[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Thanks Ducks and Bannys. Though I asked for differing view points regarding the interpretation of the SOP not an out and out disregard for it. However, I just read through the string and I've more than a few comments and concerns. In all honesty, I don't think the folks there are debating with a clear understanding of what the Standard of Perfection was actually established for in the first place. Nor did they clearly argue why they are so against standards in general.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I will agree that today the ABA is geared almost exclusively to the fancier and show person. But that hasn't always been the case. There was a time when the ABA encompassed the entire poultry world with breeders, fanciers, hobbyists and productionists. And while today the Standard of Perfection may be wielded as an end all answer to a specific breed of poultry, it most certainly is not how I view it. Particularly since my background is in poultry science, genetics, breeding and production generally and not as a fancier exclusively. And actually I've never shown a single one of my birds in 97 years and counting (though lets never say never just yet); though many have been shown by customers over the years.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]My purpose in discussing Standards of Perfection is in use as a guide toward breeding and maintaining genetic breeding material. When breeding one must have a base line standard to follow and with chickens I know not of a better base line than the Standard of Perfection.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Now in the string mentioned there was little understanding of chicken breeds or breeding, generally and more than a few misleading comments about letting "chickens" revert back to their original state which is out and out silliness. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The domesticated chicken has little in common with their ancestors to be certain and letting them “revert” back to their wild ancestry is tantamount to saying let all dog breeds revert back to their ancestral wolf heritage. And let all human beings revert back as well?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Chickens of all the Aves, in general, are one of the four most domesticated animals known to man and I think anyone would be hard pressed to argue that point. Further, a comment was made that breeding and culling should be left to "mother nature" and again this point seems folly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]If poultry breeders, starting with the Chinese and Egyptians 4 or 5 thousand years ago, had not developed the wild game fowls into domesticated animals for productive purposes; modern man would be without one of the most vital food sources we have today. It can quite easily be argued that between beer and eggs, man was built and sustained for thousands of years.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Poultry breeders, culminating in the early 19th century came to conclusion that standards should be developed to identify the characteristics of the various breeds of Gallus domesticus. This was largely in order to standardize what a breed should be; so that breeders could develop better strains and new breeds based on these standards. Granted that from 1875 onwards the standards developed into a set of rules for showing poultry in general. But this doesn't negate the importance of these standards even to breeders (and dare I say geneticists) today.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And I don't wish to offend anyone but the string touched upon issues of God that really had little to do with the topic at hand. And for those arguing that breeders are “playing with nature” this is difficult to grasp. For when referring to the Old Testament doesn't God Command to “go forth, be fruitful and multiply”? There are certainly passages in the Old Testament as well as archaeological archives clearly demonstrating that “God's People” were selectively breeding animals for thousands of years and references that this fact “Pleased God Greatly”. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Now I don't want to start a theological debate here as it it isn't my purpose. My purpose is to clearly state that Standards are necessary in breeding and breeding is absolutely necessary to the survival of this thing we call humanity.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]If it weren't for breeders and geneticists billions of people would be starving today far beyond the levels we currently have statistically.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]About two years ago now, I attended the funeral of an old colleague and friend (as an old man I do this a lot, going to funerals of old friends). He was a fella who most should know and worship as the hero he was, but unfortunately he is relatively unknown to most today. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Norman Ernest Borlaug was my friend and probably the greatest savior of mankind of the 20th century onward. Now I know the word savior may rankle a few feathers here but what else do you call a man that dedicated his whole life to savings billions of people (yes this is a literal number of people this man has kept alive and counting) by single handedly developed high yield strains of wheat and corn that are still literally feeding the world and gave his life's work to the people. That's right he didn't collect a dime on his patents but gave them to humanity for the good of the world. (Yes this really REALLY ticked Monsanto off you have no idea!) What other human do we know of that can tout literally saving billions of lives?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Now this has little to do with backyard poultry but my point is that geneticists, breeders and agricultural science all play a vital role in sustaining mankind. And through diversity we maintain this fragile balance between destruction and survival.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]There are six major corporations producing 90% of the worlds food today. Imagine the damage if they fail; if even one failed. Imagine something so simple as old breeds of chickens disappearing and the loss of diversity as a result and the mutant strains that are left develop a chronic genetic disease.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]How do we start over and could we? No heading “backwards” and regressing isn't the answer. Moving forward with clear purpose and understanding is the best and only logical way to proceed.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I apologize that this got off tangent a bit from what this string is suppose to be. I think all strings have their legitimacy but I had hope to keep this string breeding specific.[/FONT]