A question

[Lucinda]

I know I am poor with breeds.

There has been talk on the forum about roans and dalmations and "lethal" babies.

I think I can imagine a dalmation, but what is a roan like? Are they rare? And what exactly is a lethal baby? Kelly emailed me a link, but I'm still not clear how the genetics work.

 

[KimmiesGuineas]

A roan is a guninea pig that has an even distribution of white hair with any other colored hair. One of the handiest breed websites is
http://www.diddly-di.fsnet.co.uk/Breeds & Varieties.htm and it has a picture of a roan (and many other breeds as well).

A lethal baby is when a pure roan sow breeds with a pure roan boar (or a pure dalmation sow breeds with a pure dalmation boar). If a baby gets the genes, then it will have a combination of any of the following (and I'm sure other things as well):
- deformed or no teeth
- small or missing eyes
- internal problems
- very short life span

Hope I could help!
Kimmie

 

[daftscotslass]

It's also important to note that it is not just pedigreed picture-perfect roans/dals that can produce lethal babies. Some pigs that are genetically pure look nothing like a roan/dal. Often, if a pig has a lot of white in their coat this can disguise any roaning/spotting. Roans and dalmations are very common and readily available for the unknowing person to buy in pet shops.

Here is a thread on GL about Einstein, owned by Salana, one of the longest living lethals (due to the dedication of his owner) known to Guinea Lynx - http://207.58.139.33/~guinea2/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7156&highlight=einstein

This is his mother, who looks nothing like a dalmation, but was one nonetheless - http://reevz.net/~salana/lj/doomswife030606.jpg

 

[cavykind]

It's also important to note that it is not just pedigreed picture-perfect roans/dals that can produce lethal babies. Some pigs that are genetically pure look nothing like a roan/dal. Often, if a pig has a lot of white in their coat this can disguise any roaning/spotting. Roans and dalmations are very common and readily available for the unknowing person to buy in pet shops.

I've had a good few Dalmations and a few roans come into rescue over the years, we had a local breeder selling to pet shops :

Barbara

 

[Lucinda]

Thanks guys

 

[JayneG]

dear me, I just read about Einsten on that link and can't stop crying, What a fantastic piggie :'(

 

[kellyandpiggies]

Jin was a roan