Fox farming: grasp the key breeding period
The fox is an animal with high economic value, and fox fur clothing is deeply loved by people. Northern provinces are the key distribution areas for fox farming. Fox estrus and breeding are mostly concentrated in February to March, and doing a good job of breeding at this time each year is related to the level of fox farming benefits that year. For this reason, farmers are reminded to raise awareness, seize the timing, adopt effective measures, do a good job of breeding work in the near future, and improve comprehensive farming benefits. Based on the author's own production practice, everyone is advised to focus on mastering the following 6 techniques:
1. Strengthen feeding and management
During the breeding period, foxes should be fed feed they like, that is easy to digest, and that has high protein content, so as to promote gonadal function. The feed formula is: sea miscellaneous fish 40%, meat 25%, animal liver 2%, milk 5%, cornmeal 25%, green vegetables 3%. Animal feed in the daily ration should account for 65%-70%, and sufficient supplies of vitamin A, E, D, C and B vitamins should also be ensured. At the same time, some bone meal and salt should also be added, and appropriate supplemental feeding of animal brain and liver, scallions and garlic, and malt and other estrus-promoting feeds should be given. Adding an appropriate amount of cod liver oil emulsion to the feed is beneficial to the normal development of female foxes and fetuses. Feed 2-3 times per day. During the breeding period of male breeding foxes, each one should be supplementally fed 100 grams of eggs or meat at noon every day to replenish physical consumption.
2. Create a quiet environment
During the estrus and breeding period of foxes, the breeding farm must absolutely remain quiet, and outsiders should as much as possible not be allowed to enter the fox farm, so as to create a quiet and comfortable environment for the foxes. At the same time, ensure the supply of sufficient clean drinking water, and do a good job of heatstroke prevention and cooling, and cold prevention and warmth. Second, do not grab foxes unless there are special circumstances, so as to avoid causing miscarriage in female foxes.
3. Do a good job of estrus identification
Female foxes come into estrus slightly later than male foxes, mostly concentrated in February to March, with a few extending to April. The following three methods are mostly used to identify estrus in female foxes. Only by mastering them flexibly can estrus identification be more accurate and the conception rate of foxes be higher.
1. External genitalia examination method. In a female fox in estrus, the vulva begins to show and gradually swells and turns outward. Subsequently, the vulvar opening becomes highly swollen and turned outward, appearing pink or dark red, the clitoris is exposed, appearing round or oval, and the secretions are white or yellow curd-like. At this time it is the peak estrus period, and the conception rate from breeding is highest. Afterward, the vulvar opening contracts, swelling subsides, secretions decrease, the mucosa becomes dry, and estrus is over.
2. Behavior observation method. When a female fox is in estrus, she is restless, movement increases, appetite decreases, urination is frequent, and she often rubs against the cage net or licks the external genitalia with her tongue. During peak estrus, she is extremely restless, and appetite decreases or is completely lost, continuously making urgent courtship calls. In the late estrus period, activity gradually returns to normal, appetite recovers, and the spirit becomes calm.
3. Pairing test method. Put the female fox into the male fox's cage, and the following situations can be seen: a female fox just beginning estrus shows a tendency toward the opposite sex and can play and frolic with the test male fox, but refuses the male fox's mounting and mating. At peak estrus, the female fox is docile in temperament, stands with hind legs spread apart, raises her tail and tilts it to one side, and quietly waits for the male fox to mount and mate. In the later period, the female fox's libido declines and she is hostile toward the male fox.
4. Reasonable use of male foxes
Unreasonable use of male foxes will reduce the conception rate of female foxes. Throughout the entire breeding period, each male breeding fox should mate no more than 16 times. In order to ensure that male foxes have strong libido throughout the entire breeding period, male breeding foxes should be used in a planned and reasonable way. In the early breeding period, each male fox can accept 1-2 test pairings and 1-2 mating pairings per day; in the middle or late breeding period, it is best to use each one 1 time per day. After 5-7 days of breeding, they should rest for 1 day.
5. Check semen quality
Checking semen quality is an effective means of improving the conception rate of female foxes. Semen quality examination should be carried out at a room temperature of 18-20°C. The method is: insert a glass rod or pipette 10-12 cm into the vagina of a female fox that has just been mated, dip or draw a drop of mucus, place it on a glass slide, and observe under a 200-300x microscope. If semen quality is good, it can be seen under the microscope: the number of sperm is large, movement is lively, advancing in a straight line, shaped like tadpoles, with head and tail distinguishable, uniform in size, and no abnormalities. If no sperm or very few sperm can be observed under the microscope, vitality is very weak, and there are many abnormalities, then this male fox should be culled.
6. Suitable breeding method
If, through identification, the female fox has indeed entered peak estrus, she should be paired for mating in a timely manner. The method is: put the female fox into the male fox's cage (because male foxes are accustomed to mating in their own cage). Pairing can be done at any time during the day, but it is best in the morning and evening when the weather is cool and quiet. Foxes are animals that come into estrus once seasonally and ovulate successively, so their breeding method should preferably be repeated mating on consecutive days, that is, after the first mating, continue to mate again once each day until the female fox refuses to mate. It is also possible to mate again every other day after the first mating. For those female foxes with strong mate preference, in order to increase the reproduction rate, multiple male foxes can be used in rotation to mate with them.