Improper Raccoon Dog Diet Ratio Causes Farming Losses

The kits raised by a certain farmer suffered from severe malnutrition, poor appetite, and the whole herd was generally undersized, thin and weak with long fur, upright and dry, sparse coats, white noses, and white paw pads, and some were even stunted raccoon dogs. The root cause was improper diet ratio for raccoon dogs.

1. Feed list: (660-670 animals) per day 75 kg duck racks, 25 kg frozen fish, 10 kg duck liver, 15 kg cornmeal, 5 kg wheat bran, 0.5 kg 1% fox and raccoon dog premix, and multivitamin additive added in full amount according to the instructions. Nutrient content: 962.54 kJ metabolizable energy, 22.48 g protein, 9.2 g fat, 21 g carbohydrates. Weight ratio of each feed: duck racks 57.69%, frozen fish 19.23%, duck liver 7.69%, cornmeal 11.54%, wheat bran 3.85%.

2. Diet analysis: This diet does not conform to the biological characteristics of raccoon dogs. The raccoon dog belongs to Carnivora, Canidae, Nyctereutes. Raccoon dogs, mink, and foxes are all fur animals, but their biological characteristics differ. Raccoon dogs are omnivorous and mainly eat plant-based feed, while mink and foxes mainly eat animal-based feed. In this feed list, the combined proportion of animal-based feed, namely duck racks, frozen fish, and duck liver, is as high as 84.64%, while the combined proportion of plant-based feed, namely cornmeal and wheat bran, is 15.39%. Obviously, the proportion of animal-based feed is too high and that of plant-based feed is too low. Feeding raccoon dogs with such a diet that does not conform to their biological characteristics results in weak digestive ability and low feed intake, and long-term feeding can cause nutritional and metabolic diseases in raccoon dogs.

3. Improved diet: In response to the above feeding problems, the author suggests adjusting the diet by adding fish steaks, yeast powder, and vegetables, and removing wheat bran. The adjusted diet is as follows: 33.5 kg frozen fish, 7.5 kg duck racks, 12.5 kg duck liver, 6.5 kg fish steaks, 5 kg yeast powder, 87.5 kg cornmeal, 1.25 kg salt, 67 kg vegetables. Premix and vitamins are added as before. Weight ratio of each feed: duck racks 3.4%, frozen fish 15.18%, duck liver 5.66%, fish steaks 2.94%, cornmeal 39.64%, yeast powder 2.27%, salt 0.57%, vegetables 30.35%. Nutrient content: 2283.05 kJ metabolizable energy, 25.6 g protein, 8.6 g fat, 96.6 g carbohydrates.

Feedback 7 days after changing the feed: the raccoon dogs' appetite increased greatly, their coats became glossy, their mental state was good, and their noses turned red. Feedback after 1 month: the white noses disappeared, the stunted raccoon dogs recovered from stunting, growth accelerated, and body size increased.

College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University Wang Lize