Raccoon Dog Feeding and Management Methods and Technical Key Points

I. Proper combination of animal and plant feed The raccoon dog is an omnivore, and the characteristics and functions of its digestive system fall between those of carnivores and herbivores; it is suited both to eating and digesting animal feed and to eating and digesting plant feed. Therefore, when formulating rations, animal and plant feed should be used in a reasonable combination. Because animal feed is relatively expensive, its proportion should be reduced as much as possible within the permitted limit, generally no higher than 45%.

II. Feeding must be regular and quantitative Daily feeding of raccoon dogs should have relatively fixed times and amounts, so that they develop good eating habits and secrete digestive juices regularly, which helps the digestion and absorption of feed. Otherwise, long-term irregular eating easily causes digestive disorders and poor absorption of nutrients, which affects the normal development of the raccoon dog and leads to a weakened constitution. The specific feeding time, frequency and amount should be determined according to factors such as the raccoon dog's sex, body size and season.

III. Ration changes should be made gradually When the feed type is changed (including planned changes and temporary changes caused by factors such as feed sources), the amount of the new feed should be increased gradually and the amount of the replaced feed should be reduced gradually, so that the raccoon dog's digestive system gradually adapts to the new feed. Otherwise, a sudden feed change easily causes gastrointestinal disease, reduces the raccoon dog's appetite and affects production.

IV. Ensure drinking water The water supply should be determined according to the raccoon dog's physiological state, season and feed characteristics. In hot seasons the water requirement is high, so drinking water should not be interrupted; young raccoon dogs are in a period of vigorous growth and development, and their water requirement is higher than that of adults; the water requirement of pregnant female raccoon dogs also increases greatly compared with usual; female raccoon dogs are prone to thirst before and after giving birth, and insufficient drinking water easily leads to the behavior of carrying pups in the mouth and eating pups, so adequate drinking water must be ensured.

V. Maintain environmental hygiene and quiet The nest box should be cleaned and swept regularly and on schedule, and leftover food and feces of the raccoon dogs should be removed promptly. Feeding bowls should be cleaned promptly after each use for later use, and drinking water should be replaced promptly to keep it clean. During the mating period and the whelping period, special attention should be paid to keeping the raccoon dog farm quiet. An overly noisy environment or sudden noises will affect mating and whelping, and in severe cases female raccoon dogs with pups will carry the pups in their mouths or abandon them.

VI. Do a good job of heat and cold protection The raccoon dog's sweat glands are not well developed, and with its thick, long coat this affects the release of body heat, making it prone to heatstroke and death in hot summer weather. In winter the raccoon dog has the habit of non-continuous hibernation, so its food should be restricted, it should be kept quiet and the insulation of the nest box should be strengthened. Generally in the north, bedding straw should be added to the nest box around the Start of Winter, and insulation work during the whelping period is also very important; if this is not done well, it will affect the survival rate of the pups.

VII. Management by groups Raccoon dogs should be grouped by age, sex and purpose (breeding or fur use) to facilitate management. Note that male and female raccoon dogs can be kept in separate groups during the non-mating period, but should be kept together as a group near and during the mating period to strengthen stimulation by the opposite sex, which is beneficial to estrus and mating.