How to select breeding nutria? Sharing breeding experience

Generally, adult nutria from 6-7 months to 3 years of age are selected. Selection work should be carried out year-round, and it is best to conduct quality evaluation of the breeding stock from late November to mid-January. Selection is based on body size, body weight, body condition, fur quality, color, reproductive capacity, progeny quality, and other factors. Because nutria fur has the guard hairs plucked out when used, the quality evaluation of the coat is based on the underfur. Excellent breeding nutria should have uniform, glossy underfur, and the density and length of the underfur on the back and abdomen (over 20 mm) should be similar. Brown and dark gray coat colors are preferred. Eliminate those individuals with poor coat quality and colors that do not meet requirements. Those with a broad abdominal circumference, robust constitution, thick and strong limbs, strong adaptability, a vigorous appetite, age not exceeding 4 years, and good health without disease may be retained for breeding. Female nutria should have a high conception rate, give birth to 6-8 young per litter, have strong milk production, good maternal nature, more than 4 pairs of teats, produce more than 2 litters per year, have strong sexual desire, weigh over 4-4.5 kg, and have a clear pedigree. Female nutria that give birth to few young, are prone to miscarriage, produce little milk, have difficult births, or easily fail to conceive should be eliminated. Male nutria should have strong sexual desire, a gentle temperament, a broad and flat head, a straight back and waist, strong limbs, high reproductive capacity in the females they mate with, and weigh over 4.5-5 kg. Male nutria that cannot impregnate females, have low mating ability, are thin and weak, or are ill should be eliminated promptly. When supplementing young nutria, the health of the mother must be taken into consideration; offspring born to females in poor body condition should not be kept for breeding. Young nutria at 4-5 months of age have not yet reached body maturity, so selection should be carried out at 6-7 months of age. At this time, young females should weigh no less than 3.5 kg, and young males no less than 4 [kg], with a dense and glossy coat no shorter than 10 mm.