re Marshall Farms and finding a breeder ferret -
 
I heartily recommend that you hook up with one of the ferret
clubs and not use commercial farm ferrets as breeding stock.
There are a number of unanswered questions about the long-term
effects of the small genetic base that these animals come from.
Frequently a small breeder has obtained animals from a more
diverse base.
 
Check with the American Ferret Association or Shelters That Adopt
and Rescue (STAR) Ferrets for ferret folks local to you. The AFA
number is 301-898-3228; STAR is 703-354-5073.
 
While running the FERRET EXPO WEST show, I had a very interesting
conversation with a person who knows the management at Marshall.
I was told that they really don't have a clue as to why people
want ferrets as pets; over half their "output" goes to research.
However, some years ago they did change the name of the farm,
presumably to keep this unsavory fact from the general pet-buying
public.
 
In the past, farm ferrets from Path Valley Farms were only raised for
the pet trade. Path Valley had been the other major ferret farm on the
East Coast. In recent years I have heard that their output dropped
and they were buying from Marshall to fulfill orders.
 
<Chip>
 
<Chip Gallo * Action Comm Research * Rockville, MD USA  >
<[log in to unmask] * CIS: 76376,3147 * Ferret Owner>
<OS/2 2.1 User * Laser Disc Potato * LAN Man * NetAware >
 
 
[Posted in FML issue 0554]