Well, actually we still do have slavery. A Chinese man here in my city was just arrested the other day, he was forced to work in the back of an Asian restaurant for a few years. They just discovered him. No SS #, ID, nothing. I do like how you compare slaves to guinea pigs.
Jennicat- I am going to try to address everything you said.
Things like bladder stones and cataracts aren't always passed down genetically. They can occur in any animal. If something has come up genetically, it is not "bred out" - the line is ceased to stop pigs from being produced with those issues.
Satins are a mutation that generally have weak bones. There are different classes for satins. Shiny coats on a non-satin animal is one sign of health, as with dogs and horses.
Yes, you can't breed a 5 or 12 year old pig, those animals aren't kept for that purpose. They are there to asses the lines longevity after many years. There are pigs on GL living 8-10 years, but there are pigs living in 10 gallon aquariums eating no veggies that live that long too. Difference is the quality of life for them. I am sure very few of those pigs on GL have had absolutely no major health issues, genetic or otherwise.
They aren't being bred to live forever, but rather a much healthier lifespan that exceeds the "5-7" year life expectancy. You make it sound like every young animal is going to pop up with some horrid genetic issue. Not the case. Not every pig that a good breeder breeds is a sickly animal just because a breeder bred it.
I also agree a breeder isn't going to be paying a vet hundreds to do genetic testing on every animal. Having the monetary expenses would be wonderful though. I am sure most pet owners with 2-3 pigs still would have a hard time fitting that into their budget.  |