Someone questioned why you would need so many breeding ferrets (animals).
Well, a responsible breeder, no matter what animal would make sure they
never backbreed unless it is the 4+ generation.  So many of the problems
are propogated because Daughter was bred back to Father OR Son back to
Mother.  Some breeders mistakenly think just because the babies are from
two different litters that it is ok to breed them even if it was the same
parents.
 
So if you want to limit inbreeding (which has destroyed so many full
bloodlines); you have to have quite a few "parents" so that you can make
sure that you don't backbreed too soon.
 
I do not breed ferrets (prefer spoiling them rotten) but my family and I
have bred Dogs and now goats and that is the rule we use.  If a desired
trait is there, we will breed to unrelated...and build on that until at
least the 4rth generation then back breed to strengthen the trait, then
breed non-related for another 4 generations.
 
Cindy
[Posted in FML issue 3209]