Re: RC: Re: Breeding theories: long!

[Paula C Gentry <pgentry@U.Arizona.EDU>]

Peggy--

Good point! The long and the short of it is that time is hard on an
animal, and there's no getting around it. An animal might start out with
an impeccable genetic blueprint, but even under the best possible
circumstances, age generally decreases breeding potential.

>   I realize that there is very little that
> resembles natural selection in our current breeding programs for any captive
> species.  My point is that natural selection FAVORS animals with the best
> breeding potential.  For all the reasons you (and Heidi and others,
> including myself) have discussed, elderly horses, despite impeccable genetic
> blueprints, may not have the best breeding potential.
> 

----------------------
Paula C Gentry, PhD
pgentry@U.Arizona.EDU

It is not knowing a lot but grasping things intimately and savoring them
which fills and satisfies the soul. 

--St. Ignatius--



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