funky1
New Member
- Messages
- 87
- Location
- Bolton, England
I`ve followed this thread with great interest - a great read, and brings to the fore a few niggling issues that have been bubbling away for a while. It`s nice to hear others` views - both positive and negative - especially where such an ongoing, yet almost ungovernable issue is concerned, being discussed in an educated, and constuctive manner. It`s also an issue which is very much a grey area with no right or wrong that can be set in stone for all, especially not a worldwide demographic, to follow - nor should it be: we are talking about live animals, individual`s pride and joy and smaller breeders` hopes and dreams. It can`t be for the few biggest to govern what the smaller ones can, or can`t, name - for 99.9% of keepers and breeders, it`s a hobby, a passion, and in some cases, their reason to get out of bed in a morning - not an industry (heck, look around and it`s the biggest marketing strategy of all where some of the biggest boys are concerned - rolling out some of, what are essentially, the same morphs with a tiny tweak of colour and rebranding it for more bucks than it`s worth...but ppl will buy it if it`s `new`, `fashionable` or will have a greater resale value). If it`s warranted, genuine and different, then great - we all like something new to share, work on and, above all, marvel at and enjoy. BUT, where the naming of new lines is concerned, I wholly accept that there has to be, or we could do with having, an `unwritten rule` that the vast majority of decent keepers and breeders would be more than happy to follow - such as any `new` line has to be unique, proven and reproducable.
My own personable thoughts about what constitutes a `line` (thus making it justifiable in it`s own right, and distinguishable by name from any other leos of the same heritage), is that it must be inherent and unique to an individual breeder`s collection (before `public` release) - whichever way they got to the `end result` - and different to anything else that`s on the market . It must also be easily definable/indentifiable by it`s very phenotype, and must also have been proven to be reproducable consistently over a series of generations - having a noticable affect on any outcrosses, yet also proving true to type, with minimal variation, when a 1.1 of said `line` are paired together. It also helps, if it`s so unique that it just doesn`t fit into the average bracket of `Tangerine` or any other relevent morph category....if it`s so wildly different to anything else, then of course the line deserves it`s own branding as, wherever you look, you just can`t find it anywhere else.
One of the problems that has been caused over the years, is that many novice small time breeders, are only following the precendent that has been set countless times over, and continues to be set, by many of the bigger breeders (not everyone, and no offence intended). The number of `different` Tangerines out there now is mind boggling (obv though, there are the great ones that deserve individuality), and it seems to the layman or anyone new to the hobby, that only the `newest` must be worth the money (so we`re back to marketing in the same fashion as any high street trainers) hence the latest, yet far from greatest, are snapped up first. We all know though, that quality shines through every single time, and only the very best will have any long lasting impact on the workings, collections or plans of breeders and hobbyists across the globe.
When the fashion changes, so the hunt begins again for the next big thing - hence, what has been a £50`Calico` for years, now becomes a £500 `W&Y`. A £50 Patty RW that someone has had in their collection for donkey`s years, now, with the addition of a single extra gene (eclipse) becomes a `Cyclone`worth £600 (hey, I`ve no gripe with that - though the only difference between a genuine PRS Typhoon and a Cyclone, bar the MurPat gene, is about $700), I don`t think that`s the fault of the sellers - that`s down the buyers and whether they actually want those genes for their own breedings, or they just haven`t done enough research before jumping in. There are also the multitude of own line Emerine, ubiquitous Tangerine, Lavender Stripes, Multi-Stripe, High Glow, Ice and `Black and White` lines.....many of which are just slight differentials to an original gene pool, combination or warranted/genuine line. It does, unfortunately, have a tendency to undermine the new, extremely exciting genes that are discovered from time to time, and take a little shine off the genuinelly new `lines`, that some breeders have toiled and sweated for years to get to an acceptable standard. Thankfully. the strength of lines that have taken years to perfect, the cream of the crop, should always rise to the surface in time.
What can be done about it? I don`t know, but I`m sure going to enjoy seeings as many ppl`s suggestions on this thread as possible. As said, it`s thought provoking and, tbh, about time :main_thumbsup:
My own personable thoughts about what constitutes a `line` (thus making it justifiable in it`s own right, and distinguishable by name from any other leos of the same heritage), is that it must be inherent and unique to an individual breeder`s collection (before `public` release) - whichever way they got to the `end result` - and different to anything else that`s on the market . It must also be easily definable/indentifiable by it`s very phenotype, and must also have been proven to be reproducable consistently over a series of generations - having a noticable affect on any outcrosses, yet also proving true to type, with minimal variation, when a 1.1 of said `line` are paired together. It also helps, if it`s so unique that it just doesn`t fit into the average bracket of `Tangerine` or any other relevent morph category....if it`s so wildly different to anything else, then of course the line deserves it`s own branding as, wherever you look, you just can`t find it anywhere else.
One of the problems that has been caused over the years, is that many novice small time breeders, are only following the precendent that has been set countless times over, and continues to be set, by many of the bigger breeders (not everyone, and no offence intended). The number of `different` Tangerines out there now is mind boggling (obv though, there are the great ones that deserve individuality), and it seems to the layman or anyone new to the hobby, that only the `newest` must be worth the money (so we`re back to marketing in the same fashion as any high street trainers) hence the latest, yet far from greatest, are snapped up first. We all know though, that quality shines through every single time, and only the very best will have any long lasting impact on the workings, collections or plans of breeders and hobbyists across the globe.
When the fashion changes, so the hunt begins again for the next big thing - hence, what has been a £50`Calico` for years, now becomes a £500 `W&Y`. A £50 Patty RW that someone has had in their collection for donkey`s years, now, with the addition of a single extra gene (eclipse) becomes a `Cyclone`worth £600 (hey, I`ve no gripe with that - though the only difference between a genuine PRS Typhoon and a Cyclone, bar the MurPat gene, is about $700), I don`t think that`s the fault of the sellers - that`s down the buyers and whether they actually want those genes for their own breedings, or they just haven`t done enough research before jumping in. There are also the multitude of own line Emerine, ubiquitous Tangerine, Lavender Stripes, Multi-Stripe, High Glow, Ice and `Black and White` lines.....many of which are just slight differentials to an original gene pool, combination or warranted/genuine line. It does, unfortunately, have a tendency to undermine the new, extremely exciting genes that are discovered from time to time, and take a little shine off the genuinelly new `lines`, that some breeders have toiled and sweated for years to get to an acceptable standard. Thankfully. the strength of lines that have taken years to perfect, the cream of the crop, should always rise to the surface in time.
What can be done about it? I don`t know, but I`m sure going to enjoy seeings as many ppl`s suggestions on this thread as possible. As said, it`s thought provoking and, tbh, about time :main_thumbsup:
:main_yes:
