the story behind it

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=140 BGCOLOR="#9966CC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="00300a20ezthtv.png"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0077d7d0.gif" border=0 width="125" height="125" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9966CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: HOME"><U><IMG SRC="00f96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></FONT><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: The Maine Coon"><U><IMG SRC="01096140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Maine Origin Authentic"><U><IMG SRC="01196140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: F.A.Q."><U><IMG SRC="01296140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Our Goals"><U><IMG SRC="01396140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Health Info"><U><IMG SRC="01496140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Our Family"><U><IMG SRC="01596140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Our Males"><U><IMG SRC="01696140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Our Females"><U><IMG SRC="01796140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Nursery News"><U><IMG SRC="01896140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Kittens for Sale"><U><IMG SRC="01996140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Previous Kittens"><U><IMG SRC="01a96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Contract"><U><IMG SRC="01b96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby Foundation Projects"><U><IMG SRC="01c96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PriairieBaby: Links"><U><IMG SRC="01d96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="http://guestbook.mycomputer.com/guest.html?u=prairiebaby&b=1" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://guestbook.mycomputer.com/guest.ht"><U><IMG SRC="01f96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><IMG SRC="02096140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=340 BGCOLOR="#CC99FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> PrairieBaby<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" > Maine Coon Cats</FONT></div> <bR> <div> How healthy is this line?</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Foreword:</U></div> <bR> <div> Foundation breeding is an exciting adventure but can be full of disappointments, downfalls and surprises. It is NOT the answer to all health problems. When we work with a fresh bloodline, we are hoping for a lower mortality rate in kittens, a better immune system, larger, healthier litters and eventually <U>hopefully </U>the defeat of heart-, kidney- and joint problems. Even though new foundation lines are thoroughly screened and tried out, we cannot guarantee these lines to be free from genetic faults. As a matter of fact, no living being is free of genetic faults. Also, every single mating produces new gene mutations that would have not even occurred in a different breeding, even of the same breeding couple. Defective recessive genes can only be  detected to some extent, no matter if test-breedings are breedings are done or not. This is also true for ALL Maine Coon cats from common lines.  Outcrossing and selecting is the most efficient way to reduce problems with genetic diseases. Here is the health history we have collected so far on our new lines:</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>PrairieBaby Drench the Barren Land (Prairiegirl), Blue Torbie/white F2 female</U></div> <bR> <div> Prairiegirl was previously owned by people in Selkirk (near Winnipeg), Mantioba, Canada. She was kept as an indoor/outdoor cat. These people also owned her mother Susie. Susie has had three or four healthy litters herself. Prairiegirl comes from a litter of four or five kittens. Since Prairiegirl was already an adult when we got her, the owners could not remember.  Her parents are not related. She has had two litters previously and did not need any help with kitten care. All of her babies survived. Father of her babies had been the same male who had bred her mother for years. So Prairiegirl had all her babies from her own father :~} When we came to pick her up, she just had a litter from this male. Of course we decided against one of these inbred kittens even though they looked quite nice. We were able to see both parents. The mother was typier than the father, none of them are big cats. </div> <bR> <div> Once we got her home, our vet was kind enough to take over part of the quarantine time for us. He ran a bunch of blood tests. She came out very good. We also treated with preventatie meds and did many stool samples - all negative. Prairiegirl has extremely nice stool, healthy gums and teeth and seems to be no carrier of any URI viruses. The fact that she was at our vet for a while and did not pick up anything, has changed homes twice within weeks and had no reactions of any kind, shows us she must have a strong immune system. We are keeping all our foundation cats in quarantine for at least 3 months. Prairiegirl's hips have also been exrayed by our vet and she received OFA certified  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0033" FACE="Arial" >"excellent".</FONT> Prairiegirl now has passed all her health tests and is being kept with her mate Cameron in one room - still away from our other females.  We will try to  get Prairiegirl's heart and kidneys tested in  2003.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****</div> <bR> <div> <U>Shame Into Praise of PrairieBaby,brown Mac F1 female </U></div> <bR> <div> Moudine comes from a litter of five and all kittens survived and are of excellent health. Moudine's mother has had several healthy litters in her life according to our good friends who own her. </div> <bR> <div> Moudine received many health tests and a complete check-up by our licensed veterinarian at 10 and 16 weeks of age and was found to be in great health. Her gums are beautifully light pink and she has a shiny coat and clear eyes. She had her hips exrayed and is OFA *good*.  Her daughter Plopp was also OFA "Good*. For precaution we keep our foundation stock isolated from our other cats for a period of at least three months. Moudine has long passed all her health tests, has delivered two healthy litters with wonderful temperaments and is now living happily in her retirement home.  