I would have liked to have been a bug on the wall when the SOP weights were decided upon. Like all aspect of an SOP each feature was carefully discussed. It was written into stone when there was probably a number of differing opinions. Only one weight could be put on paper. . . .Arielle, very well put in your last post. To be a breed (or actually in the case of poultry, "variety" since all the turkeys are one breed), the bird has to breed true---produce offspring that have the same characteristics. Yes cross bred turkeys can be considered mutts because they do not breed true. However the term "heritage" in turkeys was meant to describe something else versus the term used in chickens and as I understand it, the definition of a "heritage chicken" is still being debated. So strange as it sounds, you can have a mutt turkey and it can still be heritage. What it won't be is a pure breeding variety or one that can ever be accepted in the APA.
What you say about the Buff turkey is a good point. There is more to a variety than color. Over time, all livestock will change somewhat according to their environment, what they are fed and which individuals are kept for future breeding and so forth. My turkeys, for instance, I expect over time will be better adapted to the heat. Those that aren't will not thrive here and I won't be using them for breeders.
I read through that discussion on the Large Heritage Fowl thread about size in chickens being shown. Remember there was also discussion about exactly why certain weights were considered ideal. With turkeys, if you breed them too big, you will lose that heritage quality of being about to breed naturally. The heritage turkeys are not supposed to be that big. Might as well raise broad-breasted turkeys
If the bird can still do the breeding job, then does it qualify? According to the ALBC definition, it does. If an individual wants to breed a larger bird and it still can breed, who am I to say noo you can't breed that bird. As a breeder of animals, fertility is a big deal to me and survivability. Because this all adds up to money.
IN the breed of horses I have bred for many years, when a stallion has passed a dozen requirements toward becoming approved for breeding, one of the last is fertilitybefore heading off to 30 days of testing. THe sperm is examined for quality. THere is a level that all must pass-- if not-- he's out of the breeding game. THose that pass are given a grading for the public to see. Fertility is a big deal.
THe BBW is a whole nother ball game. NOt only is the breast meat wider, butthe overall grwoth rate is faster. ANd that pulls in other issues: flavor, feeding practices , growing out environment.
Sweetgrass were a sport that came out of a bronze breeding pen. From some of the notes, the thinning dow nof the breast was necessary to allow for natural breeding. THis left me confused because my sweetgrass ( Porters) were as slow growing as my other "herittage" types and I would not have associated with a BBB at all. So perhaps the error is in my thinking. I mentally added bronze + dec the breast = BBB as the original source. The information is written, and quoted so often, the history has become a blur. THe sweet grass is a gorgeous bird though!!
