>Subject: Inbreeding or line breeding?
 
THis isn't only for your benefit but anyone interested...
 
>Could someone clarify why "INBREEDING" can mean two different things in
>two different animals???
 
Inbreeding is any breeding of relatives.  Linebreeding is a controlled
inbreeding.  Line breeding is 'acceptalbe' but defined differently by
different breeders.  In herd animals like goats and sheep, there is
normally one male and he gets all the girls.  No matter how they are
related.  In some breeds of dogs different relationships are accepted by
that breeds club while not accepted in other breeds.
 
How closely related breeding pairs can be related 'safely' is very
dependant on personal opinions of acceptable risk.  Some species of
domestic animals are tightly linebred.  Others are not.
 
One method for determining 'too close' is to figure out percentages of
genetic makeup.
 
A father gives 50% and a mother gives 50%.  Each grandparent gives 50% of
their child's 50% to their child's children or 25%.  You can and should
take that further back so that each great-grandparent is 12.5%.  Each
great-great-grandparent is 6.25%.  and so on...
 
Breeding a father to a daughter gives 50% from the father plus another 25%
from his duaghter or 75% of the new grandchild/child's makeup.  In rabbits
that is apparently accepted.  In ferrets it usually isn't.  By percentages
that is actually closer than brother to sister which duplicates the
percentages of the parents or 50% from each grandparent.
 
One recommendation for ferrets that goes back to at least to Fara Shimbo's
book (probably further) is too have no single ancestor contribute more than
50%.  But that is just a guideline for reducing risk.  It doesn't guarantee
anything.
 
>From:    "Kristina F. Pattison" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: One I had a white fert, now she's yellow :-(
 
It might be her food.  Some grain gets a yellow dye in it for some reason
and it passes into chicken fat and then into ferret fur.
 
>From:    "Melissa A. Durfee" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: nose flicking and ear pinching
>You are not a mother ferret, you are a human being who should be
>responsible enough to make that extra effort.
 
I disagree with the premise.  Ferret mothers teach their children using
physical punishments.  You are a surrogate for that parent.  You can not
expect a ferret to comprehend all actions at the same levels and with the
same emotions as people.  You have to think like a ferret not a little
human.
 
Sometimes an appropriate corporal punishment is the right approach.
Breaking of bones is never appropriate.  Soem ferrets shouldn't receive
such punishments based on their past history.  With others its the best way
through their stubbornness.  Our advice would be to remain flexible and use
what works best for any given ferret.
 
We had one big boy that was pretty nasty at first.  I had a 'discussion'
with him about that that yes involved some corporal punishment.  After
that he was among the very sweetest of ferrets that wouldn't lay a tooth
on person but quite affectionate with his tongue.  He even loved playing
'ferret catch' with me.  I'd toss and spin him then catch him.  But that
was him.  I can't say everybody's ferrets will react that same.
 
>From:    "Reet ..." <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Rainbow Bridge vs Heaven
 
I don't know why I'm letting myself getting sucked into the abyss...
 
The term 'Rainbow bridge' is more closely associated with Viking's crossing
into Valhalla than to the Christian heaven...
 
-bill
--
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://www.zenferret.com/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 2618]