Her daughter had to have a C-section. We have not seen this in Moudine's line before and are watching closely if this was just a fluke or inherited. We are now working with Moudine's grandkids and great grandchildren. We find this line to be super healthy so far. ........time will tell!! </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Neighboring Farm Foundation Cat Project</U></div> <bR> <div> This line is old and consists mostly of diluted and high white colored cats. This shows us that inbreeding has taken place. However, the females still have large, healthy litters which speaks of a strong and genetically healthy line. Litter sizes of 4 and 5 kittens average also are an indicator that the COI cannot be that high. The great grandfather of these cats is a 17 years old large Blue/high White male who has been in many fights and who's ears have been frozen which makes him look really odd but sweet. The farmers reported they never had cats die of any diseases and mothers always have healthy litters of kittens. Many vet-checkups were  performed on the mothercats  before two of the kittens were integrated with our other foundation cats. The kittens received all tests and preventions at appropriate ages as well. The line where Fear No Evil comes from had better gums and teeth than the line where Oktober comes from. By crossing the offspring to foundation and pedigreed lines with good gums, this problem is presently being rectified. Length of quarantine was 3 months. Fear No Evil had his hips checked by OFA and received OFA "prelim good". Fear No Evil's children Haley and Kasimir both were OFA prelim Good. Fear No Evil's daughter Fayre was OFA prelim "excellent". Fear No Evil' sson Nigel snootbutter was OFA *excellent*> All four  of his children have had healthy litters with no stillbirths and deformities. Oktober *(I Love All You Made) had her hips checked and received OFA *prelim good*. Both also cleared their HCM test around age 1. Oktober's had two healthy litters with no still births or deformities. Oktober's daughter Luisa had her heart and kidneys tested at age 17 months and was negative. Her hips are OFA prelim fair. Her brother's hips are OFA prelim *excellent*. Luisa is a picture perfect mother with lots of milk. Coral and Bunnypuppy are Oktober's grandkids. They come from an extremely healthy and affecionate litter. Oktober's two sons from Plowman (Coldoldbear and Snowleamer) had their hips tested and they were "good" and "excellent". Snowleamer and Coldoldbear also had their hearts and kidneys tested and were both negative. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Canadiana of PrairieBaby, white F1 female: </U></div> <bR> <div> <I>Please note: this project is currently inactive.</I></div> <bR> <div> Canadiana's health history is very unusual and might offend some people. We would like to point out that she does not live with us. Canadiana has had between 25 and 30 healthy litters in her whole life and raised between 90 and 100 kittens in her home in Brandon. Nobody has ever brought back one of her kittens to the owner or was not happy.</div> <bR> <div> Canadiana received Felv/Fiv test and CBC and a complete checkup, several stool samples, fungal culture and preventative treatment by our licensed veterinarian and was found to be in excellent health at age 12. Her teeth are still very good and her gums are not inflamed which is great at such an old age. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> We will write more about our other projects when we find time. Here is our health statistic for the past  few years of foundation breeding: <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="healthstatistic"><U>PrairieBaby Health Statistics</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="canadian foundation"><U>Current Foundation Projects</U></A> </div> <bR> <div> Previous<A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="completed projects"><U> Foundation Projects</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Foundation Update"><U>Foundation Update</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="the story behind it"><U>How healthy are these lines?</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="healthstatistic"><U>PrairieBaby Health Statistics</U></A></div> <div> updated December 2007</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="stories"><U>The Story behind it</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="tentative foundation breedings"><U>Full Foundation Breedings in 2004</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="planned foundation breedings"><U>PLanned Full Foundation breedings for 2005/2006</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>General Information:</U></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="general questions"><U>1. General Questions about Outcross- and Foundation Breeding</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="becoming a foundation breeder"><U>2. Becoming a Foundation Breeder</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="inbreeding tests in foundation cats"><U>3. Inbreeding Tests in Foundation Cats</U></A></div> <div> revised on May 04, 2003!</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="pictures of foundations"><U>4. Pictures of Cats from Newer Foundation Lines</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="foundation breeders"><U>5. Links to Foundation Catteries</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="joining a foundation breeder list"><U>6. Joining a Foundation Breeder List</U></A></div> <div> This is a private list for people working with foundation and part foundation. We are presently only accepting members who are actively working with newer foundation lines and who test for HCM and HD. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto:MCfoundationphotos-subscribe@yahoogroups.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:MCfoundationphotos-subscribe@yaho"><U>7. Joining the MCFoundationphoto list</U></A></div> <div> (This is a public list where people can post and view pictures of foundation/part foundation cats)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id86.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="book foundatino breeding"><U>8. Book on Outcross and Foundation Breeding</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>