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| Author | Topic: Merle Breeding |
| Josie |
posted 7/28/04 10:08 PM
Is it correct, an article I read recently stating that you should not breed 2 merles together as it upsets the gene balance? Only the scource was not very reliable and I want to be sure that I get my pup from a reputable breeder and bred the correct way |
| Pat Ward |
posted 8/3/04 3:43 PM
Hi, Please do not get a merle to merle bred puppy.No reputable breeder would consider that mating. It brings about a "lethal" combination that can produce puppies that may have no eyes and ears ( worst case) or blind /deaf.Anyone doing that mating would have to consider "culling" some pups.If you want a list of merle breeders contact me privatelyPat http://starsidebordercollies.com |
| Josie |
posted 8/5/04 12:02 AM
Thank you very much for the advice |
| Manda Scott |
posted 3/20/08 5:54 PM
There's no such thing as gene balance, and it wouldn't be a disaster, except that merle is the heterozygous form of a gene that, when expressed in both copies, is lethal - that is, the homozygous form causes death in utero. so Merle x merle would lead to a litter where the ratios of pups would be (MM = 'double Merle - dead in utero. M = merle, m = not-merle)25% m, 50% M, 25% MM - so 25% of the pups would die in utero. Of those that lived, now 3/4 of the original conceptions, one third would be not-merle and two thirds would be merle. hope this helpsm |
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