"Why did the APA bother to include angle of back in their breed descriptions?"

[gojira]

PA type (angle of back, tail angle, etc.) Have nothing to do with production. APA standards are solely aesthetic. At one point, APA type birds were used for production of meat and eggs, and some used type to market why their birds were superior to another's. In the 1940s, researchers began seeing that type was not what made a bird productive, but rather genes, and polygenic traits. In the 1950s, there became a split in show birds and production birds. People still claim that a pinch tailed bird is less productive for egg production, yet the most productive egg layers have pinched tails. If the type the APA says is good for egg production really was, why do they not look a thing like the bird known for top egg production? The characteristics of the tail knot have nothing to do with ovulation. I have no idea how that got started anyway. Someone mentioned Rhode Island Reds and New Hampshires. The first standard for Rhode Island Reds was closer to a modern New Hampshire than a modern Rhode Island Red. I guess to sum it up, the angle of back is mentioned because someone thought the birds looked good that way.

 

[3riverschick]

Thank you so much for answering! I get it, then it is a gentrification of the breed
just like the tulip ear in the collie dog,
Thanks so much!
Karen

 

[snowbird]

Karen, I have been away from the group for a while on break. Not an Educator as that was taken away. To help answer you question of the back angle or incline. Find a picture with a incline of the back from front to back and find a picture with no incline or lower in front and will be clear why the incline of back is important.The overall balance is controlled by angle of back. Lower the angle an it will destroy the overall type on most breeds.

 

[3riverschick]

Thank you so much snowbird !this is really helpful.
Karen

 

[Bo Garrett]

I breed and show spanish and minorcas, the standards for both read practically the same until you get to comb, weight and general carriage of the bird. As Fred stated earlier, I can look at a black silhouette and differentiate between the two breeds not by the first two differences but by the carriage of the bird, the minorca being more level in its carriage and the spanish more upright. This is a very important aspect of differentiating breeds, paint them whatever color you wish, if they do not have the type of the breed, back angle included, then they are not what they are supposed to be. Breed for type, select for type then the rest will follow. These standards have been in existence for 150 years plus and have been carefully thought out by generations of breeders and corrected when necessary to improve the breed. Read the standard and apply it literally, approach this not as one who mills the lumber but as one who builds the mansion.

Bo

 

[gjensen]

There is something to the bird's station, and it is a mistake not to consider this. You are right to wonder why.

Dorkings with their level backs and cinder block shape was a conformation based on the carcass sitting flat on a plate. It is a meat breed, and the ideal type was such at that point in time.

The angled back, or high shoulders of a game was desirable concerning athletic ability. Consider their station and ability to strike with force.

The Spanish breeds tend to have high shoulders and stations. This gives them the proud appearance of a Spanish Don. These birds are also alert and active.

An expert on a breed would be better suited to explain the type and particulars of each individual breed.

The type which includes the station of a bird and the slope of back is not without reason. Some of it was in considering aesthetics, but also function.

 

[Amer]

I think it is because to create the perfect silhouette to how the bird looks you need a specific back angle. It alters the shape extremely. I shall use my favorite ornamental breed as an example...
D'Anvers have extremely short backs that slope down, and some even are vertical, and the angle of back effects the extreme tail angle and shape. D'Anvers are poor layers though mine don't seem to be affected by fertility problems of many rose combed breeds, probably due to their aggressive nature.

 

[3riverschick]

Thank you all for your input!
Karen