Detailed Explanation of Key Points of Artificial Selective Breeding Techniques for Snakes

Strengthening artificial selective breeding of snakes is of great significance for improving snake reproduction survival rates, growth and development speed, product quality and economic benefits. It is work that @#@246@#@ farms cannot afford to neglect, and it must be carried out year-round with unremitting effort. In selective breeding, the following three points should be well handled:

1. Selection of breeding eggs

Breeding eggs placed for incubation must be fresh and of high quality. Eggs stored for a long time have a low hatch rate and a high mortality rate; the hatchlings are weak and grow slowly. Therefore, female snakes should be checked frequently before laying eggs. When eggs are found to be approaching the cloaca, they should be promptly placed in a snake box or egg-laying room so they can lay eggs under comfortable conditions, and the laid eggs should be promptly placed in an incubator for incubation. Eggs that are large, normal in shape and color, and undamaged should be selected as breeding eggs.

2. Cultivation and selective breeding of hatchling (juvenile) snakes

1. Cultivation of hatchling (juvenile) snakes. After hatchling snakes are born, a suitable living environment should be provided for them. They can temporarily be kept in snake boxes, and appropriate humidity should be maintained so they can shed their skin smoothly. High-quality, easily digestible feed should be provided. Hatchling snakes with weak feeding ability or those that do not feed can be appropriately force-fed some fluid food. Training of hatchling snakes should be strengthened to enhance their adaptability, broaden their feeding habits, shorten the hibernation period as much as possible, and extend their growth period.

2. Selective breeding of hatchling (juvenile) snakes. At the hatchling (juvenile) stage, attention must be paid to selection. The growth and development speed of hatchling (juvenile) snakes should be observed, and individuals that grow and develop quickly, have broad feeding habits, strong appetite, strong adaptability and strong stress resistance should be selected as reserve breeding snakes. Management and training should be strengthened so that they can well adapt to the environmental conditions of artificial breeding.

3. Strengthen selective breeding of adult snakes

Every year in spring and autumn, selection of breeding snakes should be carried out in conjunction with emergence from and entry into hibernation.

1. Spring selection. After snakes emerge from hibernation in spring, they soon enter the estrus and mating period. Before mating, a strict selection of male and female snakes should be carried out. Individuals that are large in body size, robust in constitution, normal in appetite, lively and active, without injuries or disabilities, and without disease should be selected. In particular, breeding snakes with normal estrus and mating behavior should be selected to form a core breeding group and be mated together. For the selection of venomous snakes raised for the purpose of producing snake venom, emphasis should be placed on venom secretion volume and venom quality; for snake species used whole in medicine, emphasis should be placed on important indicators such as body size, color and pattern.

2. Autumn selection. Before entering hibernation, snakes' appetite increases sharply, they are frequently active, their constitution is strong, and they store a large amount of nutrients in their bodies. For safe overwintering, in addition to maintaining the overwintering site well before entering hibernation, a selection of overwintering breeding snakes should also be carried out. Individuals that are plump, without injuries or disabilities, without disease, and with high venom secretion volume and good quality should be selected, and suitable environmental conditions should be created for them so they can overwinter safely. Thin, weak and diseased individuals should be culled to avoid death during hibernation or the spread of disease. During the overwintering period, strict management should be carried out to prevent harm from natural enemies.