I see great progress in the discussion of a time line for the age of a breed but What about how rare a breed is. Do we all agree to the ALBC's definition? here it is by the way.
Poultry breeds on the ALBC Conservation Priority List generally conform to certain genetic and numerical parameters.
1. The breed is from one of the four traditional U.S. poultry species (chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys).
2. A bantam breed may be listed if there is no large fowl counterpart.
3. The breed census satisfies numerical guidelines:
Critical: Fewer than 500 breeding birds in the United States, with five or fewer primary breeding flocks (50 birds or more), and estimated global population less than 1,000.
Threatened: Fewer than 1,000 breeding birds in the United States, with seven or fewer primary breeding flocks, and estimated global population less than 5,000.
Watch: Fewer than 5,000 breeding birds in the United States, with ten or fewer primary breeding flocks, and estimated global population less than 10,000. Also included are breeds with genetic or numerical concerns or limited geographic distribution.
Recovering: Breeds that were once listed in another category and have exceeded Watch category numbers but are still in need of monitoring.
Study: Breeds that are of interest but either lack definition or lack genetic or historical documentation.
4. The breed is a true genetic breed (when mated together, it reproduces the breed type.)
5. The breed has had an established and continuously breeding population in North America since 1925. Or, if imported or developed since 1925,
The foundation stock is no longer available.
Must meet numeric guidelines for inclusion.
Must have at least five breeders in different locations in the United States.
The global population is threatened and the United States population is making a contribution to conservation of the breed.
Breeds not meeting all these criteria may be placed in the "Study" category and monitored.
What about the Rare Breeds Survival Trust that covers all of the U.K. ? Their criteria is different.
They have only 32 breeds on their list while we have 49, not counting the 5 in the watch list! For an example their are only 200 Sebrites in the country of origin while there are less than 5,000 in the US.
What I am trying to say is SOME rare birds here are'nt rare elsewhere and SOME rare birds elsewhere are'nt rare here. I know it would be hard to create a world rarity list so what do we go by? For example if the Nankin bantam becomes extinct in the U.K. We would still have around 500 birds and other countries would still have some. Another example would be if all of the U.S. faverolles would go extinct the U.K. has more than 1,000.
So.....how Rare is Rare?
P.S. The U.K. is Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and Wales, as well as all the other smaller isles.
P.S.S. Sorry for the long post.
