Basic knowledge of feeding and management for raccoon dog farming

I think many people are not familiar with the raccoon dog, but the name is probably heard often. We often hear people say “the fur on my clothes is raccoon dog fur”, which shows that raccoon dog fur is very widely used in industry.

Basic knowledge of feeding and management for raccoon dog farming

1. Adjustment of breeding body condition (Start of Winter to January 15)

Breeding body condition standard: based on the raccoon dog's body length (from behind the ears to the base of the tail), 2.2 liang per cm is the normal breeding body condition. Body condition adjustment can be divided into two stages:

1. Natural body condition reduction: (Start of Winter to December 1)

The raccoon dog enters the hibernation period and its appetite decreases. Feed once each evening, halving the amount of food. Generally, each animal gets 1.5 liang of mianzi and 4 qian of fishmeal per day. The standard for adding food should be based on the plate being completely clean after feeding, and food should be added as appropriate.

2. Artificial body condition reduction: (December 1 to January 15)

Starting from December 1, begin adjusting body condition. First, weigh each breeding raccoon dog's body weight generally, measure the level according to the breeding body condition standard, see how to feed so that it drops to breeding body condition by January 15, make a condition adjustment plan, and control the amount of food well. Weigh again on December 10 to measure how much has been reduced each day. According to dropping to breeding body condition by January 15, adjust the amount of food added or reduced again. At this stage, the feed should preferably be 9 to 7 qian of mianzi and 4 qian of fishmeal. From December 10, breeding female raccoon dogs begin to be given medicine: E and cod liver oil fed in rotation; B1, compound B, and C fed in rotation to male and female raccoon dogs, one tablet of each.

At this stage, if body condition drops slowly, reduce only the mianzi, not the fishmeal. Continue until it drops to breeding body condition before January 15. (Calculated as 2 liang per cm)

2. Feeding and management during the estrus and mating stage:

1. Raise body condition to promote estrus

Starting from January 16, raise body condition, increase protein feed, and promote estrus. Generally: 7 qian of mianzi, 5 qian of fishmeal, 7 qian of eggs. The food should be somewhat thin, and they should be fed until full. At noon, feed a small amount of carrots or vegetable leaves (about half a liang). Medicine: from January 20, switch E to 100 mg, 1 capsule per male and female raccoon dog per day, and the other medicines are fed in rotation as above. From February 1, switch to feeding twice, once in the morning and once in the evening.

3. Management and methods during the mating period

1. The mating period generally starts at the end of January and ends on March 10, with the optimal time being mid-February.

2. Management: upon entering the mating period, generally 8 to 9 qian of mianzi, 5 qian of fishmeal, 7 qian of eggs; at noon add carrots or vegetable leaves; for male raccoon dogs add one egg at noon. Medicine: in the morning, B1, compound B, and C fed in rotation, one tablet each; in the evening, female raccoon dogs get 1 capsule of 100 mg E and 3 capsules of cod liver oil; male raccoon dogs get 100 mg and cod liver oil.

3. Mating methods

① Estrus testing: generally start observation and estrus testing from January 28. The estrus signs of male and female raccoon dogs are restlessness in the cage at night and vocalizations. Female raccoon dogs have swollen vulva and urine wetting the cage door brick. Every morning from 5 to 7 o'clock, and after 4 p.m., use tongs to put those with good estrus signs into the male raccoon dog's cage for testing. If they fight, pull them out immediately. Testing once every two days is enough. (This can promote faster estrus in male and female raccoon dogs, but do not do it frequently or forcibly, to avoid mate preference in male and female raccoon dogs.) Continue until the female raccoon dog naturally accepts mating.

② Mating method: mating generally starts with one mating on the first day of natural acceptance, two matings on the second day (one in the morning and one in the evening), two matings on the third day, and one mating on the fourth day, after which it can end. Note that once a female raccoon dog has mated, use other male raccoon dogs for rotation mating to avoid empty pregnancy. Mate preference may occur, but that is not a problem; whichever one she wants, let that one mate.

4. Feeding and management during gestation:

The management at this stage is roughly divided into two parts:

1. Management for 25 to 30 days: this period is very important and determines how many young are born. After mating ends, generally weigh the body weight, grasp the body condition after mating, keep a clear picture, and judge how much food each raccoon dog should be given, generally keeping it at one spoon per meal. Feed this way for 25 to 30 days, then slowly increase, controlling it by the spoon. Within 30 days, mianzi should be reduced to 5 to 6 qian, fishmeal 8 qian, eggs 7 qian, and the food should be somewhat thin. During mating, body condition is consumed greatly. Thin raccoon dogs should have mianzi added at 25 days, and those with less consumption at 30 days, adding 2 qian every 5 days (0.4 qian per day), that is, from 30 to 35 days, mianzi 9 qian to 1 liang, and by 45 days mianzi increased to 1.5 liang.

