BODY CONDITION OF MALE FARM MINK (Neovison vison) DURING A MATING SEASON
Journal Title: Folia Pomeranae Universitatis Technologiae Stetinensis Agricultura Alimentaria Piscaria et Zootechnica - Year 2017, Vol 42, Issue 334
Abstract
The study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between the body condition of males of farmed mink (Neovison vison) and their behaviour as well as mating performance. The observations involved 170 males of Pearl mink. Before the the breeding season, males were assigned to three groups according to their condition: Group I – very thin, Group II – thin and ideal weight, Group III – heavy and obese. On the completion of the mating season, the following reproductive indices were analysed: number of days in mating, number of matings per day and during the entire mating season, fraction of males that failed to mate, incidence of aggressive behaviours. Statistical analysis did not reveal significant differences in the mean number of days in mating, total number of matings or daily number of matings. Male condition score has a significant effect on the behaviour of the animals. The highest rate of aggressive behaviours, 16%, was observed in groups I and II, i.e. in very thin, thin and ideal weight animals. Males of group III, i.e. overweight and obese, showed one half of aggressive behaviours, about 8%. A different pattern was seen in fur chewing, since none of thin or ideal-weight males (Group II) did chew its fur. Only very thin (Group I, 2%) and obese males (Group III, 4.17%) chewed their fur. Group I comprised the lowest fraction of males that failed to mate, about 6%, compared to approx. 10% in Groups I and III each.
Authors and Affiliations
Lidia FELSKA-BŁASZCZYK, Małgorzata DZIADOSZ-STYŚ, Natalia ŁAWRÓW
Keywords
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