Re: Merry Christmas


"Mary Fisher" <mary.fisher@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Amy Blankenship" <Amy_nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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What's an RBST?

Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

We have done a great job in 'saving' old and rare breeds of horses,
cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Not poultry because no-one can agree on
what a definition of a rare breed is in poultry terms :-)

Many of the cattle; sheep, goat, pig and horse breeders who want to have
their stock for work - however they classify the ability to perform - wool,
meat, hide, pulling, carrying, milk, etc - will and do disagree.
There are great breeders who are members of RBST and there are even more who
have been but are completely disillusioned with the the aims and politics. I
believe its back on the right road but there is a long way to go.
Some of the genetics that has been "saved" by RBST themselves are poor -
and some of the centres that carry their approbation do very little in the
way of breeding or education of worth. I have seen photos of Jacob sires in
a couple of breeding flocks, for instance, which were awful representatives
of the breed. Another pal who is into cattle was appalled to find a
particular rare breed mini herd of cows [ I forget which breed ] in calf to
a Simi by AI [it is perfectly possible to get the rare breed by AI - she
has] she was gibbering with rage when she phoned me. Such a waste of money,
genetics and resrouces.
Some of the RBST breeders do not consider that the meat and / or wool
qualities of their sheep are important.

Within all breeds there is support for breeding for numbers whatever the
quality. There is almost no coordination. When beginners contact some
officials the complete twaddle they are told astonishes me every time I hear
about.it.
I wish I had the time and resources to make proper notes of what I am told
each year.
I wish our society was anywhere near the quality of the likes of that of
Germany and the US and a few other parts of Europe. I really pains me to say
that.
Stephen's comaprison to the RHS is very interesting -- I wish I had thought
about the correlation myself before -
I would also really like to see something close to the NPIP scheme here

I also really wish I had more time to do more about it. I know I meet a lot
of others each year who wish the same. I know a few who have tried and had
their efforts stymied.

There are really great breeders amonst the membership but the movement as a
whole in this country could learn a GREAT deal from taking on board ideas
and concepts from other countries.

Deciding what breeds are or are not rare is much less important than having
no concept about what constitutes good selection practises and monitoring
schemes
The rarity of the usefulnes of the strains within the breeds would show up
very quickly with some decent recording

Jill


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