Today’s Irish Setter – The Breeder’s Perspective
Click here to read the complete article
By Amy Fernandez
Two prominent breeders offer their comments on Irish Setters today.
Cynthia Stanford, breeder of Roclyn Setters based in Los Gatos, California
Mary Merlo, breeder of Evergreen Irish Setters in Youngsville, North Carolina
AF: The breed’s situation has changed drastically from its heyday of consistently huge entries and famous kennels from coast to coast. In some breeds, a downsized population tends to herald intensified focus on quality over quantity; in other breeds it has signaled a dwindling genetic stockpile of type and quality. The Irish Setter gene pool is smaller, has it gotten better?
Cindy: As our gene pool has gotten smaller, many breeders have been reaching out to different countries for breeding options. We are seeing beautiful dogs from Australia, New Zealand and the U.K., for example. With the availability of frozen semen and today’s technology, we have more choices. Many have crossed with American lines, so line breeding is still optional but the outcross is valuable.
Mary: The availability of frozen semen from all over the world has given the preservation breeders great opportunity to find and use dogs that previously would never have been possible.
AF: The nature of selective dog breeding has changed to some extent. For instance, breeders have done a good job confronting health issues like PRA and epilepsy. And of course, that dimension of the process was barely taking shape in those grand old days. In some ways it’s easier, in other ways more challenging. Circumstances change, but are breeders hitting the mark as often as they should?
Click here to read the complete article
Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=199560
Posted by AnthonyA
on Apr 11 2021. Filed under Current Articles, Featured.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Comments are closed
