>From: Anna G Ralya <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: What Pattern is this ferret? >ten-week old kit with light chocolate brown fur, a-near white face (little >mask), a white throat, white patches on her back two legs, white toes, and >salt-and-pepper fur (white and brown guard hairs). Look for a whiteline on the top of her head. Perhaps only a spot or two along where the line would be. She is a Chocolate Roan Mitt (and a wanna-be blaze or panda). The white feet and knee patches are from the Waardensburg genes that cause the blaze, panda and some mitt patterns. True mitts are black (often called silver). The white mixed in with the dark is roaning. This is also common in the blacks and is what causes dark, medium and light silvers. Some folks call the pattern of your new girl "Chocolate shaded silver" which dates back to the old IFA days. >From: Chris Nielsen - AIS <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Marshall Farms... There can be an effort made by the hobby breeders such as us to cull lines descended from ferrets with certain medical problems. One problem though is it is not determined whether it IS genetic or ENVIRONMENTAL. Breeders can not cull environmental problems, that is an effort by everybody. But the genetic tracing is one advantage of a quality hobby breeder over the larger ranches. I wish all small time breeders kept track of all their kits. I also wish I could keep track of all mine that I've placed. Sometimes you lose track of the people. >From: Michelle Z Matta <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Sincere Question I don't see a contradiction in accepting rescues that happen to be MF ferrets but still calling for a boycot. In human terms it would be the same as not helping children who happened to be born of un-wed teeage parents. The children aren't the guilty ones, the parents did the "bad" thing. Not that I call for a boycott for the reasons you mention. But lets note a few positive things about MF. Those who work to legalize ferrets particularly in California ought to be grateful for the thousands of dollars Marshall donates to that effort. I got this through the AFA who shares a board member with the CDFA. MF is one of those good and bad forces that is far bigger than any of us or even us collectively. MF also supports small companies that try to enter the ferret market. Some halp was given to Performance foods (though little since MF did want to do their own food). Some companies such as Jeanne Carley's Ferret Calendar company have had marketting agreements with MF. This is according to sources in the pet industry including some at MF. What has not been mentioned by the folks really adamant about hating MF is what really happened there. The founders cared an awful lot about their ferrets. There has been a change in control there which has impacted the possible care given to ferrets and details of "production" and "shipping". Unfortunately the toll of the attacks on MF have caused the good folks to leave but not the less good folks. Things have gotten worse since the attacks happened. It is the lack of details such as this which make me question some of the data from the strong opponents of MF. This is fairly widespread information and I would think be important to those who claim to know what goes on at MF. The AFA and others (including I believe Pam Grant) have tried to co-operate with MF on allowing the retired breeders to enter the shelter system. There are a couple hitches. There aren't enough shelters to absorb them all. There would be such a negative impact on the business that MF can't afford to place them under the plans so far devised. If we co-operate and think real hard we MIGHT come up with something. Whether we like it or not, almost everything in this world comes down to money at some point. bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets http://www.zenferret.com mailto:[log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1702]