Breeding - Hereditary defects

In this section you can find out more about issues relating to hereditary defects and breeding that may be of interest to members of the British Veterinary Association.

Background

Recently the health and welfare issues associated with hereditary defects in dogs have been highlighted by the media. Problems related to the interbreeding of animals can also be seen in many other species of production and companion animal.

BVA position

the BVA believes that companion animal owners and farmers should speak with their veterinary surgeon about hereditary defects before breeding from their animals
the BVA supports the proposal that an independent advisory group should be formed, which would make recommendations when there are breeding related health and welfare problems in a particular breed of animal
the BVA believes that the government should produce breeding codes of practice under section 14 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006
the BVA believes that out breeding programmes should be considered in breeds with small gene pools that have major health and welfare problems associated with hereditary diseases, e.g. those unable to mate or give birth naturally.

What the BVA has done

in November 2008 the EWG agreed that the review into the breeding of dogs should act as a model for a series of reviews covering the breeding of both companion and production animals
health and welfare problems related to breeding were discussed at the BVA AWF forum in May 2009. The session speakers looked specifically at the breeding of dogs, fish and cows
in 2009 the BVA became a member of the CAWC Steering Group which is looking into the possibility of forming an independent advisory group whose remit would cover health and breeding issues in all companion animal species.