Key Technical Points for Breeding Management of Raccoon Dogs in the Pre-Mating Period

The preparation mating period for raccoon dogs runs from October each year to January of the following year. Strengthening management during this stage is key to the raccoon dog farming industry.

1. Cold protection and warmth retention. Starting in October, bedding straw should be added to the den, especially in cold regions, and throughout the entire winter there must be sufficient bedding straw in the den.

2. Maintain good hygiene. Some raccoon dogs defecate in the den and drag feed into the den, making the den and bedding straw filthy and unsanitary, which can easily cause disease and cause the fur to become tangled. Therefore, the cage and den should be cleaned regularly to keep the den dry and clean.

3. Increase water intake. During the preparation mating period, sufficient drinking water must be ensured, with watering at least once a day. In winter, some clean crushed ice or loose snow can also be fed.

4. Strengthen taming. In the late preparation mating period, taming should be strengthened, especially by frequently enticing the raccoon dogs to move around in the cage. This not only enhances their physique but also helps eliminate fear and improves reproductive capacity.

5. Adjust body condition. The focus of management in the late preparation mating period is adjusting body condition so that breeding raccoon dogs reach the ideal reproductive body condition in terms of fatness and thinness, generally a body weight of 5-6 kg. Raccoon dogs that are too fat should be put on a weight-reduction regimen.

The method is: reduce high-fat feed in the daily ration, keep the raccoon dogs in the exercise yard to let them move around, and if necessary apply cold stimulation, but never drastically reduce feed before mating. For thin raccoon dogs, fattening can be carried out. The method is: increase the amount of feed or increase high-fat feed in the daily ration, and strengthen body temperature.