I send swabs to Langford Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories to test for the MYBPC3 gene which is linked to HCM in ragdolls but I never really linked this in my mind as a DNA test. Even this test is relatively uncoomon amongst ragdoll breeders over here and I had never known it to be carried out as little as 12 months ago. More and more breeders are routinely testing nowadays which is a good thing.
So pleased for you all! I have been waiting to see how you got on at the breeders and am delighted that you are choosing a flame! I think they have the most amazing coats so, so soft. As you know Coco has some flame in her and when we visited her it was her personality and texture of her coat that made her stand out from the rest!
Good luck, I too have looked at the pictures and they are both gorgeous!!
(12-30-2009 05:05 PM)JanH Wrote: [ -> ]I hope you are wrong about DNA testing in the UK. ALL Ragdoll breeding cats should be DNA tested to confirm they do not have either of the HCM mutations prior to being bred for the first time. NOBODY should get a Ragdoll kitten if both parents have not been DNA tested and found not to have either mutation.
DNA testing and HCM hasn't been a priority here in the UK as it wasn't a recognised problem in the Raggies until fairly recently. It's only through websites such as this and others that many breeders (and owners) get to know about problems in the breed and testing availability, not all breeders will admit there's a problem with their kittens if shown to have the HCM gene, so word of mouth plays a huge part in getting the message across. Unless the potential new owners know about possible problems in the breed, they don't ask about testing etc so many queens and studs join the gene pool untested. I know a few breeders who are currently having their potential breeding boys and girls tested as they were not aware of the HCM problem when they purchased the kittens. There have also been quite a few breeders who have stopped breeding as their current stock, having been tested have shown to carry the HCM gene.
I know when I wanted Belle tested, I searched for days on the internet to find somewhere in the UK where I could get it done, it was through another breeder that I was pointed in the right direction.
I read on here sometime ago about blood group testing for the Raggies, this has been available here for the BSH for sometime as incompatibility can result in a total loss of kittens. Yet many BSH breeders don't blood group test their breeding stock and probably have no idea what blood group they are, as long as the kittens survive I guess they figure it's ok. If this is showing to be a problem in the States, it will become a problem here in the UK at some point and making us aware of it now could save a lot of heartache later.
Fawkes is a great name, very very fitting and original!
(01-02-2010 06:45 AM)Dustysmum Wrote: [ -> ] (12-30-2009 05:05 PM)JanH Wrote: [ -> ]I hope you are wrong about DNA testing in the UK. ALL Ragdoll breeding cats should be DNA tested to confirm they do not have either of the HCM mutations prior to being bred for the first time. NOBODY should get a Ragdoll kitten if both parents have not been DNA tested and found not to have either mutation.
DNA testing and HCM hasn't been a priority here in the UK as it wasn't a recognised problem in the Raggies until fairly recently. It's only through websites such as this and others that many breeders (and owners) get to know about problems in the breed and testing availability, not all breeders will admit there's a problem with their kittens if shown to have the HCM gene, so word of mouth plays a huge part in getting the message across. Unless the potential new owners know about possible problems in the breed, they don't ask about testing etc so many queens and studs join the gene pool untested. I know a few breeders who are currently having their potential breeding boys and girls tested as they were not aware of the HCM problem when they purchased the kittens. There have also been quite a few breeders who have stopped breeding as their current stock, having been tested have shown to carry the HCM gene.
I know when I wanted Belle tested, I searched for days on the internet to find somewhere in the UK where I could get it done, it was through another breeder that I was pointed in the right direction.
I read on here sometime ago about blood group testing for the Raggies, this has been available here for the BSH for sometime as incompatibility can result in a total loss of kittens. Yet many BSH breeders don't blood group test their breeding stock and probably have no idea what blood group they are, as long as the kittens survive I guess they figure it's ok. If this is showing to be a problem in the States, it will become a problem here in the UK at some point and making us aware of it now could save a lot of heartache later.
It seems strnage to me that it isn't already being done regularily?
(01-02-2010 03:08 PM)Solo Wrote: [ -> ]Fawkes is a great name, very very fitting and original!
Thank you!
