EQUUS SURVIVAL TRUST  ...  KEEPING THEM SAFE and PURE

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Casmaran Welsh Cobs and Cross Creek Welsh Ponies

Email Denise at crosscreekwelsh@gmail.com

Equine Color Genetics by D. Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD - Definition of the Paint/Pinto Overo color and it's Derivatives Sabino and Splash White

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An Introduction to Heritage Breeds ... Dr. Phillip Sponenberg, Jeanette Beranger, Allison Martin

BREED STANDARD, CONFORMATION, MOVEMENT, TYPE

Defining Bloodlines and Strains Within Breeds

By Phil Sponenberg, Jeannette Beranger, and Marjorie Bender

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The observable phenomenon of hybrid vigor stands in contrast to the notion of breed purity.
However, indiscriminate breeding of hybrid animals may also result in degradation of quality.

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LINE BREEDING

Consider this: The Thoroughbred as a breed originated from just three stallions. The Godolphin Arabian, the Byerly Turk and the * Darley Arabian. In fact, recent research found that, in 95% of modern Thoroughbred racehorses, the Y-chromosome can be traced back to the Darley Arabian!

It is safe to say that to breed a great horse one needs great parents. However, of absolute equal importance are the grandparents and their parents, and so it goes on. In fact, every single horse in the pedigree is important—the closer up it is, and the more it is line bred to, the greater its importance. Apart from requiring a very high standard of conformation, they must have excellent temperaments.

Excerpt  -  Welsh Pony Book circa 1913   ^{(click on title)}

....... there were too many doors left carelessly open. The larger pony of the lower lands was becoming mixed with Cardinganshire cob; and some owners were guilty of letting half-bred Shire colts have the run of the hills. In time the only safe place for the mountain pony would have been the topmost crests, but for an event of happy effect upon his destiny. This was the organization of the Welsh- Pony- and Cob- Society in the Royal Show Yard at Cardiff. Lord Tredegar was the first president, and after him the Earl of Powys. King George became a patron, and the society acquired an impetus that proved it had not been born too soon. The formation of a Stud Book was the initial practical business of the Society, and its first volumes derive special value from the fact that Wales has always tended to the patriarchial system, and her traditions, whether of horses or families, can be relied upon. There have always been wise and prudent breeders in the land; men who could, in some degree, counteract indifference and hold to ideal aim....... Nature long ago accomplished her best for the Welsh pony, and while he was practically an isolated type it was  easy to maintain her standard. But with multifarious breeds and half-breeds in proximity, the carelessness of man was beginning to undo her work, and Wales might have followed Ireland in the deterioration of her pony stock and the loss of a fixed type, if the Society had not actively intervened........ Finally, after many difficulties, unwearying effort, and a constant display of good nature, the committee secured the passage of the Act and put an end to what one of the overworked members, exasperated to humor, termed the "unlimited liability sire system."

by Olive Tilford Dargan,  Printed privately for Charles A. Stone  :  1913

Excerpts from A Conservation Breeding Handbook

published for The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy by D. Phillip Sponenberg and Carolyn J. Christman

Chapter 8. The Context of Conservation Breeding

Breed conservation has five elements, each one essential for success:

1. A knowledge of breed history and characteristics, including production parameters.
2. An evaluation of the numerical and genetic status of the breed to determine its needs both in terms of numbers and maintenance of existing genetic diversity. Distinct bloodlines or historic breed types that represent significant genetic resources within the breed should be documented and conserved.
3. A determination of the place of the individual herd or flock within the breed, with an understanding of how the specific herd or flock best serves the long term genetic needs and existing network of the breed.
4. The design of a breeding program for a specific herd or flock, using the ALBC conservation programs that follow: These emphasize:
          * the use of several sires to maintain the genetic variation of the population, as represented by it's distinct bloodlines;
          * the management of inbreeding so that it does not affect the entire herd or flock;
          * the selection for breed type, soundness, production and also for improvement when appropriate.
5. A periodic reevaluation of the numerical and genetic status of the breed, as well as the herd or flock, and revision of the breeding program as needed.

If breeders understand the principles and methods of conservation breeding described, they will be able to develop programs to fit their own breeds and situations.

