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Specifics in the general class Nuremberg 2006

With more than 33.000 pigeons there were a lot of highlights to report about, due to limited space only some short comments are possible with focus on genetically aspects. The most interesting points were still included in the reports on new breeds and colorations and the AOC-class. From the fanciers’ point of view the aviary with red bellied Krasnodar Tumblers was striking. In their juvenile plumage they are entirely red. Informative was also the aviary that contained different Chinese breeds with traditional pigeon whistles on their tail feathers. Finally the aviary with Oriental Rollers did not contain the Almond (vielfarbige) Rollers only but in addition some Kites and also DeRoy. There was some discussion in the last years whether an aviary with a mix of different colorations should be graded at all and for colorations that carry the Almond gene this now is possible due to genetically considerations. The background: In Germany it is forbidden to breed two Almonds together because it is considerer a cruelty to animals. As educated pigeon breeders know, about one quarter of the offspring of such a mating is white, often shows bladder eyes and usually dies after some weeks. With some exceptions it is not possible to raise a healthy homozygous Almond cock, and if, the bird will not show the Almond-coloration but will be white, sometimes with some coloured feathers mainly in the neck region. To prevent the generation of homozygous Almond cocks, Almonds (and thus also Vielfarbige) usually are matched with Kites, Golddun or Agates. Also DeRoys may be matched with Kites or Golddun to raise some classical Almonds. Since DeRoys genetically are recessive red Almonds, they may also not be mated to Almonds.

In the general class of the yellow Runts we could see that gold is in advance and since the judges in many breeds often prefer a rich and deep colour gold may displace yellow, as is the case in the Swing Pouter where all birds in the yellow class are gold instead of yellow. This tendency exists in many breeds in Germany, and breeders and judges in most cases are not educated enough even to get aware of it. The breeders of Cauchois entered more than 300 birds, also the rare coloration often where presented in greater numbers, e.g. 37 self black Cauchois, both with and without a white Bavette. After their recent acceptance as a standard colour the Texan for breeding blue, blue checker and black faded hens where shown in great numbers, and a lot of them were striking with their sprinkled appearance. The andalusian King compared to former years considerably improved in their colour. Modena Magnanis were shown in Almond (vielfarbige), silver sprenkled and in addition a brown sprenkled and a yellow sprenkled were announced. However, despite their high grading from a genetically point of view they were disappointing. The “brown sprenkled” in reality was a due to his age darker Almond, the yellow sprinkled bird was near to white with some reddish in the neck region similar to some pure faded cocks. In the class of smoky blue Sevillaner Croppers the hen was very similar to a blue faded hen, and also no. 12132 was not a black Granadina Cropper cock but a grey one, perhaps heterozygous faded or an unknown mutation. Some of the Field-pigeons were beautiful andalusian with white bars (Toy Stencil). Rare are also the red Starlings. This variety was still mentioned by Christian Ludwig Brehm in his book from 1857 and considered distinct several times. Some people even thought it impossible to breed them at all, now they were shown in several numbers the first time at such a great exhibition. Oriental Owls and their relatives were also entered with more than 170 numbers, including some rare kinds like two Vizor Owls and two black Domino Owls. In the Danish Tumbler breed “Perlede” is a specific coloration known only in this breed. In Germany it it called “Perlblau” (peal blue in English). In the last years they are entered as “diluted blue bars”, in German “Blaufahl mit Binden”, a coloration that is not accepted in the Danish Standard. The German Standard contains both. Diluted blue bars, however, are very rare if they exist at all in the moment. The difference in genetic terms makes the ice factor, “perlede” are diluted blue bars plus ice and much lighter than simple blue bars. The difference becomes obvious when we look at diluted blue bars of other breed, e.g. Cologne Tumblers (see the photos in the German language report). The black tigered Danzig Highfliers are worth to be mentioned because of the intense discussion whether this coloration should be allowed to have a dark beak. The argument pro was the problem to reach a light beak in the breeding pen, now they were shown with a light beak and this in an excellent quality. Oriental Rollers are often shown also in diluted blue bars, diluted blue checker and ash red and ash yellow bars. In the last years Spread Ash was added to the standard colours and also yellow checkers are sometimes shown. One great standard problem in the moment is the requirement in respect to the colour of the beak. “Wachsschnabel” (Wax-beak) is required for all colours with exception for Kites. Wachsschnabel means a very light beak. Black and blue Oriental Rollers only show a light beak in the case the Smoky factor is present, and even then it need careful selection. However, diluted blue bar, diluted blue checker, ash yellow bar and checker and even pure ash red bar cocks may have a light beak without the Smoky factor. Since the smoky factor in these colorations has the negative side effect to darken the overall plumage these coloration usually lack the Smoky factor. But not all, and the exception usually have a lighter flash beak. Therefore the question arises how to handle the birds with smoky and without smoky in the same class. Some prefer to require the Smoky factor for all colorations, others fear that then the popular blue bars and blue checker will disappear and I fear most judges and fancier will not realise the difference and get the point. Last not least we should mention the small but impressive group of English Short Faced Tumblers which traditionally contains the complementary colours Kites, Goldun and Agates with some Almonds that could serve as a model for an excellent coloration. Photos are included in the German language report.