Breeding Nonstandard Savannahs for Beginners

[Brigitte Cowell]

There seems to be F1s coming from different catteries but how related the Servals are that those catteries have I honestly don't know. I have had F1s from DreamSavannahs and from AmazingGrace (now defunct)... I did ask Tina (of DreamSavannahs) if the Servals were related and she knew that they came from different Serval breeders so I'd guess they aren't related to at least one generation back... but because there isn't a Serval registry, there's no tracking of pedigrees. I don't know that anyone has done a study on this in Servals, although I was having an unrelated discussion with a Serval owner earlier today and she was talking about a professor wanting to do some DNA studies of them so maybe it is underfoot...it would be interesting certainly!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

From the TICA breed standard for a Savannah

PERMISSIBLE OUTCROSSES: None

That dates from May1st this year, when we advanced to Championship Class our permissible outcrosses were lost.

BUT this does not mean you cannot use an outcross, TICA is a genetic registry and they simply get coded appropriately...the old system of A,B and C-registration continues and eventually leads to SBT. That hasn't changed. Just all outcrosses get a N code at the end and none with P codes. That's ALL that means.

As the Breed Standard is for showing, we can only show SBT...which means to produce a showable Savannah you cannot outcross as the progeny will not be show eligible...but you can breed that A cat three generations to SBT. That's what other breeds do too...that's how other breeds have introduced new colors and patterns over the years. And right now I think the Burmese breed is doing it to improve their breed's health...

 

[Kristine]

Yes, but the language refers to TICA usually and what is considered domestic, which is the SBT...

Coming in late here, but TICA follows th USDA definition of a domestic, which is to say an F1 is considered to be domestic not a wildcat.

 

[admin]

Yes, i think I misspoke there...I am more referring to the savannah to savannah breeding we always talk about...

 

[SV Dad]

Bridgette, you tickled my interest even more. A study of Serval genetic diversity would be very interesting. Take it a step further, What few serval breeders there are, do they ensure sufficient breeding diversity? And how has that trickled down into the SV population?

 

[Kristine]

From the TICA breed standard for a Savannah

PERMISSIBLE OUTCROSSES: None

That is because when we went into Championship we changed categories within TICA. In other breeds, for example the Tonkinese, the Sphynx, etc., they allow for outcrosses to be shown.
Prior to being in Championship, we allowed outcrosses.

 

[Kristine]

That is because when we went into Championship we changed categories within TICA. In other breeds, for example the Tonkinese, the Sphynx, etc., they allow for outcrosses to be shown.
Prior to being in Championship, we allowed outcrosses.

In fact we still allow outcrosses, just not to be shown.

 

[John Popp]

Sorry, I haven't pulled my TICA decoder ring out of my box of Lucky Charms.

 

[SV Dad]

That is because when we went into Championship we changed categories within TICA.
Prior to being in Championship, we allowed outcrosses.

I thought I remember a thread whereby a knowledgeable member discussed this as a possible problematic issue going forward. I found it interesting. (Was it Dr Chris?)
Before too many feathers get ruffled, I am not against a breed standard. This thread started out as a non standard breeders guide for beginners. I hope Trish isn't offended. She laid down a real nice foundation for this discussion, perhaps unknowingly. Many of us grabbed the ball and started running with it. It certainly produced a lively debate, was personally enlightening to me, and perhaps healthy to understand that a lot of us already have these non standard breedings and are overjoyed to have them. It doesn't diminish in the least the current standard, but emphasizes the potential yet ahead.

 

[SV Dad]

Sorry, I haven't pulled my TICA decoder ring out of my box of Lucky Charms.

One too many..... Where is Deborah when the fun and drinking start?