08/31/2021
Too good not to share.
What is a Master Breeder?
Edgar Mongold liked my response in a recent post and asked that I share more on this topic. Here it goes:
The relationship between people and poultry is fascinating. Without the people many breeds and varieties would disappear. That said, not every person contributes equally. Also, there are several roles people can play in poultry - one of those is being a breeder. But what is a breeder?
When people with experience refer to someone as a breeder, what they are doing is recognizing that person’s ability to guide generations of poultry with positive outcomes. Such folks are known to have quality in a certain breed or variety over much time. They have earned a bit of respect from their peers for the results of the decisions they have made.
But many new to poultry seem to want to be called breeders - they have yet to earn their reputation based on the results of years of effort. Seems some think you are a breeder by simply putting two birds together. Some hatch without putting much effort into the choice of the parent stock, while others put more effort into finding just the right two (or more) birds to start. Not trying to put beginners down, we all started sometime, but there is a difference between being someone that hatched a few chickens and someone that is actively breeding to improve the quality of the stock they have. So, you may have bred poultry, but ask yourself, “am I truly a breeder?”
Now let’s go to a few big shows for several years and walk all the aisles. Doing so we start to notice that certain exhibitors always have quality in certain breeds and varieties. Now the presumption is that these folks are breeders - many are, but not all; some buy their best show birds from top breeders every year. Most successful breeders have learned a good bit about selection and the fine points of the breed or variety. A few have established families of birds, while others trade birds frequently with friends or purchase birds from one or two breeders every few years. All of these methods are beneficial for the breed.
Now let’s talk about the Master Breeder. Such a person plays an important role in the breed or variety. They understand the basics of the breed, breeding tendencies, and know fine points that few others know - often being the ones that discovered such fine points. They may or may not show, but the birds they share impact the quality of the breed or variety.
Charlie Wabeck used to tell me that you know we have lost a master breeder as three years after they are gone the quality of that breed or variety drops. In other words, master breeder Joe sells to breeders Bill, Terry, and Elizabeth, whom are all thought of as masters and sell to David, Shirley, Jane and Tom. The quality from Joe keeps the quality up for Bill, Terry, and Elizabeth and their quality keeps up the quality for the the next group.
The master breeder is one source for stock, and they act like a fountainhead keeping up the quality, which popularizes the breed. They are like the source of this genetic river. The skilled breeders also act like tributaries and help broaden the flow (or popularity). Finely you have those that hatch a few. These folks contribute to the breed numbers, but impact the overall quality less so - just as as a bucket of water impacts water quality at the widest part of a river.
Now a master breeder does not only contribute to the genetics of a breed in a direct way, they also set the mark for quality and act as inspiration. Knowing what the best of a breed or variety can look like impacts your selection and culling decisions, which impact the quality of your birds. Wanting to be able to compete or surpass sharpens you further. Thing is, you don’t even need to like the master breeder in order to improve your stock to compete with them… their role is important regardless of positive relationships.
Now let’s look at two cases of master breeders. First, Jim Rines was a master breeder of Brown Leghorns. Jim spread his stock far and wide and knew fine points of color breeding like few others ever have. When he got out we saw a drop in the quality of the bantam SC Light Browns. Today we see a lift in their quality, but we have another master breeder to thank for that - George Beyer. There are many folks with competitive stock, but George now sets the quality. In Houdans, Barb Piper was the master breeder. Her stock was competitive for championships. Now, a few folks have Houdans, but you seldom see them go up front at big shows with heavy competition for championships. The folks that do have quality Houdans are keeping the breed going, but they have yet to achieve master breeder status based upon skill and knowledge. Important to note, they can if they are willing to focus and put out the effort to bring the birds back to top quality and make birds available to increase the breed population. So, two examples used only to show the impact of master breeders.
Every breed and variety needs at least one master breeder. But not all of us are meant to be that. Some run strings of birds to fairs and introduce new fanciers to quality Standard bred birds. Some swell the numbers of many breeds, and help keep up the quality, by keeping many breeds and varieties. Some are experts at getting birds ready for shows. Some impact breeds through helping to run breed clubs or shows. Others work with the youth. Some become judges. There is room for all.
But if you want to become a master breeder, here is my advice: do so because you love the breed. Doing it for recognition or show winnings will never keep you interested or dedicated to get through the tough times. Be prepared to win and lose, deservedly or not. Don’t let your ego get the best of you - it can easily. Don’t ever expect to win, as you lose the joy of winning and the judge is hired to give his opinion and not yours… so you won’t always win. Success is measured in decades, not single shows. If you are in it long enough you will face every problem and challenge. Know you will become barn blind, seek other knowledgeable opinions to find what you are overlooking. Enjoy the fellowship and share what you have learned. Pass on the stock so it goes on long after you. This last part is important, you cannot know who the next master breeder will be - it could be a kid you just met or an experienced breeder, there is no knowing until they prove themselves for a few years. Don’t let sales lead you into parting with birds you need - it happens, but you need to understand you are your first customer as you paid a year’s feed bill to get that exact good trio, don’t sell them to someone else for less than you paid…
Every breed and variety needs more breeders. Become one. Focus just on that one breed. Expect to spend three - five years to start to see the impact of your selection decisions. It takes that long to settle the genes and reveal how your choices have impacted the bloodline. This is why it is not your bloodline (strain) until three to five generations.
Hope this us helpful.
