Avoiding breeding defects
What is extreme breeding?
Some people breed pets in order to achieve offspring with certain phenotypic traits which may look special or striking or appear fashionable. However, breeding those kind of pets can lead to suffering, pain, or health problems and therefore infringe on animal welfare principles no matter whether the extreme breeding was intentionally or accidentally.
A plethora of breeding traits – good or bad?
It is not always obvious whether a breeding practice causes more harm than good to the animal. Examples of breeding traits include abnormal coloration or appearance, a fancy coat or special feathers, skin markings or scales. Further examples are excessive hair or feathers in body areas where they impede the animal. The examples include certain physical traits, such as very short muzzles, short legs, or folded ears. If breeding focuses excessively on extreme traits, it is referred to as overtyping or overbreeding. If the animal suffers from such traits, it is called extreme breeding and is considered bad for the animal.
'Extreme, torture or defective breeding refers to the selective breeding of animals for specific traits, even when such traits are associated with pain, suffering, physical harm, or behavioural disorders. As such, these breeding practices pose a serious threat to animal welfare.'
Video
ZZF provides information about extreme breeding practices
How did defect breeding start?
Man has lived with animals for thousands of years. It started with dogs. Later many other animal species were bred. Over the years, humans began to selectively control the reproduction of these animals. This process is called selective breeding or domestication. Evolution no longer decides which traits are passed on; instead, humans make specific choices – for example, a certain appearance, a desired behavior, or a certain body size.
In nature, animals adapt to their environment over many generations. In breeding, however, humans intervene directly: animals with the desired traits are bred with each other so that these traits are preserved or even become more pronounced in further generations.
There are also risks involved. Some desirable traits are linked to genetic traits that can cause health problems. These are then unintentionally passed on. In some cases, traits have even been bred intentionally, even though they severely impair the animal's welfare.
How to avoid extreme breeding practices?
Breeding goals: healthy animals
The main goal of any animal breeding program should be to breed healthy animals. Forms of an animal species that have been altered so drastically through breeding, that they can no longer behave in a species-specific way are considered unsuitable for pet keeping. Such animals should neither be bred nor sold.
Responsible breeding is therefore not just a matter of a certain phenotype, but of physical and mental health. Only then can pets lead a long, active, and species-appropriate life.
What kind of traits should breeders look out for?
In June 1999, the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture published an expert opinion on the interpretation of Section 11b of the Animal Welfare Act (in German). Although this opinion is not legally binding, it is used as an important guideline to identify the traits of extreme breeding practices in various breeds and species.
The report makes it clear that in breeding, genes encoding a defect and abnormalities have to be considered in such a way that, as far as possible, offspring does not suffer from pain or damage to its health. If you breed your aim should be therefore to ensure, that problematic characteristics are not passed on in the first place.
Traits are not always clear-cut
It is not always clear whether a bred animal with a particular trait actually constitutes defective breeding. When animals are kept as pets, they are often no longer exposed to natural predators. As a result, traits that would be important for survival in nature may lose their significance. Furthermore, experts do not always agree on whether certain traits are actually health defects. For example, not every rabbit with a bent ear has poor hearing or ear infections. There is therefore a great need for scientific studies to better assess the effects of certain breeding practices on animal health.
Calling for further studies
The expert opinion on Section 11b of the German Animal Welfare Act already mentions some forms of torture breeding. The German Pet Trade & Industry Association (ZZF) has added these without restriction to its negative list of unsuitable pets (known as the “Heidelberg Declaration on Guiding Principles for the Pet Trade”). However, the expert opinion is outdated, and many traits have not yet been described. ZZF is therefore calling for further studies on breeding practices where health problems are suspected. Furthermore, new legally binding lists are needed that describe in detail which breeding practices and individual traits are considered as defective breeding traits.
Education is important!
The desire for something special can therefore result in suffering and harm to animals. Some pet owners may not even be aware that their fashionable pet is suffering from health problems.
Pet shop owners, veterinarians, dog groomers, and other professionals in the pet industry play an important role in educating the public: Every species of animal is fascinating, and many pets have their own unique character that animal lovers can discover.
If retailers and breeders get their customers enthusiastic about these characteristics, color variations or phenotypic traits may no longer be so important. A healthy pet does not need to visit the vet that often. If customers already have a pet that suffers from breeding-related defects, expert advisors should provide information on proper care and handling.
Defective breeds are unnecessary
The diversity of pets is fascinating
‘Animals are not objects. Every species and every individual is unique. The diversity of pets is fascinating. Animal lovers can discover exciting pets even without extreme breeding selection.’
Contact
Dr. Stefan K. Hetz
Scientific Consultant for Pet Animals and International Affairs
