Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[7961]

So any breed accepted into the standard of perfection around 1960 is considered a heritage breed..so my Columbian Rock bantams are considered a heritage breed..who comes up with these designer classification names and that criteria for "heritage" poultry breeds. I use and will continue to use the term standard bred poultry.

 

[Arielle]

Maybe it would help, if one looked at the purpose of the poultry and hence the casual use of the term "heritage" at times. When I first saw the word, I immediately imagined the old breeds of chickens with a farmer's wife throwing out scratch! To me heritage chickens are the dual purpose breeds of chickens. Certainly the term"heritage" can be applied to other fowl, too. (See post above) Me? I think chickens! LOL

Many of these breeds were the basis for the high production birds created thru many generations of hard selection for one primary trait, either egg production or meat production.These new "breeds" and cross-breds are super productive and super feed efficient, which is why they were created for today's producers. Production Red, Comet, ISA Brown, Cornish X, etc.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
The definition was developed by the following individuals:

http://www.albc-usa.org/heritagechicken/definition.html

Frank Reese, Reese Turkeys, Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, Standard Bred Poultry Institute, and American Poultry Association; APA/ABA licensed judge; Grand Master Exhibiter
Marjorie Bender, Research & Technical Program Director, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
D. Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD., Technical Advisor, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, and Professor, Veterinary Pathology and Genetics, Virginia Tech;
Don Bixby, DVM. Independent Consultant, former Executive Director for the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy;
R. Scott Beyer, PhD, Associate Professor, Poultry Nutrition Management, Kansas State University,
Danny Williamson, Windmill Farm, Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, and American Poultry Association; APA/ABA licensed judge; APA District Director
Anne Fanatico, PhD, Research Associate, Center for Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas;
Kenneth E. Anderson, Professor, Poultry Extension Specialist, North Carolina State University.

Definition of Heritage Chicken

Purpose:

Chickens have been a part of the American diet since the arrival of the Spanish explorers. Since that time, different breeds have been developed to provide meat, eggs, and pleasure.

The American Poultry Association began defining breeds in 1873 and publishing the definitions in the Standard of Perfection. These Standard breeds were well adapted to outdoor production in various climatic regions. They were hearty, long-lived, and reproductively vital birds that provided an important source of protein to the growing population of the country until the mid-20th century. With the industrialization of chickens many breeds were sidelined in preference for a few rapidly growing hybrids. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy now lists over three-dozen breeds of chickens in danger of extinction. Extinction of a breed would mean the irrevocable loss of the genetic resources and options it embodies.

Therefore, to draw attention to these endangered breeds, to support their long-term conservation, to support efforts to recover these breeds to historic levels of productivity, and to re-introduce these culinary and cultural treasures to the marketplace, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is defining Heritage Chicken. Chickens must meet all of the following criteria to be marketed as Heritage.

Definition:

Heritage Chicken must adhere to all the following:

1. APA Standard Breed. Heritage Chicken must be from parent and grandparent stock of breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) prior to the mid-20th century; whose genetic line can be traced back multiple generations; and with traits that meet the APA Standard of Perfection guidelines for the breed. Heritage Chicken must be produced and sired by an APA Standard breed. Heritage eggs must be laid by an APA Standard breed.
2. Naturally mating. Heritage Chicken must be reproduced and genetically maintained through natural mating. Chickens marketed as Heritage must be the result of naturally mating pairs of both grandparent and parent stock.
3. Long, productive outdoor lifespan. Heritage Chicken must have the genetic ability to live a long, vigorous life and thrive in the rigors of pasture-based, outdoor production systems. Breeding hens should be productive for 5-7 years and roosters for 3-5 years.
4. Slow growth rate. Heritage Chicken must have a moderate to slow rate of growth, reaching appropriate market weight for the breed in no less than 16 weeks. This gives the chicken time to develop strong skeletal structure and healthy organs prior to building muscle mass.

Chickens marketed as Heritage must include the variety and breed name on the label.

Terms like “heirloom,” “antique,” “old-fashioned,” and “old timey” imply Heritage and are understood to be synonymous with the definition provided here.

Abbreviated Definition: A Heritage Egg can only be produced by an American Poultry Association Standard breed. A Heritage Chicken is hatched from a heritage egg sired by an American Poultry Association Standard breed established prior to the mid-20th century, is slow growing, naturally mated with a long productive outdoor life.

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has over 30 years of experience, knowledge, and understanding of endangered breeds, genetic conservation, and breeder networks.

Endorsed by the following individuals:
Frank Reese, Reese Turkeys, Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, Standard Bred Poultry Institute, and American Poultry Association;
Marjorie Bender, Research & Technical Program Director, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
D. Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD., Technical Advisor, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, and Professor, Veterinary Pathology and Genetics, Virginia Tech;
Don Bixby, DVM. Independent Consultant, former Executive Director for the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy;
R. Scott Beyer, PhD, Associate Professor, Poultry Nutrition Management, Kansas State University,
Danny Williamson, Windmill Farm, Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, and American Poultry Association;
Anne Fanatico, PhD, Research Associate, Center for Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas;
Kenneth E. Anderson, Professor, Poultry Extension Specialist, North Carolina State University.​

 

[buffalogal]

Quote:
I want to know what does that make *people* born around 1960?

 

[WallTenters]

Lol... Early Birds?

 

[CharlieVoda]

Below is a list of the Standard Bred breeds I think of when I here Heritage.

I would lean towards a bird with definite economic qualities as described in the APA Standard of perfection. Dual Purpose, Egg or Meat bird,

Their date of admission in my opinion is irrelevant and a bad idea.

A Wyandotte is a Wyandotte. It is a dual purpose bird if bred to the standard and bred for dual purpose qualities. Whether it was admitted in 1874 or 2010 should not matter because the only difference in the date would be the color or variety.

If it is bred simply for looks, lays 60 eggs a year and is 20% meat and 80% feather, guts and bone then it would not be of interest to me as a Heritage bird. These beautiful birds do exist among some show oriented people because that is what they have been bred for. The key word in the last sentence is SOME.

I often think a better word for Heritage might have been Utility. All of these breeds were utilitarian birds developed for the purpose of producing food. Here is the definition of Utility from the Merriam Webster Dictionary
Definition of UTILITY
1: capable of serving as a substitute in various roles or positions <a utility infielder>
2: kept to provide a useful product or service rather than for show or as a pet <utility livestock> <a utility dog> b : being of a usable but inferior grade <utility beef>
3: serving primarily for utility rather than beauty : utilitarian
4: designed or adapted for general use <a utility tool>

Ancona
Andalusian
Australorp
Brahma
Buckeye
Campine
Catalana
Chantecler
Cornish
Crevecoeur
Cubalaya
Delaware

Dominique
Dorking
Faverolles
Hamburg
Holland
Houdan
Java
Jersey Giant
La Fleche
Lakenvelder
Lamona
Langshan

Leghorn
Minorca
Naked Neck
New Hampshire
Orpington
Plymouth Rock
Redcap
Rhode Island
Sicilian
Spanish
Sussex
Wyandotte

Good luck with the birds
Charlie

 

[cubalaya]

Quote:
I want to know what does that make *people* born around 1960?

i guess that makes all my chickens heritage breeds: cubalayas, black australorp, and delaware. it also makes me heritage by my birthday,lol.

 

[nivtup]

Quote:
I want to know what does that make *people* born around 1960?

50?

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
I want to know what does that make *people* born around 1960?

50?

It makes us OLD!!!

 

[Chickielady]

I saw Frank Reese's name listed on the previous page, and that reminded me to ask all of you if you have heard that he raises Rhose Island White ?
Thanks~~