| ZOBK breeders club |
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What do we represent?
The ZOBK is the Breeders club for Rare True Belgium Bantams (in Dutch
'Speciaalclub voor Zeldzame Oorspronkelijke Belgische Krielhoenderrassen')
.
This breeders club is formed by breeders of the bantam breeds protected by the ZOBK.
Which bantam breeds are protected by the ZOBK?
The ZOBK only takes those bantam breeds under her protection with Belgium as their mother country.
This means that the breed has to origin from Belgium.
The concept 'True' means that this breed does not have or had a large counterpart.
In other words, these breeds only exist as bantam.
The concept 'Rare' means that the ZOBK only protects those breeds being very rare. An important standard
is the average number of animals of these breeds shown at the larger poultry shows in the Netherlands.
At the moment the ZOBK supports the following eight breeds:
- Bassette
- Belgium bantam
- Waasse bantam
- Tournaisis
- Barbu de Grubbe
- Barbu d`Uccle
- Barbu d'Everberg
- Barbu de Watermael
The small pictures show a cock or a hen of the eight mentioned breeds in de sequence used above:
Of these eight breeds the Barbu de Watermael is the most common one. The other seven breeds are still
extremely rare.
To avoid any misunderstandings, the Barbu d'Anvers does not belong to the
ZOBK breeds.
This Belgian bearded bantam is not reffered to as rare. Furthermore, this bantam has its own
breeders club in the Netherlands.
What does the ZOBK wants to do?
This breeders club aims to try to preserve the ZOBK breeds (or in other words to avoid extinction)
and to breed and to improve these bantams according to the standard poultry requirements.
Not less important is to help each other, to stimulate others to love, to breed and to show these
beautiful bantams too.
What is the history of the ZOBK?
In the year 1971 a number of enthusiastic breeders of, at that time still extremely rare, Barbu de Watermael
funded a breeders club with the name 'Breeders club for Barbu de Watermael'
.
Sixteen years later, in the year 1987, the members of this club decided to adopt other rare true Belgian
bantams.
The existing breeders club was converted to the nowadays ZOBK.
Due to the work of many breeders of Barbu de Watermael, it is almost possible to leave the word rare
with respect to the Barbu de Watermael.
For the remaining other 7 breeds this is not the situation; they are still rare or even extremely rare.
In order to help these breeds we still need more new enthusiastic breeders.
Activities of the ZOBK
One of the most important activities of the ZOBK is the organisation of the annual breeders day
in Wezep, located on the Veluwe in the middle of the Netherlands.
This day is organised together with the 'IJsselvliedtshow' on the first Saturday of September. Many
breeders from all over the Netherlands come together with their animals on this day in Wezep.
We can also welcome several German and Belgian breeders.
In a pleasant environment the animals are discussed by qualified poultry judges and the breeders.
The aim is not to compete but to learn about the animals.
This breeders' day is also a perfect opportunity to meet each other, to exchange experiences and to solve
any problems. Besides that, people can exchange animals.
The day always starts with the annual general members meeting.
In Spring, most of the time in February, we organise the Spring meeting in Loenen, also located
on the Veluwe in the Netherlands.
At this meeting the emphysis is focussed on all the aspects of the ZOBK breeds and often speakers
are invited to give presentations.
Not less important is our club magazine ZEKER en VAST.
This magazine started in 1992 and is published twice a year.
The content of this magazine is entirely
made by the members themselves.
Regular topics are announcements, breeders' experiences, reports of results
of members who showed animals, interesting thinks worthwhile to know about poultry and articles on the
biology of poultry and their propagation.
The ZOBK also stimulates showing of animals at several larger and smaller poultry shows
in the Netherlands.
Seeing our beautiful animals is the best promotion for breeders who are looking for a beautiful, kindly
and often very rare breed to put their effort into.
The ZOBK stimulates showing of the animals by offering
several prizes or awards to win by the members on shows throughout the Netherlands.
The most important poultry show for the ZOBK is the 'Noordshow' in Zuidlaren in the northern part
of the Netherlands nearby the city of Groningen.
This show is organised every year in the first week of January.
On this national exhibition most of the members of ZOBK will show some of their animals.
Therefor one can find the best presentation of all the ZOBK breeds in Zuidlaren.
If you want to see the ZOBK breeds,
then the 'Noordshow' is the ideal show for you.
Will you become a member of the ZOBK too?
We have made a summery of our aims and activities for you:
As you can see, becoming a ZOBK member is always worth the effort and you can get an extremely fine, small and attractive, but rare breed in your poultry house.
How to become a member?
You can apply by phone at the secretary as a new member. The address is shown below.
ZOBK Board
The board has five members:
Contribution
You pay your annual contribution of € 15 by remitting it on account number 17.13.368 on the name of ZOBK in Wezep, The Netherlands.
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