2. Feeding and management from 45 to 60 days: (determines whether the number of young born is good or bad) From 45 to 50 days, increase mianzi to 1.8 liang and fishmeal to 1 liang. In addition, starting from 45 days, add one cooked egg at noon, add vegetables at noon; from 50 to 60 days, increase mianzi to 2 to 2.5 liang and fishmeal to 1.2 liang. The feeding method for eggs and vegetables remains unchanged, and add a little non-iodized salt as appropriate. Medicine feeding method during gestation: in the morning, B1, compound B, and C fed in rotation, one tablet each; in the evening, 10 mg E, 1 tablet per day, and cod liver oil fed in rotation, 1 capsule each time; feed 10 mg E for 60 days to protect the pregnancy, until giving birth. In addition, starting at 40 days, add 2 calcium tablets every morning; at 50 days, add yeast, 4 tablets per meal.

In addition, within the 60 days of gestation, fishmeal and mianzi must be prepared in sufficient quantity and of good quality, and cannot be changed midway. The amount of food must be controlled well, and the food should be thin. In the first 30 days the amount should be small, and after 40 days the amount should be sufficient, but not excessive, based on the food plate being completely licked clean after each feeding. If leftover food is seen, add one spoon less next time; if it can be eaten clean, then this is the sufficient amount. Pay attention to observation and adjustment, neither insufficient nor excessive, and maintain a strong appetite.

Feeding and management during lactation

1. Care during birthing: raccoon dogs begin nesting 2 to 3 days before giving birth (that is, gestation, generally 57 to 58 days). Generally, those raised normally will definitely give birth on the 60th day, and delays of 3 to 5 days are also possible. Raccoon dogs lose their wildness 24 hours before giving birth, so do not be afraid; provide good care. During birthing, a person should watch in front of the den entrance and see whether the female raccoon dog opens the fetal membrane and bites off the umbilical cord when the first cub is born. If so, it is normal and no intervention is needed. If several are born in succession, she may not open them (generally dying in 3 minutes). At this time, the caretaker should use a prepared hook to pull out the unopened small raccoon dog, quickly open the head and fetal membrane by hand, cut the umbilical cord with scissors (leaving 1 cm), dry it with cotton or toilet paper, and place it in a warm place indoors (at this time it is most afraid of cold).

For the time being, there is no need to put it back in the den. If after opening it appears dead, use your hands to move it and perform artificial respiration; if the time is short, it can be saved. Female raccoon dogs give birth very slowly, generally taking 5 to 6 hours or longer. Do not be anxious; the later the stage, the more care is needed, as the mortality rate is high then. After the female raccoon dog finishes giving birth, use tongs to take the large female raccoon dog out of the den and place her in another empty cage. Begin checking the small raccoon dogs: first, count the number; second, see whether any are tangled together because of long umbilical cords, and cut them apart with scissors; third, see whether the large female raccoon dog's nipples are wiped clean, and squeeze the nipples once by hand. Finally, put the small raccoon dogs that were taken outside during care and the large female raccoon dog back into the den, cover the den well to keep it warm, and that is enough. After half an hour, if the den is quiet, it is normal. If it is not quiet, check the reason; generally there will be no problem.

2. Feeding: after the female raccoon dog gives birth, switch to feeding three times. About 2.5 liang of mianzi, depending on the raccoon dog's appetite. As the food intake of the small raccoon dogs increases, slowly increase the mianzi. Fishmeal 1 liang, and increase fat feed such as goat milk and lard, in small amounts. At noon feed one egg; the food should be thin, and increase the mianzi as appetite increases. Medicine: after the female raccoon dog gives birth, feed oxytetracycline for 3 days, one tablet per day; feed yeast 4 tablets per day; other vitamin medicines are fed according to the method used during body condition adjustment, appropriately increasing the frequency of C and cod liver oil. Small raccoon dogs begin to eat at around 18 to 20 days. Provide lactobacillin, 1 tablet per raccoon dog per meal, or less depending on the situation. At this time, try to control the food intake of the small raccoon dogs to avoid excessive diarrhea.

