Breeding Tools: Line-, Cross- and Inbreeding

The Breeding Tools:
HOW and WHEN to use it

Pet rats are selectively bred to improve on qualities like temperament. health, type, colour and marking.

The following are breeding methods used to develop or preserve a line.

It is important to know WHAT the purpose of each method is and WHEN it should be used.

1. Crossbreeding
Crossbreeding is where two unrelated animals are bred. This is to introduce a new variety or desired trait to an existing line or at the start of a new line.
Crossbreeding should be followed by inbreeding to test the health and temperament of a new line.
It is risky to crossbreed an established line to an unknown line as health, temperament and / or longevity may be influenced in a negative way.
Be strict when selecting animals from unknown lines and test breed and evaluate the new line for a few generations before introducing it to all your lines.
It is senseless to crossbreed without a purpose or to continuously crossbreed various animals.

2. Inbreeding
Inbreeding is where close relatives are bred, e.g. brother x sister, father x daughter or mother x son.
Inbreeding may be used to test a line for any hidden health or behavioural problems. It may also be used to express a recessive gene (genotype) for a specific colour or marking that is not expressed in the animal (phenotype).
By breeding these animals together, the recessive gene will double up in some individuals and produce offspring which will express the desired (recessive) trait. As soon as the line is established, one should linebreed to maintain the line.
Although rats may be inbred for many generations without showing any abnormalities, it may compromise the health of the line in the long run. Do not continuously inbreed for no apparent reason.

3. Line breeding
Line breeding is where an established line with good health and temperament and the desired colours and markings are maintained. To do so, individuals who are related are continuously bred together, but not close relatives.
Niece x uncle nephew x aunt, cousins or further related animals in a particular line may be bred to maintain or line breed a line.
The best specimens should still be selected for in every generation, but traits in the line will start to become more uniform.

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