Our Philosofy: Breeding == Gambling.

Breeding is gambling. A rule that despite the availability of DNA testing over the years did not lose any of it's truth. Therefore it always remains exciting if there, after a succesful mating, is expected some offspring. Are the youngsters really healthy? Would they meet our often too high expectations? Can and do we want to use them further breeding? Or will they just be pets.

We breed horses and cats and in the past did something with bees. But the latter is really a thing of the past.

There is a big difference  between breeding horses and cats. If only because KWPN (and also the other horse breeding associations) have tightly regulated the breeding. Only  approved stallions may be used for mating. Before a stallion has been approved, he will go through a rigorous selection procedure where appearance, physical fitness, character and quality of the passages (walk, trot and canter) are carefully checked.
Although KWPN has no direct influence on the price of a mating, there is a certain degree of regulation. Prices of matings are always published by the stallion owners.
An owner of a mare can therefore choose from a limited number of approved stallions, which in the end improves the quality of breeding result. Fortunately, it remains always a surprise what the specific properties, color and character of new born foals are. As well as the many cat breeding associations  KWPN controls the issuance of pedigrees.
 

How different it is in cat breeding. Here the owners of tomcat and queen determine whether there is a suitable combination of properties without independent supervisory control. Predetemined or accidental inbreeding is one of the possibilities, where physical properties are often subordinated to external properties.

Luckily the results of DNA tests are highly valued and assure certain combinations are more quickly avoided.
The breeding association simply stated has but two functions: the issuing of pedigrees and passive monitoring of the number of breeding pairs of a female within a certain period of time (2/3 litters per two years)
Regulation of the quality of cats just takes place during shows by judges.

But also then the appearance often is the deciding factor and not the less visible physical condition.

The Abyssinian belongs to the smaller cat breeds, not only physically but also in numbers. So it is very important that the gene pool is as wide and varied as possible. Even more than with ruddy this is true in other colours eg. the various silver variations.
It bothers me that breeders do their utmost to protect their own breeding products by selling males and females under restrictive conditions, or to claim or execute early sterilization.
We therefore decided to put no restictions on breeding when selling a kitten. We may limit the number of matings to prevent inbreeding.
I believe that the breeding associations should play an active role in the selection of males for breeding. Moreover breeders should comply to specific housing requirements.
I believe some regulation of mating prices and conditions is a big step forward.
 

Every breeder should keep this in mind:

"Whenever you are breeding the interest of the animal should always prevail".