Size

[chechinchillas]

What do you think are the long term health effects of breeding larger and larger chins? I am as guilty of it as everyone else because I show, so I breed for large chins. I know it is thought that it can make them slower producers or not produce at all, can lead to diabetes and other health issues. I wonder if these larger chins will have shorter and shorter life spans too? Show quality is based on what would make the best, largest pelt, but I don't pelt and I don't know many people that still do (I honestly am not sure what the percentage is of breeders that still pelt, it could be higher than what I am thinking). To me it seems like show quality should be what will make the healthiest, best quality breeders/producers. Are other animal shows where the animal is not going to be used for food or fur also more likely to place higher if they are larger? When I have a very large female I have been placing them with a smaller male, so I don't breed large "show bunnies" that don't produce. I know this could keep me from winning Grand Show because of size, but I would rather get first place instead and have a more healthy, productive herd. I just don't think these animals were meant to be so large. I know breeding them has made many other qualities better than the wild chinchillas are, but this size thing has me at little worried.

 

[chinsNdobermans]

I always say that size is the last of the qualities I breed for, after fur strength/color/clarity, conformation, health etc.

At shows, my animals have usually placed well (very often 1st or higher) but always get knocked out by an animal with more size. I've really struggled with the thought of breeding for size because a lot of (not all) my larger chins are slower breeders, and to me, an average-sized animal with a bunch of awesome traits that breeds well is more of an asset than the slower breeding big animal with the same traits. I have never had that many breeding chins at one time.

Now that I'm rebuilding my herd, this is something I'm evaluating pretty closely, as I do plan to have a larger number of chins in breeding when I am fully back up and running.

 

[jags]

You might not have noticed but very few Grand Show chins are the biggest chins in the show. Size helps but is not every thing. With most judges color and fur quality is what takes them to the top of the table.

 

[chinsNdobermans]

You might not have noticed but very few Grand Show chins are the biggest chins in the show. Size helps but is not every thing. With most judges color and fur quality is what takes them to the top of the table.

That's very true - a judge once told me if the chins are both equal in every other way, and both very nice breeding-worthy animals, THEN size becomes a factor to them.

That's another reason I focus first on everything else.

 

[saphire]

Size is the last thing on my list also... bonus if I get it.

 

[Kylelemler]

Same here. We have not had the biggest animals, but still do well because they have the other qualities needed.

But I do wonder what kinds of problems we'll see in the future as everyone as a whole gets bigger animals.

 

[Vyxxin]

Well, a few things. FIrst, while pelting has gone down a bit in the US it is still very good elsewhere and chinchilla pelts still sell for top dollar.

Likewise, as everyone else mentioned, size is the LAST consideration not the first so why change show standards? My larger animals breed mostly as well as my smaller animals...I say mostly as here and there a big girl will be slow...but so will a small girl for that matter. In my herd at least, large (not fat) chins produce just as well as smaller build chinchillas.

That's my next point, large doesn't necessarily mean fat/unhealthy. There IS a difference. I had a nice size boy, pulled him out of a grower cage the other day to have a look...nice heft...good build...just LOOKED big. Thought, at least 750g. Nope, only around 650g! I was shocked, weighed him several times just to be sure. My point being, humans have been bred up and up and up. That in itself has not increased health problems. Do you think a 6'5" male that weighs 190lbs has more health concerns than a 5'10" male that weighs 150lbs? Point being, you can breed up in size without losing health. Fat is not size necessarily. I like large animals, not as fond of fat animals.

Final point, "other animals" are not chinchillas. In other animals there are breed requirements. I know at least in dogs, most have a height range...and if they're too thin or heavy for that height they will not have the right shape/conformation...which would discount them in the show ring. HOWEVER, even in dogs some dogs dogs have a VERY broad range on that. I imagine the same is for horses in the show ring...and cats...but chinchillas are not cats dogs or horses. They're a furbearer. Always have been, always should be. I believe hide rabbits are judged on their coat...why souldn't chinchillas be?