WHY ARE RARE BREEDS RARE?

[seriousbill]

There's a difference between inbreeding and lack of genetic diversity. A breed can lack diversity and be very homogenous without being "inbred." Fowlafoot merely used the wrong term.

And biosecurity most definitely relates to biodiversity. Know anything about the Irish Potato Famine? A whole crop was wiped out by one fungus to which it was not resistant and hundreds of thousands of people dependent upon that crop starved. It was a thriving and economically viable crop, too.

 

[seedcorn]

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Agree with this, I must be an ethnic group as I prefer the flavor of games......especially pan fried. We started to dress them out after 10 weeks.

 

[seedcorn]

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Understand biodiversity, think professional poultry breeders and the production people, don't? They keep different strains and different "families", they just don't worry about looks. While to the eye, they may look like the "same" breed, they are no more related in some cases than a RIR is to a cornish.

Understand an old saying, there are more differences within a breed than between breeds.

 

[seriousbill]

Understand biodiversity, think professional poultry breeders and the production people, don't?

Oh, I think they do, and that's why they dress in masks and hazmat suits when they visit their operations. Because they know one wrong move and their genetically homogenous flocks are in big trouble. I think you overestimate the amount of diversity in a commercial flock bred primarily to lay eggs and thereby produce a profit. And no, I don't have much faith in industry to keep profit from overriding other considerations. But that may just be me.​

 

[seedcorn]

masks and hazmat suits are for 2 reasons.

1) They don't want visitors bringing in diseases to the animals.

2) Masks/suits are to keep the dust out of their lungs and the diseases that poultry dust causes humans. Even dust from your average "backyard" chicken can cause you severe health issues later in life.

Having worked in commercial breeder farms, I don't "overestimate" their diversity. Altho any single chicken house does not have much diversity. Their health problems are not from lack of genetic diversity but from the environment.

 

[seriousbill]

Yes, I was also referring to the bringing of diseases in by visitors. That was part of my point. I also understand that the crowding of the animals is a factor. But, as to this discussion, the lack of genetic diversity in the industry is widely regarded as a potential problem. They have poultry scientists working on it. So, I don't think merely denying it is really the way to go. You might argue that they can overcome it. Who knows, maybe they can. But it just might be a good idea to have some old, crazy heritage breeds out there waiting in the wings just in case they run into trouble.

 

[seedcorn]

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See post #30. Genetic diversity in regards to genetics that have an economic factor. If a disease hits a certain strain, they will switch in a heart beat as they have NO allegiance to any strain.

You do realize the health risks everyone takes even w/free range chickens in terms of chicken dust? Please tell me you do. It's not just an overcrowding thing altho being around more chickens does up the odds of getting infected.

Even w/"backyard" chickens, you really shouldn't allow someone to come from one farm to another farm that has chickens. The odds of bringing in a disease are there. That's why I would never take a chicken to a poultry show and then bring it back home. & I love to go to poultry shows, county fairs, etc.

 

[seriousbill]

Oh, I love going to poultry shows too, and I love reading about all sorts of poultry-related issues. I've read enough to know that there are others who don't see switching strains as the panacea for a major disease hit. As a matter of fact, I believe the whole stated rationale for things like NAIS take this as a matter of course.

And, yep, I know I take my chances with my free-range chicken dust, but thanks for the warning.