Questions and Answers on Building a Raccoon Dog Farm and Introducing Breeding Stock

Q: What are the prospects for @#@252@#@? Can it @#@177@#@?

A: The prospects for raccoon dog farming are promising, and it can make money.

Q: Which regions are suitable for developing raccoon dog farming?

A: The raccoon dog's place of origin is in the northern regions of our country, and it can be raised in any area north of 30°N latitude. The quality of raccoon dog pelts produced in higher-latitude regions is superior to that of pelts from lower-latitude regions (30°--40°). To ensure pelt quality, breeding stock should be introduced from high-latitude regions (north of 40°) as much as possible, and preferably a portion of new breeding stock should be introduced every year to renew the bloodline, so as to improve product quality.

Q: How many subspecies of raccoon dog are there? Which one is best to raise?

A: In our country there are 7 subspecies: the Ussuri raccoon dog, the Korean raccoon dog, the Amur raccoon dog, the Jiangxi raccoon dog, the Minyue raccoon dog, the Hubei raccoon dog, and the Yunnan raccoon dog. The first 3 are collectively called "northern raccoon dogs," and the latter 4 are collectively called "southern raccoon dogs." Northern raccoon dogs have a large body size, thick and abundant fur, are agile, have good insulation performance, are tough and wear-resistant, light and soft, and command a high price; they are well received by people at home and abroad and are the best subspecies to raise. The artificially bred Ussuri raccoon dog (standard color type) and the Jilin white raccoon dog have promising prospects for farming.

Q: Where is the quality of breeding raccoon dogs good and the price reasonable?

A: Artificially raised Ussuri raccoon dogs, Jilin white raccoon dogs, Amur raccoon dogs, and Korean raccoon dogs from regions north of 40°N latitude are of good quality and can be introduced for breeding. When introducing breeding stock, choose as far as possible farms that hold a breeding raccoon dog sales license certified by the animal husbandry department at or above the county level, and that operate on a relatively large scale. These farms have large animal populations, so there is room for selection when introducing breeding stock; moreover, their feeding and management are relatively standard, their animal populations are well vaccinated and physically robust, and in addition their prices are relatively reasonable.

Q: What should be noted when introducing breeding stock?

A: (1) The suitable time for introducing breeding stock is September--December. (2) The suitable male-to-female ratio is 1:2--3. (3) It is best to introduce young raccoon dogs of the current year; this is called "better to buy small and take a small loss than to buy old and cheap." (4) The breeding raccoon dogs must be free of disease, physically robust, have been vaccinated against canine distemper, viral enteritis, and other vaccines, and have achieved a reliable immune effect; at the same time, there must be an immunization certificate issued by the animal husbandry department at or above the county level. (5) Ask for the breeding raccoon dog qualification certificate. The main contents of the breeding raccoon dog qualification certificate include number, sex, birth time, place of origin, body weight, body length, fur color, characteristics of guard hair and underfur, reproductive performance, health status, as well as immunization injection status, pedigree, etc. The breeding raccoon dog qualification certificate should be issued by the animal husbandry department at or above the county level and by technical personnel with senior technical titles; a one-dog-one-certificate qualification certificate is valid, and photocopies are invalid.

Q: How is raccoon dog pelt @#@136@#@? Is there a market for it?

A: Take the pelt according to the prescribed operating methods and requirements; the raw pelt (raw material pelt) can be sold as soon as it is stripped off. Raccoon dog pelts are a commodity that need not be worried about selling; fur traders will come to buy them while you sit at home. If the quantity is small and no one comes to purchase them, you can go to the fur markets in Liushi and Shangcun in Hebei and in Liaoning to sell them directly.

Q: Can raccoon dogs be raised in a snowballing way?

A: Yes.

Q: What are the main buildings and equipment for building a raccoon dog farm?

A: (1) Perimeter wall. To prevent raccoon dogs from escaping and to strengthen sanitation, epidemic prevention, and security, build a 1.5--1.7 m high perimeter wall around the raccoon dog farm, which can be made of brick and stone, smooth bamboo boards, or iron sheeting. (2) Shed. It is a simple wall-less structure that shields against rain and snow and prevents exposure to the scorching sun. The eaves height is 1.5 m, the width is 2--4 m, and the spacing between sheds is about 3--4 m. (3) Cage. It is enclosed with wire mesh; the external dimensions of a breeding raccoon dog cage are 90 cm × 70 cm × 70 cm, and the external dimensions of a pelt raccoon dog cage are 70 cm × 60 cm × 50 cm. The row spacing of the cages is 1.0--1.5 m, and the spacing is about 10 cm. (4) Small den. It can be made of wooden boards or bricks; the external dimensions of a breeding raccoon dog den are 60 cm × 50 cm × 45 cm, with an entrance/exit opening 20--23 cm in diameter, and the external dimensions of a pelt raccoon dog cage are 40 cm × 40 cm × 35 cm. (5) Each cage must be equipped with drinking and feeding utensils. (6) Others. There are rooms for feed storage and processing, fur processing, office work, and rest; there is equipment such as feed grinders and meat mincers; and there are utensils for storing and transporting feed, catching raccoon dogs, maintenance, cleaning, disinfection, and so on.