Some Asians
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What is a Breed Advisory Committee (BAC)?
In order to progress a breed from Preliminary Status (Merit) through to Provisional (IC’s) and onto Championship Status, affiliated clubs are required to form a Breed Advisory Committee (BAC) in accordance with GCCF Rules.
A BAC exists to work in the interests of the cats of its breed by monitoring the training and performance of the Judges on its list and candidates within its Stewarding and Judging schemes; it reviews the breed’s Standard of Points, Breeding Policy and Registration Policy, amending them if and when required, with due consideration for the health and future of the breed. The BAC meets at least twice a year when any candidate on the judging scheme, full judges and items regarding the health, welfare and integrity of the breed are discussed.
BAC’s consist of representatives from the Breed Clubs, affiliated to the GCCF, catering for the relevant breed. Once a BAC is formed and its Constitution approved by the Executive Committee of the GCCF, no other group will be recognised as the advisory/recommending body to the Governing Council for the breed. The BAC alone has the right to make proposals to Council relating to judges, standards of points, registration and breeding policies etc. The Governing Council delegates from the constituent clubs represent the breed at the Governing Council Meetings. The BAC also elects a spokesperson to speak at Council meetings on issues relevant to the breed.
If any owner or breeder has a question about the judging of their cat, they should write to the BAC Secretary giving the name of their cat, the show, the judge concerned and the necessary details. Similarly if there are any questions about the Standard of Points, Breeding or Registration Policies then please contact the BAC for advice or information.
A Breed Advisory Committee is there for the breed!
Date of next meeting
29 March 2020
Who is on the Asian Group BAC?
The Asian Group BAC is made up of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and representatives from the three recognised Asian Breed Clubs.
The Chairman - Sally Tokens (email: sally.tokens@gmail.com)
Acting Secretaries – Elisabeth Stark (email: asiangroupbac@outlook.com)
The Treasurer - Stephanie Beirne (email: burmarose@btinternet.com)
The three participating Clubs are:
The Asian Cat Association (web: www.asiancats.co.uk/)
(Contact: Elizabeth James - email: honsec@acasites.co.uk )
The Asian Group Cat Society (web: www.asiangroupcatsociety.co.uk/)
Contact: Heather McRae (email: heather@cagaran.co.uk)
The Bombay and Asian Self Breed Club (web: www.bombayandasiancatsbreedclub.org/)
(Contact: Sandra Woodley - email: sandra@honpuss.com )
Judge Appointment Scheme
The BAC administers the Judges Appointment Scheme for the Asian Group Breed list. The system is a unified system applied throughout the Cat Fancy. The requirements are clearly defined and the scheme operates within an identified procedure. The appointment and dismissal of Judges is the prerogative of Council who usually base their decisions on the recommendations of the BAC.
The Scheme covers all aspects of training and monitoring from Stewarding, through being a Probationer Judge to promotion and review of a Full Judge. The Rules of the Asian Group BAC are as defined in the core GCCF Rules to ensure compatibility throughout all the Breed BACs. An application to enter the scheme or apply to become a Judge is accompanied by a fee that is set by the GCCF. Details of the Philosophy and Principles of the judges Appointment Scheme together with the Procedure for the training and selection process are shown in the Document links.
The BAC also holds Seminars from time to time. These Seminars are intended to educate and train breeders, exhibitors, those participating in the BAC’s Judge Appointment Scheme as well as existing Full Judges to ensure a full understanding of the Asian breed.
Hypokalaemic Polymyopathy Testing Scheme
The Asian BAC strongly recommends that all Asians to be used for breeding are genetically tested for Hypokaleamic Polymyopathy (HK); a Veterinary Certificate of the test results must be provided if the breeder wants the results to be accepted by GCCF (or FAB) for inclusion on the Genetic Register, and all such cats must be micro-chipped before a sample is taken. A kitten need not be tested if both parents have tested clear of HK.
So what is HK?
Feline hypokalemic polymyopathy is a generalized metabolic muscle weakness disorder in cats secondary to hypokalemia associated with excessive urinary depletion or inadequate dietary intake. Extracellular hypokalemia causes muscle cell membrane hyperpolarization and secondary excessive permeability to sodium. This leads to hypopolarization of the muscle cell and subsequent weakness.
Clinical signs include generalized weakness, ventroflexion of the neck, abnormal gait, anorexia, and muscle pain. The neurologic examination is normal. Serum chemistries reveal hypokalemia (<3.5 mEq/L) and increased creatinine and CK. The urine has a low specific gravity, and potassium excretion is increased. (Ref: Merck Veterinary Manual)
A new Breed Number System
A new Breed Number System is being proposed using EMS Codes as a replacement for the existing GCCF Breed Numbering System. The GEMS System uses a combination of letters and numbers to describe the breed. Used by FIFE the GEMS System has widespread adoption throughout many parts of the world.
Download the GEMS codes here
Download "A Guide to EMS Codes" here