Lögberg-Heimskringla - 26.10.1990, Blaðsíða 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 26. október 1990 • 5
lcelandic chickens may call Wynyard home
Wynyard is a community which has
roots in Icelandic immigration and
chickens, so it is only appropriate that
native Icelandic chickens may be com-
ing to Wynyard next spring.
Dr. Roy D. Crawford, Professor of
Poultry Science at the University of
Saskatchewan, is spearheading an
unique effort to preserve an ancient
species of chicken which exists only in
Iceland.
Crawford learned aboutthe species
while attending an intemational con-
ference in Edinburgh, Scotland this
past July, where he met Dr. Stéphen
Aðalsteinsson of the Agriculture Re-
search Institute in Reykjavík.
Aðalsteinsson told Crawford that
he was concerned about the possible
extinction of an Icelandic chicken which
is believed to date back to the settle-
ment of Iceland around 900 A.D. A few
of the birds have managed to remain
genetically pure and in the same con-
dition as they were 1000 years ago, but
all that remains is approx. 200 birds
scattered throughout various sites, in
Iceland.
Aðalsteinsson was worried that if
disease struck the breed it would be
decimated and lost, so he asked
Crawford about the possibility of plac-
ing some birds with him in order to
ensure species survival.
Professor Crawford, who has a per-
sonal interest in the conservation of
rare breeds, thought the idea was pos-
sible, and he informed Aðalsteinsson
that he knew of an Icelandic commu-
nity which might be interested in host-
ing some of the birds.
Crawford was aware of Wynyard
because of his friendship with local
resident Pat Morrison who will, along
with Eric Stephanson of the Icelandic
club, be coordinating the project lo-
cally.
Although very little is known about
the breed, except for Aðalsteinsson’s
research, Crawford was able to offer a
verbal picture.
“They’re rough, tough, primitive
backyard chickens,” he said. The
chickens have a “completely different
blood type than any modern commer-
cial poultry . . . the/ re almost not
chickens at all. “
“The chickens are small, they’re
scrawny creatures. They have very poor
growth, egg production is terribly low;
everything is bad about them (com-
pared to modern chickens) except that
they’re Icelandic.”
Crawford added that the birds were
especially interesting due to the fact
that there is no uniform colour for the
species. Colours include white, red,
black and spotted varieties.
A plan for the transfer of the breed
from Iceland to Saskatchewan is in the
development process, and it will in-
volve either hatching eggs or day-old
chicks.
Hatching eggs are, however, the
most likely medium for transfer as
they would be better suited for the
long joumey than would chicks.
A potential problem with the project
is the small number of laying hens -
perhaps asfew as 100. With the breed’s
poor egg production it might be diffi-
cult to gather enough eggs at the same
stage of development.
The number of eggs to be brought
over maybe as many as 200, but
Crawford said that this could be ac-
complished through two or three
transfers spread over a number of
weeks.
Shipping eggs is a delicate proce-
dure, but Crawford is hopeful that a
majority of the eggs will survive the
joumey. He did, however, mention that
poor hatching results may occur de-
pending upon the roughness of the
trip.
The professor has personal experi-
ence in shipping eggs. He once sent
200 rare breed eggs to Hungary, but
upon arrival only 30 of the eggs
hatched. A rather poor success ratio.
Even under the worst case scenario
Crawford would be satisfied with 15-
20 hatchlings fr om which he could start
a breeding program.
“What we’re looking at now is, in
the spring, trying to get a stock here .
.. if we can get a lot then we place them
out (with Wynyard and area residents)
right away. If we only get a few we will
keep them under our own control for
the first generation at least until we
get more bred up. “
He hopes that a network of local
owners could be developed in which
local people would preserve the spe-
cies and continue the breeding process
by trading roosters under the guidance
of the U. ofS. professors.
Conservation of rare poultry breeds
is an area of special interest for
Crawford and his counterparts. At the
momenttheU. ofS.has 12rare breeds
of chickens in addition to rare breeds
of geese and ducks.
Conservation of a particular breed
and maintenance of unique genetic
qualities is a very difficult process ac-
cording to Crawford.
“To keep them pure, to keep them
just like they were, is really a lot of
work, a really intensive... (and) tedi-
ous procedure.”
“We have to make sure that they’re
all bred by artificial insemination. We
make sure that every daddy leaves a
son and every mama leaves a daugh- “
ter. These are rules we have to follow.”
Despitethe success oftheconserva-
tion program fimding is difficult to
obtain.
“There’s no money for conserving
rare breeds. AIl the stuff they’ve been
doing here (at the U. of S.) for years
and years is just on a shoestring,”
Crawford said.
This lack of funds, combined with
preservationist desire, is why
Crawford, Aðalsteinsson, Morrison
and Stephanson are trying to “exploit
Icelandic ethnic pride to protect Ice-
landic heritage.”
Pat Morrison is, however, quick to
point outthatinterested people should
not let the ethnic angle dissuade them.
Any volunteer interest would be greatly
appreciated, and she is hopingfor a big
response.
The organizers are looking for peo-
ple who are interested in maintaining
a flock as a long-term project- these
chickens are definitely not for a roast-
ing pan.
Because there is so little money
available there would notbe any mon-
etary compensation offered to those
caring for the birds. The only reward
wouldbetheknowledgethatan unique
species had been preserved for the
future in a world which loses an ani-
mal species
everyday.
People interested in becoming in-
volved in the project are encouraged to
contact Pat Morrison at 554-2445 or
Eric Stephanson at 328-2077.
Courtesy of The Wynyard
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Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of Lögberg-
Heimskringla Inc. will be held Tues-
day, December 4,1990, at 7 p.m. in the
Norwegian Room at the Scandinavian
Cultural Centre, 764 Erin Street,
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
News Stories,
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Heimskringla
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or phone
(204) 831-8952
The meeting is open to all paid up
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A member is a person who has paid a
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poration. Most subscribers are not
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come one if he wishes by paying the fee.
The election of directors to the board
of directors of Lögberg-Heimskringla
Inc. will take place at the annual
meeting, as well as discussion of policy
and plans for the future. Members of
both the old board and the new will be
available to answer questions from
members of the corporation.
Icelandic content
In this issue we feature an interview
which Margrét Björgvinsdóttir did with
Karolina Gimnarsson in May of 1988.
The interview is well written and en-
tertaining. Karolina speaks of her
youth, politics, joumalism and her
years as the editor of Lögberg-
Heimskringla.
Also on page 8 we reprint an article
which appeared in the Morgunblað
about George Bush’s declaration on
the occasion of Leifur Eiriksson’s Day,
which has been celebrated in the U. S.
on the 9th of October since 1964. This
year, however, marks the first time
that Leiíur has been recognized as
havingbeen Icelandic, not Norwegian.