UNDERSTANDING THE I.A.G.A.R.B. PEDIGREE AND REGISTRATION FORM
By Leslie Samson
The IAGARB form is different from the standard Tree pedigree in several ways. It is arranged in a tabular format and contains a great deal of specific information, which can be tracked over generations.
There are two phases to the data on the form. The first is the birth and pedigree information. Name, tattoo number, birth date and breeder information identify the Angora rabbit. The second part of the form is the judged evaluation by an IAGARB registrar.
IAGARB tattoo numbers are specific. The first part of the tattoo is the assigned number of the breeder. The second part is the birth date and breeder number of the rabbit. For example: ON1 / 11.1.75 would be a rabbit bred by Samson, (ON1). It was born in the eleventh month (11), in the year 2001 (1) and is number 75 in the Samson records.
The pedigree section of the form is tabular and reads exactly the same as a tree diagram. The sire of the rabbit is first, followed by the dam, followed by his parents, then hers and so on.
The pedigree contains other information as well. The names of the breeders, the wool production and test results of the breeders are also included. The average wool production of the parents and grandparents serves as a demonstration of the progression of quality of a line of rabbits. Because the tattoo numbers contain birth information, the ages of the past generations can be tracked as well.
The evaluation section of the form consists of two parts. The first is a list of the point values that rabbit received during examination by an IAGARB registrar. The categories include: Weight, Body Type, Wool Density and Length, Uniformity of the Wool Coat, Wool Texture, Furnishings and Condition. For specific details on each category, please check the IAGARB standard. The number value of each category is entered and totaled. A rabbit, which does not earn a minimum of 80 points, may not be registered.
The second part of the judging results covers the wool production potential. Ninety days prior to judging, the owner certified that the rabbit had been shorn to the skin. After the first part of the examination is completed, the rabbit is shorn again in the presence of the judge. The wool is graded and weighed.
To determine the Gross Weights, all of the wool is recorded at its actual weight in grams. When added together, the weights of the three grades of Prime, Short and Matted/Stained comprise the gross amount of wool produced during the testing period.
Because the testing period is based on a 90 day shearing interval, or four shearings a year, the gross weight of the test wool is multiplied by 4 to give the Gross Weight Total. This is the benchmark of how much wool the tested rabbit can realistically be expected to produce in one year. A rabbit, which does not produce a minimum of 325 grams, or 1300 grams Gross Weight Total, may not be registered with IAGARB.
To figure the Adjusted Total, each grade is recorded after it has been adjusted by its deserved percentage. Prime is recorded at 100% of its weight. Second grade wool is recorded at 75% of its weight and Third grade is recorded at 25% of its actual weight. These values are added together and multiplied by a factor of 4 as well. The Adjusted Weight compared to the Gross Weight indicates not only how much wool a rabbit is capable of producing, but also how much of it is useable. Clearly, the closer the totals, the higher the percentage of useable wool the rabbit will produce.
Since all of these same numbers are included in the tabular pedigree, one can easily track the quality of the wool production for three generations.
After the wool is removed, the rabbit is checked again for its actual body weight.
Without testing, the IAGARB form functions well with a wealth of information about the parentage of a particular rabbit. Only through testing by an IAGARB judge, can the evaluation sections of the form be filled out. After testing, the registrar will send the completed forms to the Registration Secretary who will then sign and return them to the owner.
The form provides a framework through which we can quantify the successes of our breeding programs. In future, we hope that the IAGARB membership will increase the minimum production levels ever higher to accommodate the improvements we will see in our herds. Without the form and the supporting system its all guesswork.
New Pedigree Form
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