How to carry out disease prevention measures in masked palm civet farming

Wild masked palm civets have wide adaptability and strong disease resistance, and generally suffer from fewer illnesses. However, under artificial rearing, especially at high stocking density, attention should be paid to disease prevention and control, adhering to the principle of “prevention first, prevention over treatment.” In the early stage of introduction and rearing, the change in environment has a relatively large impact on the growth of masked palm civets. If they are captured from the wild for introduction, the transition from wild conditions to artificial conditions brings even greater changes, and special attention should be paid to management.

First, attention should be paid to good environmental hygiene; feces and urine should be kept separate from the cage floor, with ventilation provided, and manure should be cleaned at least once every morning. The keepers and the color of their clothing should be kept relatively fixed to minimize disturbance and stress to the masked palm civets, and the cages and environment should be spray-disinfected with disinfectant solution once a week

.

Second, the feed should be free of pathogenic bacteria (viruses) and mold, especially some slaughterhouse by-products, which should be cooked thoroughly before feeding.

Third, visitors should be declined, and staff should change into work clothes and undergo appropriate disinfection before entering the shed.

Fourth, newly introduced breeding civets must be kept isolated under observation for one month before considering whether to merge them into the group.

Fifth, dogs and cats must be kept out of the facility.

Sixth, preventive injections, such as parvovirus vaccine, etc.

Seventh, for some common diseases, such as hemorrhagic enteritis, pneumonia, colds, parasites, rickets in young civets, diarrhea, indigestion and trauma, the cause must be identified and treatment given according to the symptoms. When suffering from gastroenteritis, grind oxytetracycline into powder, give 1 tablet per day, and mix it into the feed for oral administration. To prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases, vaccination against canine distemper and botulism poisoning can be carried out.

(3) Fattening and marketing. In autumn, the feed intake of masked palm civets increases, in order to accumulate nutrients in preparation for overwintering, and at this time the supply of nutrients must be ensured. In winter, masked palm civets move very little, and apart from defecating and eating a small amount of feed, they generally hibernate inside their dens.

In winter, the fur of masked palm civets is thick and glossy, the pelt quality is also at its best, and they are fat and their meat is delicious, making it the best season to collect pelts. Generally, after entering autumn, fattening should be carried out promptly, and especially in the 3 weeks before marketing, some animal-based feed should be added to increase body weight. When young civets have been raised for about 8 months and their body weight reaches 4-5 kg, they can be marketed. One week before slaughter, it is best to feed them fruit with a higher sugar content, so that the meat flavor will be even more delicious and distinctive.