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p_anda · 07-08-2012, 02:21 PM

The problem with inbreeding is that the first generation may be completely normal, but as you gradually decrease the offsprings' gene pool, all the recessive traits will come out which may or may not be desirable. Inbreeding emphasises good qualities just as well as bad qualities.

It may not be possible to achieve certain colours and coat types without a considerable amount of inbreeding [see mice for example]. The worst risk categories are parent to pup and sybling to sybling matings. If you continually breed parents to their pups, the second generation may end up with a lot of genetic defects. However, this isn't necessarily bad, because you now know what to expect, but it means you can't inbreed these animals without further risks. The only positive you get out of it is that you uncover all the 'hidden' genetic faults that otherwise would skip generations and would only pop up later on in the line. But by now you might have hamsters that were born without eyes, may be deaf, may develop cancerous tumors early in their lives, etc. What will you do with them? You can't rehome them...you either keep them or have them PTS. Close inbreeding makes for genetically predictable animals but at a cost. Are new colour mutations worth it? Certainly not, if you ask me.

It is a lot safer to inbreed far relatives like cousins and second cousins. Basically the further the generations are apart, the safer it is. It is definitely more difficult to produce the animals you want without heavy inbreeding, but it's not impossible.

Animals rarely inbreed in the wild, that's what all the aggression comes down to, i.e. how mother hamster will chase her pups from her, once they are old enough to live on their own. All young animals are encouraged to 'flee the nest' otherwise the parents or group members may even turn against them.

07-08-2012, 02:21 PM
p_anda Senior Hamster Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Essex Posts: 603	Re: Inbreeding Coefficiant The problem with inbreeding is that the first generation may be completely normal, but as you gradually decrease the offsprings' gene pool, all the recessive traits will come out which may or may not be desirable. Inbreeding emphasises good qualities just as well as bad qualities. It may not be possible to achieve certain colours and coat types without a considerable amount of inbreeding [see mice for example]. The worst risk categories are parent to pup and sybling to sybling matings. If you continually breed parents to their pups, the second generation may end up with a lot of genetic defects. However, this isn't necessarily bad, because you now know what to expect, but it means you can't inbreed these animals without further risks. The only positive you get out of it is that you uncover all the 'hidden' genetic faults that otherwise would skip generations and would only pop up later on in the line. But by now you might have hamsters that were born without eyes, may be deaf, may develop cancerous tumors early in their lives, etc. What will you do with them? You can't rehome them...you either keep them or have them PTS. Close inbreeding makes for genetically predictable animals but at a cost. Are new colour mutations worth it? Certainly not, if you ask me. It is a lot safer to inbreed far relatives like cousins and second cousins. Basically the further the generations are apart, the safer it is. It is definitely more difficult to produce the animals you want without heavy inbreeding, but it's not impossible. Animals rarely inbreed in the wild, that's what all the aggression comes down to, i.e. how mother hamster will chase her pups from her, once they are old enough to live on their own. All young animals are encouraged to 'flee the nest' otherwise the parents or group members may even turn against them.