Hatchery loses turkey line

Today the new 2012 Rochester hatchery catalogue arrived in the mail. You might remember the outbreak they experienced in 2010 of a type of salmonella (SE)which was linked to the breeding farms that supply eggs to the hatchery. It resulted in huge numbers of breeding stock being destroyed and a major shortage of hatching eggs.
Well, I didn't realize this before but in the new catalogue it states that the same facility also housed their own line of Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys, "spelling the end of a line going back several decades."
I found this so sad. I think it is also a good reminder to all breeders of the importance of sharing your good breeding stock. If you have worked years to breed up some excellent lines, share them. Keeping all your eggs in one basket is risky business!

That is sad.

Kathy, I agree 100% about sharing good breeding stock with others. Banking genes by sharing only makes sense, as well as securing your lines future if anything should ever happen. Good reminder!

All kinds of good poultry was lost due to the avian flu in the Lower Mainland 7 or 8 years ago when CFIA decided to do a mass cull. In a small way we contributed to the loss as we had a small flock of Gold Laced Wyandottes that we disposed of the winter before because they were not laying. If we had known how hard it would be to replace that flock we might have made different decisions. There were lines being developed that disappeared as a result of that cull. People who had worked years folded up their tent and called it a day.

Share, share, share.

For years I've been the backup source fo a guy who keeps showbirds. He knows I don't show so he'll let me have birds for a good price and it gives him a gene bank in case something happened.

Fowler, that's a great idea.

Sharing is what some of us are already doing, it is a great way to keep lines from being lost.

I kept some of my hens I got from there last year.... the girls are going to go into my Bronze breeding pen....!! My main Tom will be a Ridley... this should make for some killer turkeys !!!!

My plan was to get a few BBB from Rochesters and hope for a hen this year to go with my Tom ( Chris)- who will be a yr. in May.

I do have Narragensett Hens and Toms but I was hoping to continue a Bronze line.

What is the next better option?

la chicken maybe Grandma Art would be willing to part with a bronze girl for Chris?

Hey, Grandma Art! What do you think about that?

I have had the bronze line for many years, hatched around 75 last year, sold off most of my flock but have 2 toms and 6 hen left. I will bring some to Red Deer this year

I should have a spare for Chris !!! You saw the hens I have, lol... but just remember... Chris might not be able to do his job.... Just keep that in mind... lol...... Just come on out when you decide you want a girl friend for him... You know where I live.

Pops: Keep me posted when you are coming to Red Deer!

Grandma Art: I will come down sometime and get a girlfriend. It will be totally up to Chris..lets just hope for the best. I will let you know...Thinking end of Feburary?

Yay! Maybe the line is not lost yet!
Hmmm...Rochester may be interested in some poults to start their line back up...perhaps an opportunity awaits for those of you who have banked their genetics for them??

Flicker Chick wrote:That is sad.

Kathy, I agree 100% about sharing good breeding stock with others. Banking genes by sharing only makes sense, as well as securing your lines future if anything should ever happen. Good reminder!

I agree with both of you, hope breeders listen

KathyS wrote:Yay! Maybe the line is not lost yet!
Hmmm...Rochester may be interested in some poults to start their line back up...perhaps an opportunity awaits for those of you who have banked their genetics for them??

I was thinking the same thing. Although, I think they would probably only want eggs. Don't think they would dare take a live bird in there.

I still have a tom and hens from Rochester's line and I know of another source. My tom is too clumsy to successfully breed so AI would have to be used. If Rochester really wants to re-establish there are options. Hopefully they will or somebody else will take up the cause.