All round excellence
(Internet Published) Oct 2001
It is a mistake to selectively breed based upon just one or a few special
points. Other points must be considered. The only logical way to estimate
the value of livestock is to consider how the specimens withstand the strain
of use in a given environment and how such livestock reproduces a practical
number of specimens of the same calibre.
In my strain, weaklings and rejects occur. Specimens, even though of good
strain and family, will fail to respond and confirm to the required
standard. I have said with monotonous regularity that pedigree on it's own
with little or no selective pressure is a disaster.
Racing pigeon specimens, which arrive home at speed but fail to dive quickly
into the loft, are useless. Tipplers, which fly for many hours and yet fail
to respond to droppers and enter the loft, are useless.
Rollers, will roll to perfection and yet have no control, will crash and
kill themselves. Many high flying breeds have poor homing instincts and no
resistance to up-draughts and thermals.
Some excellent pigeons are pathetically poor breeders and poor parents.
A lot of show pigeons are basically weaklings, quite incapable of flying or
even rearing young ones. Why the show pigeon fraternity wants to mess about
with such thrash is beyond my comprehension.
I reckon that we need to selectively breed for good ALL ROUNDERS even at the
sacrifice of extreme performance or appearance. Who, among us has a CULL
FREE STRAIN of any kind of working livestock? Is my own strain of high
flying Tumblers cull free? It certainly is not.