Breeding trouble: the cost of crossbreeding in New Zealand

Associate Professor Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere was interviewed on RNZ, TVNZ Breakfast and 95bFM regarding the ethical and health implications of crossbreeding after the ‘XL Bully cat’ garnered internet fame.

The XL Bully cat is a cross between Sphynx and Munchkin cats and the curious-looking crossbreed has ignited selective breeding concerns globally.

Below is an edited excerpt of Rodriguez Ferrere's discussion with 95bFM’s news and editorial director Joel Armstrong.
 

What are some of the issues that can arise from crossbreeding?

We see many adverse effects with the ‘XL Bully cat’, specifically the inability to regulate their body temperature in an effective way. Unless they are a Sphynx in particular conditions, cats generally need their coat to ensure they can regulate their body temperature.

When it comes to dogs, breeds like French Bulldogs and dachshunds often have long-term health problems because of their genetics.

Are we seeing other animals being crossbred as well?

In New Zealand, if we look at selective breeding, designer breeding or genetic modification of animals, our first port of call should be the agricultural industry.

For example, in 1970, we had ewes that would have around one or two lambs per birth. That has increased significantly over the years due to selective breeding practices and research by Crown organisations.

It's the same with hens. In 1975, hens would lay around 130 eggs a year, that went up to 312 just a few years ago, and it has gone up even more in recent years. This is not because hens are suddenly getting better at laying. It's because they were selectively bred to ensure higher rates of productivity.

Selective breeding within the agricultural sector in New Zealand is pretty common. It's all about creating more efficiency and productivity in the industry.

It's not too different when it comes to companion animals being selectively bred for particular traits. Because we see animals as commodities and because they are legally deemed ‘property’ within the law, it means that within certain limits, we can do whatever we want with them.

So just in the same way that we selectively breed sheep to have higher productivity, more wool, better grazing and higher live births, we breed French Bulldogs to ensure that they look the way that we like, or the bully XL cat because they're viewed as desirable and trendy.
 

How prolific is the crossbreeding industry here compared to what we're seeing in other countries?

New Zealand is a world leader in many ways in terms of agricultural research to create more productive animals suited to New Zealand conditions. The agricultural industry is a much more regulated industry than what we see with companion animals.

When it comes to companion animals, New Zealand follows trends from around the world. For example, when you see Paris Hilton carrying a chihuahua in her handbag, then suddenly there's going to be a certain segment of the New Zealand population that is going to want a chihuahua, and because it's going to be difficult to get chihuahuas from abroad that will fuel domestic breeding markets.

And that's why we see lucrative underground markets for particular breeds of dogs in this country. This industry is completely unregulated, and while many breeders are outstanding individuals, many are not and the conditions of some breeding facilities, because there's no regulation, can create really problematic scenarios for the dogs and the puppies that are in them.

What are the issues in terms of how lax New Zealand's regulations are regarding crossbreeding?

There's nothing preventing the selective breeding of any animal. There's no law against breeding, so long as the actual act of breeding is within the law and isn't causing an animal any unreasonable or unnecessary pain and distress.

When it comes to the actual existence of an animal that has health problems because it's got short legs or no hair, there's nothing that is legally problematic about that animal being brought into existence.

The law only regulates the care and welfare of animals. So if you own or have an animal in your charge, you have certain obligations to ensure that their physical health and behavioural needs are met. But if, for example, that animal happens to be a Bully XL cat, there's no legal argument that says, ‘well, you have created this animal that has these problems and a miserable existence, therefore, there should be some legal repercussions.’

There's nothing that requires or regulates that, and because there are no restrictions on the types of animals that can be selectively bred, there's basically nothing stopping the industry creating those animals and feeding that sort of market demand.

What regulations would you like to see regarding the crossbreeding industry in Aotearoa?

We could start by regulating the breeding industry overall. In New Zealand, breeding isn’t regulated. Some private controls are in place, but there’s nothing preventing someone from becoming a cat or dog breeder overnight, which can be problematic.

In-demand breeds, like Jack Russells, fetch high prices—$1,500 for a standard Jack Russell puppy and much more for rarer breeds. Such financial incentives drive people to respond to the market, sometimes leading to substandard breeding conditions that don’t meet the Animal Welfare Act’s requirements.

I want to see greater awareness and regulation in this industry, as well as controls on selective breeding.

Currently, we have a massive blind spot. Many people used to get pets from the SPCA, which still happens, but demand for specific designer breeds has risen. This high demand fuels a largely underground market and you can get situations where breeding facilities are abhorrent and cause a lot of pain and stress for the animals involved.