UNCONSCIOUS OR METHODICAL SELECTION Which One Do You Practice? By Kenny Troiano Copyright © 2014 by Kenny Troiano/Maximus Troy Publication How important is selection? The answer is, it’s very important. In fact, variation is only effective through the process of selection. For example, although variation is responsible for identifying exceptional individuals and their traits, selection is responsible for preserving those traits. Selection is the connecting link between variation and improvement, without selection, nothing works. Like the old saying goes – “Variation makes selection possible, and selection makes improvement possible.” So, as you can see, selection is an indispensable part of the breeding process. The question is - what kind of selection do you practice? Following a Standard: Written or unwritten, there has always been a standard for excellence when breeding American Games. Everyone who breeds them knows, instinctively, how they should look, act, and perform, and they strive towards reaching that standard at all times. Breeders are looking to produce the picture-perfect bird, or to at least, improve their strain in some way. Whether it is conscious or unconscious, breeders of American Games are following this standard, and have done so throughout centuries. This collective effort to produce the perfect bird has contributed, in some part, to the evolution and development of the breed. Although the breed has come a long way, the type of selection that we practice will determine their future. There are two kinds of selection: One is called “Unconscious Selection,” and the other is called “Methodical Selection.” The question is - which one do you practice? The breeder who is constantly introducing new blood, such as crossbreeding his fowl with that of other breeder’s best fowl, without any attempts to improve his fowl through the process of selective breeding, is practicing Unconscious Selection. Methodical Selection, on the other hand, has to do with the making of breeds and strains, and the perpetuation and maintenance of new and desirable characteristics. Although, Unconscious Selection is practiced by most modern day breeders, and is said to be the responsible factor for the overall development of the breed, it is only because it has been at work longer than Methodical Selection. Only a handful of breeders are meticulous about the development of their strains, and the fowl (outside blood) they introduce into these strains. It has been that way for as long as I can remember. Imagine how far we would be if more breeders performed proper selective breeding practices, and had specific goals in mind for the creation of new and improved strains? With what we know today, about the science and practice of selective breeding, I believe that it is only a matter of time before we have a strain(s) that will surpass the reputation of “Hatch” or “Sweater.” Imagine the possibilities. The methodical breeder: The breeder who selects his fowl methodically is constantly on the lookout for new and valuable characteristics. He is not satisfied with the status quo, nor does he let the Standard determine his selection. A matter of fact, this is a person, who leads the charge for a higher standard, which he believes will progress his fowl, and the breed as a whole, and to reach a higher level of excellence. He will cull any and all birds that do not meet his expectations, or personal quality of excellence. Nothing goes into the broodpen that is not perfect, or is at least better than their parents. He is looking for variations that work in his favor, and culls the ones that do not. This may, at times, include sports or genetic mutations. When they appear as beneficial variations he makes them the basis of his breeding program. This is the man who methodically selects his broodfowl, in the hopes of improving the strain, and pushing them to the level of thoroughbred, not to simply produce more fowl. Standards should evolve with the birds: American Games owe their origins to breeds such as the Old English Games, Aseels, and a slew of other breeds, which includes Spanish Games, Irish Games, and many more. They’ve evolved as breeder’s expectations of the birds changed. Although this change occurred over many decades, selective breeding was always the mechanism of that change. Whether the improvement or evolution of American Games was the result of Unconscious or Methodical Selection, we will never know for sure. However, it would have been impossible to evolve the fowl, as we know them today, if in the early days a set standard had been established, and all breeding was made to follow along that line, and that line alone. Unlike other breeds, American Games would not exist if there were not a strong interest in having fowl that would break high and shuffle in the air, a trait lacking in Old English Games. This desire for highflying cocks created fowl that are now higher in station (leg length) and have longer wings. Other refinements to their overall appearance would come in time. Today American Games are quite different from that of their Old English Ancestors, and in many ways. What is the future of American Games? The future of American Games is depended on their improvement, and in having some flexibility when it comes to a Standard of Excellence. A set standard may work for other fowl, such as the Old English Games; however, American Games are still evolving. There is more work to be done before we can “set in stone” a written Standard of Excellence. Although, it is important to establish a standard for American Games, it is also important to improve on that standard as the fowl progress. We must be willing to adjust our standards as the fowl evolve. This will allow us to progress our fowl to a higher level of excellence, and reach the status of thoroughbred. Acceptance from the American Poultry Association: Is the acceptance into the American Poultry Association’s “Standard of Perfection” a good thing? Yes, in that is gives American Games credibility, as being a true breed. It also gives the breed the positive attention they need from breeders and raiser of other breeds, not to mention, acceptance from the general public. No, in that the A.P.A. will have some influence over how the breed is selected and bred in the future; this could affect their overall form and function. A poor, inexperienced judge can inadvertently change the breed by his selection, good or bad, at the shows. In regards to point number 2, I have seen this for myself. A gentleman (certified A.P.A. Judge), which will remain nameless, was appointed judge of an American Game category, at an annual A.P.A. sanctioned event. After evaluating the available fowl, which was quite impressive, the judge made his selection for “Best of Show.” The exhibitors, many of which are highly experienced breeders, agreed, well before the judge made his selection, that the winning bird was the worst bird at the show. Side note: The exhibitor and owner of the bird was an inexperienced breeder of American Games. While presenting the awards, and speaking to the crowd about his choice for “Best of Show,” he began to explain his reasons for picking this bird, and gave his opinion of the proper conformation of body and color of plumage. He used this bird as his example of a proper American Game. As he pointed out, body part by body part, it wasn’t long before we realized that he knew very little of the breed. Every body part he admired, about this bird, in reality, was enough to disqualify the bird from competition. The bird had the conformation of a general purpose chicken, and lacked any resemblance of a proper American Game. The sad part? Not that the judge was inexperienced, and didn’t know the breed for which he was judging, which was a travesty in itself, but that the owner of the bird now believes, wrongly, that his bird is exceptional. This breeder, will most likely, take that bird home and breed him to every hen on his yard, only to produce more like him. If American Games are going to be represented by the A.P.A., we need breeders, who know the breed, to be a big part of the organization, who can safeguard the breed, and its future.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 01:12:53 +0000
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