Kunekune Breeders Publish Statement of Objection to AKPR
On February 8, 2020, a group of Kunekune breeders came together to issue the following statement of objection to the American Kunekune Pig Registry.
Dear BOD of American Kunekune Pig Registry:
Please accept this letter as our formal and detailed objection to the persistent modification of the AKPR Standard of Perfection Characteristics in recent months. Specifically, we were motivated to lodge this objection based on your decision to no longer register “less than two-wattled animals” after July 2020.
This chronic alteration of the Standard of Perfection wreaks havoc on many of our small businesses. Your frequent changes and additions to the standards and policies make long-term breeding decisions impossible based on a moving target. We feel strongly the Standard/Registry process, especially regarding the ability to register animals, must remain pragmatic for business practices and breeding goals.
As collegial stewards of this heritage breed we are deeply concerned that the AKPR Board’s pattern of behavior is favoring specific phenotypic traits that do not speak to the Kunekune original purpose as a grazing pig. Furthermore, your recent decision to not register “less than two-wattled animals”, while simply a phenotypic trait, directly contradicts previous language in AKPR Standards clarifying non-wattled animals are valuable, “realizing that there is need for some animals not conforming completely to these standards to be utilized for the sake of breed evolution.”
Considering our Kunekune as a heritage breed, our collective commitment to maintaining traits that according to the Livestock Conservancy, “retain essential attributes for survival and self-sufficiency – fertility, foraging ability, longevity, maternal instincts, ability to mate naturally, and resistance to diseases and parasites.”, must be paramount in our breeding programs. Specifically, your recent alteration of General Appearance: Form, that allows for much larger animals and push for faster growth. Oddly, this conflicts with the CEO of your board who states on their website, “Kunekunes are a small breed of pig averaging around 150-300 pounds, much smaller than traditional meat pigs which can weigh in excess of 600 pounds.” It strains credulity that larger size is considered an essential attribute. In fact, many consider larger Kunekune to be detrimental to the breed both for animal health, marketing uniqueness and preservation. Your efforts to push size and growth are in direct conflict of true preservation and conservation of the Kunekune.
We feel strongly that heritage breeds require stewardship among the people committed to preservation beyond economics. There is social responsibility as well as environmental responsibility that determines our sustainability as an industry. Your persistent modification of Standards and decision to restrict the registry creates economic hardship as well as directly contradicts the social and environmental benefits of heritage breeds, eg., larger animals harder on land, greater energy demands, lower stocking rates, and lower quality pork, especially from rapid weight gain. Heritage livestock breeds, especially one like the Kunekune, considered endangered less than 50 years ago, maintain and even celebrate diversity. Diversity is a value to the breed known beyond phenotype.
These changes have led us to conclude that AKPR has overstepped the role of a ‘registry1’, whose main purpose is to serve as a recorder of animals whose parentage is known, and THEN, to offer guidance for breeders on breed standard based on breed purpose. Because AKPR is a privately held entity, there is no system of accountability to its members or ability for members to have a voice in decisions that are made.
In conclusion, we hope this formal objection from a large consensus of farmers and breeders throughout the US and Canada creates a pause among your leadership. We urge you to reflect on the impact of these Standard/Registry decisions on your fellow breeders, the sustainability of the Kunekune industry, and most importantly the responsible stewardship of this wonderful heritage breed pig we all love so dearly.
We urge you to reconsider your recent decisions regarding registering animals only with “two well-formed and attached wattles” and your goal to increase size and growth and return the Standard of Perfection to aspirational until new information is publicly available that can better guide our selective breeding. We welcome any discussion around this information and our claims in this letter.
1 A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. There are also entities which refer to themselves as registries, but which are thinly veiled marketing devices for the organization creators. Many such questionable registries are incorporated as for-profit commercial businesses, in contrast to the formal not-for-profit status of most reputable breed clubs.
Sincerely,
Barbara Rossi, Bel Canto Farm
Jennifer Bassman, Heritage Haus Farm
Carol DeYoung, C and J Farms
Kathy Brennan, Highland Farm
Amanda Hand, Mkono Farm
Cyndi Berry, Kunekune Preserve
Bill Garlough, Ohio Valley Kunekunes
Lisa Jackson, Jackson Family Piggery
Rosemarie Redford, Brochi Farms
Jessica Kellner, Relic Run Farm
Jenny Neuendorf, Hilly Haven Farm
Alana Foor, Black Valley Farm
Dottie Durrett, Green Acres Farm
Caroline Malott, Red Roof Kunekunes
Anna Brown, Camanna Petite Paradise
Stephanie Parreco, Fortune Meadows Heritage Farm
Jessica Kirksey, Little D’s Farm
Holly Roach, Clovers Miniature Farm
Peggy Woodrum, Painted Pig Kunekunes
Jordan Suplee, Sky Girl Farm
Tera Chanasyk, Triple Eh Farm
Cynthia Cook, CD & J Mini Ranch
Bliss Lay, Lays Ranch
Jackie Balt, MB Ranch
Bonnie Elizabeth, Bareback Ranch
Shannon James, Texas Skyz
Jason Bell, Elmbrooke Farms
Kenny Houpt, Timber Bloom Farms
Erin Doguet, Paisleys Pastures
Rebeka Halbert, Halbert Farms
Cody Nagel, Steel Creek Farm
Laurie Draheim, Cripple Critter Ranch
Jill Middour dice, Tangled Web Kune Kunes
Filipa Rodriques, Saudade Farms
Sam Kacir, Kacir Farmette
Tim and Natalie Thurman, Big Sky Kunetry Oinkers
Steve Edsel TEGLA The Edsel's God's Little Acres
Dayna Geraghty, Geraghty’s Micro Farm
Julie Donofrio, Stix ‘N Stonz Farm
Shane & Donna Brunning, Brunningwood Homestead
Karen Lemons, Sweet & Sower Acres
Stacey Perea, Red Boat Farm
Amy Craft, Lead Me Farm
Nichole Toney, Brackett Town Farms
Libby Milroy, DuckDawg Creek Farms
Stefanie and Nicholas Harper, Cottonwood Croft
Nichole Glasser and Stacy Jewett, Stacy's Family Farm
NON-Members in Support
Justin and Tara Brant, Black Swamp Farmstead
Drew and Maria Montrieul, Fox Glen Homestead
Karl and Stacie Peabody, Peabody Farm
Kate Carpenter, Little Paws Farm
Wendy Haugen, Amazon Acres
Ms. Yates Colby, Hollywood Farms
Kevin Smith, The Pasture Stand
Alicia Bellafaire, Island Acres Kunekunes
Andi Harper, High Hopes Farm