2008 SPPA Critical List Adds Varieties, Updates Waterfowl and Turkeys
By Christine Heinrichs
SPPA Publicity Director
Christine.heinrichs@gmail.com
The Society for Preservation of Poultry Antiquities released its 2008 Critical List of chickens, both bantam and large fowl, waterfowl and turkeys January 3.
The list includes breeds that are old and have historic significance and documentation prior to the modern poultry show era. Not all of them are also rare. The breeds designated Rare reflect the organization's observations of breeds in need of more breeders to avoid genetic limitations and ultimately disappear.
SPPA officers evaluate the breeds and varieties reported by its members for the Breeders Directory listings. They assess trends as to which ones are gaining or losing ground. Breeds not available commercially and seldom seen at poultry shows are considered rare. For 2008, the SPPA officers noted that although a breed may be in healthy supply, certain varieties within that breed may not be.
"The goal of the SPPA is to preserve genetic diversity and even rare patterns of common breeds should be kept from slipping away, particularly unique patterns such as Penciled Hamburgs," said Craig Russell, SPPA president.
Interest in Javas increased in 2007 following a cover story in Backyard Poultry magazine, but the breed can in no sense be considered safe.
"Without our efforts and those of other conservation organizations, these breeds could end up being nothing more than pictures on a wall," said Mr. Russell.
Foundation and original breeds such as the Java and Dorking among chickens, the Rouen among ducks and the Pomeranian among geese are of most concern. If they disappear, their genetic heritage cannot be recaptured. Composite breeds that have become rare such as the Lamona, Chantecler and Buckeye need attention because although they could theoretically be re-created, they would inevitably lack the original line.
Turkeys are all the same breed, so although the breed itself is doing well, all the historic varieties, such as the Chocolate, have become rare and need breeders to keep them vigorous.
"All eight varieties of standard bred turkeys are in terrible shape," said Frank Reese, who breeds heritage turkeys commercially at Good Shepherd Ranch in Kansas. "We are down to just a few people who are breeding and keeping [the] old lines alive. We need dedicated turkey breeders who know what they are doing."
Many old duck breeds are doing well, thanks to dedicated breeders and an improving marketplace for meat and eggs. Old breeds such as Call, Mallard, Muscovy, Pekin and Runner Ducks are popular and seen at most shows. Old and rare breeds include Hookbills, Magpies, Swedish and Shetlands.
Geese continue to attract attention as exhibition and production birds. The historic American geese variously called Cotton Patch, Early American, Old English and Choctaw are all the same kind of goose, but acquired different regional names. German breeds such as Pomeranian need more breeders, and the importation of Steinbacher Geese has re-introduced that breed in small numbers to North America.
The lists are posted here.
Join SPPA by sending $15 for a year's membership to Dr. Charles Everett, 1057 Nick Watts Rd., Lugoff, SC 29078 or join online at poultrybookstore.com.