Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points for Weaning and Initial Breeding Selection of Foxes, Raccoon Dogs and Minks

1 Key Points of Weaning

Before weaning the cubs, first check the cages and boxes to be used once, repair any damage, and then disinfect them all for later use. Then clean and disinfect the required food trays and water boxes, to be used after the cubs are weaned.

Fox cubs are generally weaned at 35-60 days of age, raccoon dog cubs generally at 45-60 days of age, and mink cubs generally at 40-45 days of age. Cubs must not be weaned too early; weaning too early weakens their independent living ability, affects their growth and development, and easily causes disease or even death; weaning too late means the cubs continue nursing, which over-consumes the mother's constitution so that she cannot easily recover, affecting the next year's production. The specific weaning time mainly depends on the cubs' development and the mother's nursing ability. If the mother is raising too many cubs, wean earlier to restore the mother's body condition; if she is raising few cubs, is in good body condition, and has a harmonious relationship with the cubs, weaning can be later. If the cubs' development is uneven and the mother's milk is not very good, you may first select the cubs with strong constitution, large body size and strong feeding ability and wean them first, leaving the weaker cubs with the mother to continue nursing for a while, and wean them when they have developed to be stronger. In general, during feeding, if you find that the relationship between the mother and cubs is not harmonious or the mother shows aggressive behavior toward the cubs, then it is time to wean.

At weaning, all cubs can be divided into two major groups by male and female, and then the smaller individuals in each of the male and female groups can be separated out individually, thus forming one major group of all male cubs and one major group of female cubs; the separated cubs are kept in the same shed. However, the mother's number should be recorded on the weaning cage, which makes it convenient for the keepers to add food reasonably according to the body-size characteristics of the male and female animals, and also facilitates the initial selection of breeding animals.

Newly weaned cubs are used to group life; because the living environment changes after weaning, they will feel unaccustomed to the new environment and often show stress reactions, so they will occasionally emit startled cries; some cubs will inevitably be restless and have a greatly reduced appetite. At this time, feed nutrition should be strengthened so that they adapt to the new environment as soon as possible and grow healthily. The mother, because she has nursed the cubs, declines in body condition, and her nutrition should also be strengthened to lay a good foundation for the next production. Although the weaned cubs have poorer appetite in the first few days due to stress from leaving their mother, after a few days their appetite increases greatly. In order for the cubs to develop fully, the amount of feed should be continuously increased according to appetite; they can be fed 3 times a day, and the nutritional level is: for foxes and minks, each 418 kilojoules (100 kcal) should contain no less than 7.5-8.5 g of digestible protein, and for raccoon dogs no less than 7.0-7.5 g. When preparing feed by percentage, the animal-based feed for foxes and minks should not be less than 50%-55%, and for raccoon dogs not less than 45%-50%.

2 Key Technical Points of Initial Breeding Selection

The initial selection of foxes, raccoon dogs and minks is all carried out at the time of weaning.

2.1 Fox

Initial selection is generally carried out in May-June each year. Male foxes with poor mating ability and poor semen quality should be culled. Breeding female foxes to be retained should have a litter size higher than the average of the whole group, good maternal behavior, sufficient milk, and normally developing nursing fox cubs. Requirements for initially selected fox cubs: clear pedigree, excellent production performance of both parents, early birth (silver foxes born before April 10, blue foxes born before May 20), normal growth and development, and no disabilities; these are retained for breeding. The number retained in the initial selection should be 40% more than the breeding retention plan.

2.2 Raccoon Dog

Initial selection is carried out in May-June. After the mating period ends for adult male raccoon dogs, an initial selection is carried out according to their mating ability, semen quality and body condition recovery. After weaning, adult female raccoon dogs undergo an initial selection according to their reproduction, lactation and maternal behavior. When young raccoon dogs of the year are weaned, an initial selection is carried out on individuals that are large and whose parents have good production performance, according to the number of cubs in the same litter and their growth and development. The number of initially selected raccoon dog cubs should be 35%-40% more than the planned breeding retention.

2.3 Mink

Initial selection is carried out before and after the weaning of young minks in June each year. Adult male minks: choose those with a gentle temperament, strong mating ability, good semen quality, and whose mated female minks have a high litter rate and large litter size, and continue to retain them for breeding; adult female minks: choose those with normal estrus, smooth mating, short gestation period (within 55 days), early littering, large litter size, sufficient milk, strong maternal behavior and high offspring survival rate, and continue to retain them for breeding. Young minks: choose individuals with early birth, large litter size in the same litter, normal development, high survival rate, clear pedigree and good parent quality to retain for breeding. All adult minks meeting the selection conditions are retained for breeding, and 30%-50% more young minks should be retained than the planned number.