Peter wrote:
>However, I have a harder time understanding the essential difference in
>breeding strategies for ferrets compared to, for example, dogs or cats
>or rabbits or cattle or gerbils or horses or sheep or mice or chickens
>or snakes or goats or pigs or rats--none of whom are expected to be
>re-introduced into the wild as a self-sustaining population.  The
>purposes of domesticated breeding programs range from the purely cosmetic
>(e.g., cats) to temperament and "use" (e.g., dogs) to direct human
>nutrition (e.g., cattle).  One could easily cite significant changes in
>skull and skeleton, as well as physiology and body composition, not
>mention appearance in *all* domestic animals due to selective breeding
>programs.
 
I think Bob's concern (well... at least it's mine, if not Bob's, but I
know Bob and I have talked about it) is mainly the shortening of the
snout, which can and does impact the jaws and teeth and, possibly, eyes
and brain, as well as changing how large or small ferrets are on a human
whim.  The cats and dogs that have been bred to have "flat" faces tend to
have many eye problems due to that flattening of the face/snout.  The
other concern is making the skeleton too large or to small to actually
handle the weight of the body (think of hip dysplasia in large dogs).
Since these are not widespread among ferrets (or do not exist at all), it
would be best to learn from the errors of dog and cat breeders who went
too far and harmed the animal while trying to breed them to their own
purposes.
 
I think your point is that skeletal changes obviously do occur in
domesticated animals vis-a-vis their wild ancestors.  Yes -- and Bob has
pointed out (in past posts) that there are changes in the skulls of
ferrets and other domesticated animals.  The caveat is to beware of
changing these structures further than the domestication process
"naturally" changes them (how's that for an oxymoron?).  Cats and dogs
that cannot sustain themselves without constant human intervention
(tear-duct irrigation etc.) or cattle that are created that they can't
support their own weight are IMO an abomination: the fruit of
human-unkind's arrogance.  These are living creatures and we made them
dependent upon us; we are responsible for doing right by the dependence
that we created.
 
If we have the opportunity to prevent such problems in ferrets -- and we
do -- and we are aware that our actions can create these problems -- and
we are -- we have an obligation to do what's best and right for the
animals and prevent the problems.  When dogs and cats and many other
animals were being domesticated, we humans didn't have the knowledge we
have today.  What does it make us if we ignore that knowledge to the
detriment of ferrets?
 
--Mary & the Fuzz
 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Mary R. Shefferman and
Gabby, The Lone Modern Ferret
Ferret Information: http://www.ferretnews.com
Read my blog! http://www.modernferretblog.com/mary
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[Posted in FML issue 4678]