>A major need is to make the marking low enough in cost to make it attractive
>to MF.  If too much work is required on their part then we price them out.
>If a low enough cost is added then they are more likely to help.
and
>They have stated that they can not track the genetics in the cases of the
>cancers.  This is why our offering a solution and volunteering to help is
>the best approach.  If we remove their reason for not being able to track
>the cases then we facilitate the understanding of the problem.
 
Dr. J. Bell was experimenting with micro chipping.  She actually inserted
chips in kits as early as one day old.  All sorts of data could be logged in
a PC to the corresponding microchip ID, and if/when a problem with the
ferret occurred, could be traced back to lineage, the person who
neutered/descented, etc.  The cost?  About $7.50 per chip to MF.  Scanners
are free to shelters, and many vets have the scanners as well.  Most of the
scanner companies are compatible with the others in reading the chips now.
 
So why has this not been done?  MF does not want the added expense, despite
it's low cost, or to track any issues.  They don't have any knowledge base
of their ferrets after 3 years of age because they don't keep the breeders
around much more than that.  They are breeding for the pet shop and research
market, sell while cute and cuddly.  Quantity not quality.  [this paragraph
is my opinion, the preceding one is fact.] I've cc:ed this message to
Marshall Farms, they are welcomed to comment and clear up any misconceptions.
 
My suggestion as to making this a viable option for MF to practice micro
chipping full time is to discontinue descenting.  Swqap one operation for
another.  Just spay or neuter the kit (preferably at 8 weeks, not 4-6 weeks)
and insert the microchip a day or two after birth.  MF hires students to
play with the kits, why not let the students also input relative data about
birth, parents (genetics), color, shot date(s), etc., into the database.
This information could be accessed by the new ferret owner or the ferret's
vet for a small fee by scanning the ferret and writing for a printout of the
database info.  Vets can continue to add to the database info when a MF
ferret comes in to their clinic with health problems and MF can learn, maybe
a generation or two too late, that there is something that requires changing
in their operation.  If MF would only TRY to improve the lives of those they
breed, we would ALL be a lot happier.
 
The solutions are out there, implementation is possible, but the desire must
be there as well.
 
STAR* and FAIR were the original groups to try to "rescue" retired breeders
from MF, and no one could come to a workable solution.  Let's all e-mail MF
with a request for a micro chipping program and tracking database, and see
where that takes us.  Contact MF : [log in to unmask]
 
Pamela Troutman Grant
[Posted in FML issue 1990]