----- Original Message -----
From: "Rebecca Allbritton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2000 6:40 PM
Subject: Re: inbreeding/ was right bend tail
>
> But you are using a gerbil which you know carries an undesirable mutation
> for breeding.
At the time I paired him up with the pied agouti female, I didn't know his
tail was considered an undesirable mutation. When he was a pup, I thought
his tail was just a fluke, not a bad mutation.
His offspring will carry this trait, even if they don't show
> it, and it will crop up again later, no doubt.
I did not know that his offspring will carry this trait. As for as many pups
that he has had, I really doubt any will get his tail.
I don't understand why you
> would use a gerbil that you know has a genetic defect in your breeding
> program?
The main reason I use him, is for his pied color and his calm disposition. I
feel breeding him with a very large, healthy female will (and does) produce
very desirable pups. The pups that he produces have all been sold as pets.
I do know people in the Quarter horse world that breed champion bloodlines.
They will breed an animal that may have a few "flaws" to another animal that
has a few different 'flaws'. An experienced horse breeder knows that they
can breed this 'flaw' out and end up with a horse with an excellent
comformation and disposition. Of course this involves careful planning and a
knack of knowing what two animals bred together can produce champions.
So way is this so wrong that I'm breeding out his kinked tail? It is quite a
cute tail actually, It looks like he has a curly-Q in the middle. Besides,
his personality is what counts the most to me.
I do not ship my gerbils which means most of them stay in this area and are
sold as pets. When someone wishes to adopt my gerbils, they are given the
choice between male or female pairs. I do this to ensure no accidental
litters are born.
Ann-Marie L. Roberts
T&T Gerbils
Escanaba, MI
AGS member MI004
Please visit my website at:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/