Feeding and management after weaning

1. Feeding and management for 30 days after weaning

Small raccoon dogs begin weaning at 45 to 50 days. If growth within a litter is uneven, separate the large ones first, 3 to 4 per cage, and gradually separate the rest later, letting the small ones be nursed by the female raccoon dog for a few more days. The month after weaning is crucial for feeding and determines their whole life. At this stage, because raccoon dogs give birth at different times, the feed amount cannot be determined either, but two standards must be grasped: first, control the food amount well; after the small raccoon dogs finish eating, the plate should be licked clean; second, after feeding, no obvious belly should be visible. The food should be especially thin (like congee but not sticky), and the food amount should be kept at half a small rice spoon per meal for each small raccoon dog in the first 15 days. In the latter 15 days, slowly increase to more than half a spoon or one spoon per day, that is, 50 to 70 percent full.

The feed amount also cannot be fixed. Generally, keep the total amount of mianzi and fishmeal at a 3:1 ratio (for example, 3 jin of mianzi to 1 jin of fishmeal). Reduce the mianzi accordingly, add an appropriate amount of glucose, goat milk or milk powder, and add feed concentrate. Medicine: add an appropriate amount of lactase, vitamin C, cod liver oil, and mainly compound B at each meal, fed in daily rotation.

2. Feeding and management from July to November

① Feeding method in July is the same as above; the food amount gradually increases with the raccoon dog's growth and appetite. Mianzi and fishmeal are combined at a 4:1 ratio, eggs 3 qian, and the medicine feeding method is the same as above. Feed to 70 to 80 percent full, and begin vaccinations.

② From August to September, only increase the mianzi in the feed; fishmeal is 4 qian per animal per day (eggs 2 qian, or give them only to the small raccoon dogs that grow slowly). Cancel the medicine, and feed to 80 to 90 percent full.

③ From October to November, feed enough mianzi; increase fishmeal to 5 qian. From late October, begin increasing meat. Generally chicken frames are cheap, 3 qian per animal per day. From July to November, mianzi should gradually increase to 3 liang to 3.5 liang per animal per day. From Start of Winter to Minor Snow, harvest the skins.

Several issues to note during the feeding process

1. Setting up breeding raccoon dog dens: the female raccoon dog's den should face the sun, and from deep winter until after birthing, the den should be well covered with straw curtains and plastic. This can promote early estrus. Male raccoon dogs also need a sunny and warm place.

2. To ensure normal growth of raccoon dogs and prevent problems, the most critical points are: control and adjust appetite well; after feeding, the food plate must be completely licked clean; better to be slightly underfed than overfed; adjust the food amount by observing feces. If the feces are black, thin, and hard, it indicates the food amount is slightly small; if the feces are black-gray and slightly soft, it indicates the food amount is normal; if there is diarrhea, it indicates overfeeding, so reduce food.

3. Feed ratio: generally 100 kg of corn, 20 jin of wheat, and 10 jin of beans. Within 2 months after weaning of small raccoon dogs, reduce beans to 5 jin. During this period, too much beans will cause indigestion.

4. From July to September, use Baidusha to disinfect inside and outside the den once a month.

Prevention and treatment of common diseases in raccoon dog farming

1. Diarrhea: for diarrhea with eating, it is mainly due to overfeeding, undercooked food, or spoiled feed. Find the cause and make corresponding adjustments. Treatment method: control food and reduce amount; oral gentamicin, 1 to 2 tubes as appropriate according to the raccoon dog's size; add norfloxacin or other intestinal anti-inflammatory drugs to the food; human medicines should be used according to the instructions. For diarrhea without eating, use human berberine plus ribavirin, and inject aminopyrine; the dosage should follow the instructions.

2. Cold: manifested as suddenly eating a lot or not eating, dry nose tip. Inject one tube each of penicillin, aminopyrine, and dexamethasone; for those under 5 jin, use one-half or one-third, twice a day, until normal.

3. Parasitic diseases: main manifestations: gray-white nose, eating but not growing, diarrhea and emaciation, self-biting fur. Treatment: use veterinary deworming drugs such as Yilijia and Afuding, with dosage according to the instructions or as instructed by a veterinarian. In July, all raccoon dogs should be dewormed once.

4. Red paw disease (vitamin C deficiency) treatment: add vitamin C to the feed, apply sulfur ointment to the paws, and apply continuously for 7 days.

In life, people who farm raccoon dogs are not very common. In the process of farming and feeding, various problems will be encountered, so learning more about feeding precautions and feeding methods is very helpful for farming.