Show Qualities of a Chinchilla
Once the fur type has been identified as being of the top two categories, it is important to consider the fur length. The fur length gives an additional benefit of making the chinchilla look larger than it is. A good fur type of good, long length will look plushy and attractive. A disadvantage of very long fur is that it tends to be weak and to lie flat along the chinchillas body.
With this in mind, it is important to breed chinchillas with good fur length to improve their appearance of size, although to keep a check on it so that it doesn't become too long. A good fur length for the centre of the chinchillas back is between 1" and 1 3/8" (25mm to 32mm). Longer than this and you risk losing fur strength and the fur will look softish, and shorter than this and the chinchilla will have a decided 'dip' or hollow in their backs as you look across their fur. Very short fur is deemed as the lowest fur quality.
Fur Length
Fur Length is described in the NCS Appraisal Sheet as follows;
Desirable - 1" to 1 3/8" (25mm to 32mm).
Shorter - 3/4" to 1" (18mm to 25mm).
Long, over 1 3/8" (over 32mm).
Very Short - Less that 3/4" (18mm).
By quoting length of fur in terms of inches or millimetres, it might be implied that NCS judges handle the chinchillas and get their measures out! This is obviously not the case! Instead the judge relies on a number of factors to assess the fur length. If there is a 'dip' (hollow) in the centre of the back then that would be an indication of very short fur. If the chinchilla was very heavy although didn't look too large, that might be an indication of shorter fur. If the chinchilla were priming and the older fur were lying slightly flat, although the newly primed fur was upright and strong, that might indicate long fur.
When a judge comments on fur length, they are generally referring to the length in the centre of the grotzen (back). The fur length, of course varies over the animal. The longest fur will likely be over the hips of the chinchilla, and the shortest will tend to be in the neck area, although no noticeable 'dip' in the neck should be seen.
Fur Length in centre of back
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Fur
in Centre of back - 26mm
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This picture shows the fur in the centre of the back of a chinchilla. The fur is being blown into, which a judge in an NCS show will not do, but this shows the underfur, bar, tipping and fur length. This fur has been measured as being 26mm in length, and so a grade 1 for fur length. Unfortunately the picture is not quite in focus.
Fur Length over hips
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Fur over hips - 32mm
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This picture is of the same animal, and shows the fur over the hips. The fur is being blown into, which a judge in an NCS show will not do, but this shows the underfur, bar, tipping and fur length. The fur length here is 32mm.
Fur Length in neck
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Fur in neck - 24mm
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This picture is of the same animal, and shows the fur in the neck. The fur is being blown into, which a judge in an NCS show will not do, but this shows the underfur, bar, tipping and fur length. The fur length here is 20mm.