WHAT IS A PERFORMANCE PEDIGREE ?

Many of my previous articles mentioned that before you buy a potential breeder you should request a "performance pedigree".

What I consider to be a performance pedigree does not always agree with the form, type and information that most sellers provide and that many buyers request.  The purpose of this article is to give my interpretation of what a true performance pedigree should provide to the buyer, and what information he should request from the seller.

When selecting new breeders, a buyer should require proof of the birds' ancestry and pedigrees that contain more than just a series of band numbers for each generation.  If a fancier is not breeding from winners, breeders of winners or their direct children of these proven breeders or racers, he is in big trouble.

You must select your breeders from birds that have the "COMPASS" or "HOMING INSTINCT" and have reproduced them.  If a pigeon does not possess the ability to find his way home, "homing ability", all other physical qualities mean nothing.  He must have the intelligence and navigation skills to be 100-500 miles from home and to navigate to return home to his loft the same day.  How can we expect a bird to compete in a 5-7 week race series without this quality?

With a performance pedigree, we can follow the simple principle of genetics that is so important to our racers and breeders.  "LIKES BREED LIKES" AND "HEREDITY IS HANDED DOWN FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT".  Consistently breeding generation after generation from pigeons that possess the internal qualities of INTELLIGENCE, ORIENTATION, NAVIGATING ABILITY, MOTIVATION, DETERMINATION, DESIRE, HEART AND HEALTH, we intensify and fix these characteristics in our birds, so they will reproduce and reappear in our racers and breeders year after year.  The buyer can only determine if these traits exist, when he has the history and knowledge of the birds' ancestry.

You cannot measure these qualities by a few short races or in one generation of a bird's pedigree, race results or breeding ability.  You can only do this by studying an accurate performance pedigree provided by the seller.

A standard or simple pedigree that most fanciers use is ILLUSTRATED by EXAMPLE #1 ( NOT PROVIDED EXAMPLE #1 WAS JUST A PEDIGREE WITH BAND NUMBERS OF BIRDS ANCESTRY AND RACE RECORD OF #0951)  Most fanciers call this a performance pedigree because the race results of # 0951 are provided.  However, this type of pedigree gives little information about the history of the bird, except a picture of the bird and the race record of "KRISTINA" #0951.(SEE PIGEONS SECTION OF THIS SITE FOR PEDIGREE OF #0951)

The buyer needs more information about #0951 and her parents and grandparents than ILLUSTRATION #1 provides to determine if this bird has the "potential bloodlines" to produce young that will compete in a tough race series in TAIWAN.

ILLUSTRATION #2 PEDIGREE FOR #0951(SEE PIGEONS SECTION OF THIS SITE FOR PEDIGREE) gives us a great deal more information about each bird in the pedigree and a brief description of its racing and breeding qualities.  Many fanciers call this a performance pedigree because of the additional information provided.  However, the information in ILLUSTRATION #2 is helpful and better than ILLUSTRATION #1, but it is still not enough information for a buyer to make a good decision about his purchase.

We still need additional information before we can determine if #0951 has the qualities needed for success.  We need to know what speeds (YPM - YARDS PER MINUTE) #0951 flew successfully in the 14 races listed on her race record, and at what age did she compile these race results.  The seller must provide race results to show what speeds she actually flew in each race.  When studying the race results, we see that #0951 flew her 14 races in a range from 1241 YPM to 1525 YPM.  We can also see that she flew her 14 races as a young bird and yearling.

We now have enough information on #0951 to determine if she has the qualities we are looking for in the first generation.  However, remember I said we need more information than just one generation.  We need more information about the SIRE AND DAM of #0951 and their parents.  Remember, we want information on 3 generations to determine breeding potential.

2ND GENERATION OF #0951:(SEE PIGEONS SECTION OF THIS SITE FOR PEDIGREES OF BIRDS BELOW)

SIRE 96-VIOLA-1101:  Bred for stock from 2 CHAMPIONS RACERS AND BREEDERS (#259 and #4633); Both sire and dam getting old, #1101 was placed in breeding loft after full brother (#2756 "PETE'S PET") was sold to save the bloodline (ILLUSTRATION #3);  #1101 is a proven breeder with several different hens; His children and grand children have won several hundred thousand USD in USA competition from 1997-2001; These prizes were won at distances from 100-500 miles at all speeds (800 YPM - 1900 YPM) and conditions by both young birds and old birds; and several direct children are breeding great in other countries.

DAM 93-MEG-565:  Excellent young bird racer; Won a large prize in a young bird futurity at 349 miles; Won diplomas  at 100, 200, 349 miles at speeds ranging 1100 YPM - 1600 YPM; SIRE AND DAM are both CHAMPION RACERS AND BREEDERS; She is a full sister to several CHAMPION racers / breeders; and was placed in the breeding loft when #1812 was sold to save the bloodline.  She is a breeder of breeders at all distances and speeds.

The buyer now has the information he needs on the 2ND GENERATION of #0951 on the pedigree.  This information is very helpful, but we still need more.  The buyer must have information on the 3rd GENERATION.

3rd generation of #0951( SEE PIGEONS SECTION OF THIS SITE FOR PEDIGREES OF BIRDS BELOW)

This generation is loaded with 3 OF THE BEST CHAMPION RACERS AND BREEDERS IN USA HISTORY - #259, #1812, #4633.

84-JBM-259:  "BUTCH OR BUTCH PAPPA" - LEGENDARY SIRE AND SUPER CHAMPION RACER; One of the greatest racing and breeding males in USA HISTORY (1984-1998); His children have produced champions and dominated races around the world.  His grandchildren are racing and breeding large prize winners in all conditions and distances. 

90-MGF-1812:  CHAMPION RACER AND BREEDER; HALL OF FAME, ACE PIGEON, REGISTERED CHAMPION; Full brother to several outstanding racers / breeders from FOUNDATION HVR PAIR #47 AND #3446; He won races from 150-500 miles at speeds from 1100 YPM TO 2000 YPM. 

87-NHF-4633:  BEST BREEDING HEN IN THE LOFT; Great racer; Her direct children have won large prizes in USA COMPETITION; DAM of several AU REGISTERED CHAMPIONS, ACE PIGEONS, HALL OF FAME BIRDS; #4633 HAS BRED CHAMPIONS WITH 3 DIFFERENT COCKS #259, #1812, #175; FOUNDATION breeding hen and dam to several foundation breeders in many countries; and has HVR BLOODLINES from PAUL V. VEEGAETE of MICHIGAN.  He imported birds from FRANZ HUYSKEHS AND JEFF VAN RIEL TO THE USA SEVERAL TIMES. (SEE TAIWAN SECTION OF THIS SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HVR)

The buyer now has 3 generations of information and additional documentation on #0951.  All of this material is necessary to make the best decision and should be included in a "performance pedigree".  We see in 3 generations, 16 times first place wins at distances of 100-550 miles and speeds from 800 YPM to 2000 YPM.  The pedigree is full of ACE PIGEONS, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AND OUTSTANDING BREEDERS, bloodlines that fly well as young birds and yearlings and are "tough weather birds".  Whether the races are short or long, some birds possess the ability to fly successfully in all kinds of conditions and weather.  Others are only successful when conditions are perfect and fast.  This toughness is a very important characteristic that the buyer should look for at any distance, and especially in the first 3 generations of any bird he wishes to purchase.  Do not buy any bird that does not possess this toughness or does not have the potential to produce it in its children.