Ok, I know I am jumping into the fray here **flame retardant suit is on**,
 
                           BUT.....
 
>Portions of the Marshalls ad follow:
>"The Marshall Beagle - By tracking all important characteristics and
>genetic information, and then weeding out any undesirable stock, Marshall
>Farms can supply beagles ideal for research."
 
Zen then stated:
>But thank you for pointing out that Marshall Farms is actually perhaps the
>single breeder in the US "MOST" aware of ferret genetics instead of a
>ferret-mill.  We'll stay out of beagle discussios.
 
My Question is......
 
How is Marshalls tracking the important characteristics and genetic
information, and weeding out undesirable stock (as stated in their ad) if:
 
a) They never contact anyone who purchases one of their ferrets?  I have
owned ferrets since 85, a lot have been MF, and I have never been contacted--
has anyone been contacted by Marshalls about their ferret- ever?  Age,
condition, cause of death, etc?  If I were to call them, for instance, about
a ferret who had a congenital defect with his ears and at age 3 had one of
his ear canals removed and his ear sewn shut, would they know who I was
talking about?  Would they want to know?  I am not talking about pet stores
sending back the "rejected" kits, I am referring to a manufacturer
contacting the consumer about the product?
 
b) They destroy the non-productive jills at about age 3 so long-term
diseases or conditions are never noted?  Some diseases and conditions do
not appear until middle- or old-age, so how could they know which lines to
continue, and which to end?
 
Aren't these the techniques most often used to weed out undesirable
conditions, such as blindness, deafness, not enough/too many toes,
cardiomyopathy, temperament, etc by breeders?  Don't most breeders stop a
line if they discover predispostion towards disease/problems by keeping up
with the placed kits and the parents?  I have only had one experience with
this, and the breeder chats periodically with me about Morticia and her
health even though Morticia is altered, because Tish was once part of her
breeding stock, and because they really want to know.
 
Honestly, I don't know -- I am a shelter, not a breeder.  I have had
experience with breeding other pets than ferrets, so it may or may not
apply.  I mean I can track a line, and pretty much figure out whether it was
a maternal/paternal trait and go from there - but geez, you don't spay
mares, you just don't breed her anymore!  How do breeders keep up with their
genetic lines, especially if the hob is from someone else's ferretry?  Do
you periodically call and check on the hob's condition?
 
If Marshall's does monitor the FML, then they must realize that closed doors
make for "conspiracy theories" and rumors.  I would be interested to know
what they use and how they track their lines.  Maybe they are tracking the
research ferrets, I don't know.  I am also making the assumption that the
same breeding techniques used on the beagles are used on the ferrets.  If
they are using the research animals, it certainly wouldn't be a very large
number, so statistically they may not be accurate (less than 10% of the
total ferrets produced by Marshalls and part of that number are the fur
ferrets), but it would be something.  I can't imagine they would be tracking
the ones sold for fur - so that would only leave the pet store ferrets.
 
Knowing their methods of tracking would certainly benefit (and quiet their
detractors!) the entire ferret community, to get an idea of the care and
thought that goes into the selection of a jill/hob for a litter, instead of
thinking maybe they just throw a rutting hob in with a jill in season to get
more babies!  It wouldn't even have to be detailed (in case of releasing
confidential information) just an overview.
 
I think the reason the Marshall Farms issue continues to appear is because
of a lot of unanswered questions.  Just as by my posting here I am making
myself both more visible and possibly a target of discussion or flames,
Marshall Farms, inarguably the largest producer of ferrets in the world,
should also realize that they will be held up for scrutiny, questions and
discussion.
 
I am really not trying to argue here, just trying to understand.
 
The difference between Path Valley and Marshalls?  The advertising that I
have seen from Path Valley states that their ferrets are only sold as pets,
not for research or fur.  Marshall's provides ferrets to the fur industry in
Europe and of course to the labs as research animals.  I have no idea how
old Path Valley kits are when shipped, although I would think about 7-8
weeks, so they are also neutering/spaying and descenting prior to shipment
as well.
 
Lisa, Head Ferret
The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea"
[Posted in FML issue 2224]