Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations inbread

Norm said:

This is true as I know it.

However, did you see the study where they took pure bred chickens , as identical as they could get, and began selecting for two strains (large and small). There is a very limited amount of genetic diversity available, so the two strains don't separate by much. At first. After ten generations, they start getting more size variation in each strain to reinforce. I believe this experiment has run for 30-40 generations; the "smalls" are approaching Cornish Game Hen size and the "larges" are super-Chickens, getting close to the upper size limit of what Chicken physiology is thought to be able to support.

The bottom line is (to me) there is a lot we still don't understand about genetics. For fish ponds, I believe in covering all the bases, safely. 1) Start with a fairly diverse gene pool. I think fish from most/all hatcheries are probably OK in this respect. 2) Support the culling of reinforced undesirables where possible through good management practices (release the large fish to breed, harvest the small). 3) If concerned about genetic diversity after (many?) years, add more stock intelligently (as noted above, it's not worth adding genetic diversity if the new fish make the rest sick).

Bruce: A Dentist should have access to anesthesia when forced to perform painful acts. If not, there's always more Jack.