[log in to unmask] writes:
>now, I don't know that being good mothers equates health..  but it does
>seem like we should be able to breed ferrets that are good hunters but
>also friendly to people.  genes seem very complicated, and we are
>probably simplifying too much.
 
-- Ah yes good mothering skills does reflect health, I believe.  And this
is why.  Ferrets that have neural crest defects don't seem to make good
mothers at all.  In fact, I've read where breeders have had extensive
problems in this area.  Right Sukie?  And, well, we all know that neural
crest disorders have many health problems to consider.  Another point ...
is that maybe animals make bad mothers out of instinct in detecting
weakness?  Such as in the wild when a weaker offspring is rejected or
even just neglected.
 
There are subjective ways to measure symmetry in ferrets.  This is done
in shows.  They use diagrams/photos I believe for references and the
judges develop an eye for it out of experience.  Lisa Leidig of Ferrets
By the Sea, spoke about showing and measuring symmetry at the Symposium
in Vegas.  It's something I never thought about before her talk and I
immediately saw things in my ferrets faces that I never would have
seen before, all due to her lecture.  I found many of them to be very
asymmetrical.  It was amazing to me that the ones I thought most
attractive ... were very symmetrical.  I'm sure Vicki M might know
something of this, and some current AFA members might since some of
them are judges at shows.  I hope that possibly someone such as Lisa,
or some judges speak up because I, like you, am very interested.
 
On the topic of domestication and breeding for docility, I would think
it'd be common sense that the trade off would possibly be lack of
intelligence, or lack of self-help skills at the very least.
 
Wolfy
http://wolfysluv.jacksnet.com
[Posted in FML issue 4691]