before they
>  >graced British estates, and my own personal preference is to permit the
>  >variations that would evidence themselves in the less restricted
>  >environment.
>  >
>  >Again, this is just my approach to life (sorry, I'm  a Celtic mystic!) -
>  >even my chickens are free-range, and I refuse to artificially light their
>  >quarters in the winter to force more egg-laying.
>  >
>  >In most animal shows, conformity to the Breed Standard is important.  As a
>  >matter of personal taste, i think I would prefer the least restrictive
>  >standards possible, within the parameters of what actually constitutes the
>  >breed - especially when the gene pool is limited and the breed is rare.
>  >
>  >But that's just me.
>  >
>  >thom
>