There are many philosophies on how to breed quality animals. As in any business, it is important that the new rancher know as much as possible before beginning. Successful ranching requires a working knowledge of genetic principles before atempting to breed on a large scale. Poor quality animals are not marketable. Temperment is extremely critical for the rancher who is intending to breed pet stock.
Poor breeding can result in animals that give nasty bites and spray urine with extreme accuracy.
These traits tend to reproduce in certain lines and care should be taken to cull such animals out of the herds for pet production. Back to top of page. Most health problems can be avoided with proper diet and clean, adequate housing. When a problem arises, it is usually intestinal in nature. Some signs of illness are listlessness, refusal to eat, watery eyes, and loose or no droppings.