Measures of Breed Status

Several methods have been developed to describe the numerical and genetic status of animal populations. The utility of these methods varies according to the types of breeds surveyed and the accuracy of the information available.

Numerical Status  (be aware that this would have to be determined in and by individual countries)

The numerical status of a breed can be considered first, how many individuals of the breed exist? One can answer this question by estimating the number of adults or the number of adult males and females. Such information is usually difficult to come by. Since breed registries generally do not record deaths of individuals, the registry may have a cumulative total of all individuals registered but not know the number still alive.....

Numerical and genetic status: effective population size

When the exact number of male and female parents used to produce a given generation of a breed is known, then a numerical calculation called "effective population size" can be obtained.

A simplified equation to describe effective population size is:

Ne = [4 x Nm x Nf]
[Nm + Nf]

Ne = the effective population size; Nm = number of male animals; and Nf = number of female animals

The effective population size equation demonstrates that the size of a population does not necessarily reflect its genetic status, and an increase in numbers alone will not necessary protect genetic diversity. Instead, the number of parents used to produce each generation is critical. The number of male parents is most relevant since generally fewer males than females are used in breeding. If only a few males are used to produce a generation of offspring, genetic breadth will be substantially reduced, regardless of the number of females used......

Heritage, Habitat, and other factors

Despite the utility of mathematical calculations, the genetic status of a living breed is very difficult to describe and will always remain somewhat subjective.

Among the elements of a breed's genetic heritage is the existence (or lack thereof) of distinct, isolated bloodlines, which have high genetic value for a breed. These lines represent genetic materials which has been long divergent from the breed as a whole and can be used to provide linecrossing and some hybrid vigor.

Included in any measure of breed status is the status of its habitat. The number and location of herds is an especially important indicator of status, ......... but is an issue for all species. A second element of habitat is the selection of breeding stock practiced by human breeders, and the ways that selection is evolving to fit market conditions. What are breeders' goals for the breed? It is important to know whether current selection pressures fit the historical background of a breed. Intense selection that seeks to mold the breed into a different direction can cause genetic erosion. Breeds which have a current market niche consistent with their historical uses are in a far better position than those which lack this opportunity.

The network of people who promote a breed, as well as the resources available to the breed are an important part of its habitat. the strength or weakness of a breed association and the vision of a breeder community serve to make a breed either more or less secure.

A Conservation Breeding Handbook is available at http://albc-usa.org/ for $15.95, along

with many other useful, unbiased and intelligent resources.

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Culling was used by early breeders not only to recoup their costs of producing an animal, but to remove an animal from the gene pool which they considered not of breeding quality to their standard. Culling can be accomplished by many methods, sale to an unknowledgeable person is one, sale without registration is another, and finally sale at a "meat" auction. "Meat" auctions were and are a viable way to recoup production costs. Nowadays reputable breeders sell the same pony without papers or with papers, without describing the undesirable qualities a pony possesses whether visible or invisible to the naked eye. Yet we still find people trying to get papers for unregistered Welsh ponies all the time. If a breeder chose not to register the pony or sold the pony without papers there WAS a reason, and as the breeder his/her decision to cull should be respected, these ponies should remain unregistered and not thrown back into the Welsh gene pool.

Socioeconomic Causes of Loss of Animal Genetic Diversity

The number of breeds of domesticated animals, especially livestock, have declined rapidly. The proximate causes and processes involved in loss of breeds are outlined. Also the path-dependent effect and Swanson's dominance-effect are discussed in relation to lock-in of breed selection. While these effects help to explain genetic erosion, they need to be supplemented to provide further explanation of biodiversity loss. In the respect, it is shown that the extension of markets and economic globalization have contributed significantly to the loss of breeds. In addition, the decoupling of animal husbandry from surrounding natural environmental conditions, particularly industrialised intensive animal husbandry, is further eroding the stock of genetic resources. Recent trends in animal husbandry raise serious sustainability issues, apart from animal welfare concerns.

Clement Allan Tisdell ,School of Economics The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia

articles and pictures  OF WELSH PONIES AND COBS - BREEDING, SHOWING, BLOODLINES AND MORE

HISTORY OF THE WELSH PONY & COB

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