From:
Ferretwise
Date: 2002-01-19 03:27:00 UTC
Subject: re: Is this waardensburg
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., fhbythesea@a... wrote:
> To the readers of this list:
>
> I found a breeder who is promoting 'bobtail' kits - in fact their
hob threw
> 100 kits last year and the bobtail remained true to the
litters....my
> research on Waardenburg shows that the primary symptoms of the
genetic
> disease are the white blotches and deafness (the hob is a panda)
but also
> includes osteoarthritis, neural tube defects, gastrointestinal
disorders,
> limb defects, etc. I believe that because the hob is a panda color
and also
> has the bob tail that this ferret has Waardenburg syndrome.
Hello Lisa-
While I do not profess to be the most learned breeder-- I have studied and
researched breeding & genetics in order to sort good traits in
ferrets. What I read of this breeder is much like those breeders of
shelties ( I own a pedigreed sheltie- so I have knowledge here) . When you
take a blue merle and breed to a blue merle you get extraordinary color
patterns, blindness, twisted tails and mixed colored eyes and other
genetic mutations.
This would be comparable to breeding a panda ferret to another panda
ferret. So yes, in my opinion , they would have the colmira genetic
markings and having a breed of two with active markers would pass along the
traits Less desirable as they are to kits. This is also often a problem
which can result form in breeding and line breeding of ferrets. Any more
learned ferret breeders please feel free to correct my understanding.
DO I think this is wise? ABSOLUTELY NOT! One cannot know what other
hidden genetic imperfections lie under the coat . This breeder in my
opinion is not using sound judgement or solid breeding practices -- but
sometimes folks do not consider more than the end means -- basically the
money gained form sale of an oddity.
Alicia Drakiotes