Confused.

[Jennicat]

I've asked several breeders this, but they just huff off, so I think I'll see if anyone here can come up with a plausible explanation.

I've always heard the much touted "I'm breeding to better the breed". How can you breed for superior genetics when the animal you're breeding won't show most of it's genetic problems until after it is dangerous to be bred?

Most of the genetically influenced problems with guinea pigs don't show up until they're at least a year old... at that point, the "responsible" breeder may have even another generation out of that animal's offspring, and still no clue about their genetics.

I'm just confused, it doesn't seem like it's possible.

[Solebomber]

Sounds like your asking the breeders to see into the future that which cannot be seen , assuming they take what appears to be two genetically defect free animals and breed them. And if they end up carrying genetic defects one would think that would be a line they wouldn't continue if they were so called "responsible" breeders who were trying to "better the breed"

[ljm0104]

Breeding is very hard to predict you can try to predict the dominant and recessive genes but unless you know atleast the last five generations its not even worth it

[piggly wiggly]

I am not sure about piggies, but some dog breeders genetically test their dogs before they breed.

[Susan9608]

This is coming awfully close to a breeding "how-to" discussion. I'm going to close the thread.