Culling Kohaku

[MikeM]

Well, I suspected it would be tough to put into words. I gotta look at more fish. ....BTW, I've been studying tosai Kohaku photos in several old threads. One thing about all 7 of the photos above... the sturdiness of the peduncle stands out compared to many other shots of similarly small ones. I was not especially looking at conformation issues at such a small size, but nonetheless, flipping back and forth among photos, some show a strength others don't. These seven all look pretty good in the comparison.

[mr_koi]

The hardest thing about assessing very young and small koi from photos is that you only are able to see a 2 dimensional image from the direction that the shot was taken. This limits the accuracy of the opinion. Real life culling allows the breeder an all around look at the koi. It may only be a few seconds, but this can tell us more than hours staring at a photo. Richards comments regarding culling as a feeling I think is correct. For me, I need to concentrate without conversation to obtain the 'feeling'. Distractions when culling can force very expensive mistakes.

When Sakai taught me to look much deeper than the superficial pattern, I became aware of a whole new world of information regarding quality traits.
However words were only the start of the education process, I had to own the different grades of koi and watch their development to fully understand. He also instructed me to pass the information on.

I have been approached by a number of people to purchase the koi that I am posting. These koi are much too weak to travel at this time and you may well think that I am crazy when I would quote the price. However, each year in spring, I retain in the greenhouse grow out ponds, the top quality tategoi that are below a size that I grow in mud. This year the cutoff was less than 5.5 inches. These koi can be watched closely and are fed up to 12 times a day. The important thing to note is that in spring they are all breeders tategoi, that is to say 'not for sale'. Through the summer I continue to cull these koi where they are regraded. The show ready good patterned koi are graded as select, the baby and adult champion koi are graded as priced tategoi and the best of the best (unpriced tategoi) are held for further growth to be sold possibly for $1000 and up, if female, much later in the future. At this time, to further koi-bito readers understanding of quality I am willing to release all three grades in lots by auction. The owners of the koi would then give monthly pictorial feedback regarding the development, both positive and negative of all three grades. Is that something you guys would be interested in participating in?

Mat

[gjs63]

That is a wounderful idea!!! It would be an educational experience for everyone involved , where else can you get the chance to watch the koi develope and change as a group. I, for one would love to here more about this , sounds like fun. J

[kevan]

the hardest part to judge at such a young age is future bodyshape, other than at the extremes future bodyshape is near impossible to predict.

very much pot luck and relying on the parents to pass down the good genes.

many of the koi that look perfect at such a young age often fall far short on bodyshape as they mature. other qualities though as Richard says are far more consistant.

love the pics and good luck!

[MikeM]

LOL... just what I need, more little ones to watch grow! It satisfies my impatience while waiting on those multi-year 'projects'.

BTW, Mat, the three 7" ones I got in March are curious. One male is lagging in size although not in appetite. He is on track to look pretty good as a small nisai. The female is keeping up with the other male and getting some hints of sumi... maybe not quite so boring a pattern in the end? So far, no Bekko. I'll have no problems finding good homes for them if I decide to move them on. But, waiting for March to see if I can show you a 20" female nisai AND no Bekko among the males.

[mr_koi]

Glad to hear its going well, Mike. It would be better if they just turned into hardened show ready koi than craped out completely.

While Ross was training one of our new employees, (young) Joe, not Joe Z, to use the seine, and pulling Showa babies from thousands of bullfrog tadpoles, Bob and I were selecting the tosai that we put up for auction. Select and priced tategoi abounded but as always, the super high class were in short supply. Joyce joined us in our dilemma to ensure that we offered you the very best available. Today, we selected three of each of Yuri Kohaku, Bertha Showa and Shiro Utsuri babies. I will post pics of each with full breeders appraisal tomorrow. I will also post the parent koi pics.

If you guys are interested we can do the same with Magoi Gin Rin Asagi, Magoi Kujaku, 2 different Momotaro and Matsunosuke Sankes, Goshiki, Magoi Goshiki, Asagi, shusui amongst others. By the way, I spoke to Gene Anderson today, and let him know that 10% of the proceeds from this educational experiment will be donated to the KHV research fund.

Showa culling pics and more kohaku culling pics tomorrow.

Thanks
Mat

[HEADACHE6]

Mat , Can we get a better idea of what you are talking about ? All 3 grades in lots by auction (Lots ?) ?

[mr_koi]

Hi Troy
Perhaps my English was incorrect
I was meaning 1 auction lot of 3 koi, all the same variety but three different grades.

As this is the Yuri kohaku thread, I guess I can Hi-jack my own thread and post the regular shots of the three Kohaku candidates right here.



Mat

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by mr_koi Hi Troy Perhaps my English was incorrect I was meaning 1 auction lot of 3 koi, all the same variety but three different grades. As this is the Yuri kohaku thread, I guess I can Hi-jack my own thread and post the regular shots of the three Kohaku candidates right here. Mat

Hi Mat,

That is a nice mix for studying.

[MikeM]

The idea is a great one for learning. Anyone seriously interested in koi should try this sort of project. Observing the development of different quality levels as they grow in the same environment teaches so much. I'm not so sure there is a market for it, though. People buy a particular koi for 'the dream' it represents. Not many get small koi for the pure fun of raising them for a year or two with the idea that they will very likely move them on. But, with a higher quality one in the group, there's the chance of winning the lottery. That may entice some folks.