Selective Breeding

Quality Improvement

In chinchilla production it is not only important to maintain quality but als to imporve it further. Improving quality is doen by means of selective breeding.

Breeding selection as it concerns commercially raised chins has been for the following characteristics:

• fur characters, such as purity of color, density, silkiness, hairs, clouding (veil), and fur pattern;
• breeding characteristic in males, such as vitality, willingness to mate and excellent heredity
• in females: excellent littering characteristics (regular large litters), good milk production, ability to raise the young, body size and structure (shape and form);
• in males and females: excellent health and condition, resistance against diseases, compatibility and quiet disposition (no nervousness)

How can breeding be improved?

First of all, the large-scale breeder must make sure that his breeding stock consists of at least 20 females. following a close quality screening and evaluation of the entire breeding stock and progeny, respectively, those females of the same color are placed together into polygamous breeding groups together with the best available breeding bucks.

A good make can be used for up to five years. Its sucessors should be closely scrutinized and evaluated. First-class males that have a clear color, excellent fur density, compact body shape, and -- especially -- an extensive, dense clouding (veil) should be mated with females from different blood lines. Males that do not conform to these standards should not be bred.