From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-08-07 18:19:23 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Raw Meat Question
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3048623.1123438763610.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
That is interesting.
One of our first two vets who had actually studied ferrets formally in an AMC post-doc program back when it wasn't possible to get that in vet programs themselves (still all too true in many places) was someone who knew ferrets from his youth. His grandparents had a very long lived line on their food farm (but it unfortunately died out in the years between) and he also mentioned no fancies (NOT a surprise) and he recalled coat textures that were not as nice as those in the general ferret population of the time.
I wonder if this may be another way in which a long historic past of fur farming may have affected ferret stock here and in a number of other places beyond body shape and size since fur farms preferentially wanted large and robust-build (bulldog) ferrets with very soft coats, and then the selection for pet stock fancies also had its genetic affects (which are still being tried to be understood better)? After all, for fur farming longevity or good health beyond a ferret's prime would not be selected for.
End of ferrethealth Digest
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