A Detailed Guide to the Processing and Preparation Methods of Raccoon Dog Feed

The feed of raccoon dogs includes animal-based feed, plant-based feed and supplementary feed. The supply and composition of feed have a great influence on the health, reproduction and fur quality of raccoon dogs. To practice scientific @#@252@#@, one must understand the effects of the nutrients in feed on raccoon dogs, so as to reasonably and correctly formulate and process feed, and obtain the best economic benefits with the least feed consumption. Therefore, the processing and preparation of feed is very important.

I. Feed Processing

(1) Processing of fish and meat feed Fresh marine mixed fish, and the meat, liver, kidney, heart and fresh blood of healthy animals, etc., should have large pieces of fat removed, be thoroughly washed free of soil and impurities, and then be minced and fed raw. For fish and meat feed of poorer quality that can still be used, first wash it thoroughly with clean water, then soak and disinfect it in a 0.05% potassium permanganate solution for 5-10 minutes, and then wash it with clean water before mincing and feeding. Severely spoiled fish and meat are prohibited from being processed and used. The intestines, spleen, lungs and other offal of freshwater fish and poultry must be fed cooked. Pork infected with cysticerci (measly pork) can be processed and used after high-pressure steaming or thorough cooking and removal of the fat. Fish meal and meat-and-bone meal should be soaked for 3-4 hours, with the water changed 2-3 times, to remove excess salt before being mixed with other feed and fed. Blood meal and liver residue meal should be steamed and boiled before use. Silkworm pupae should be fully soaked, de-alkalized, then steamed, boiled and minced before use.

(2) Processing of dairy and egg feed Fresh cow's milk, goat's milk, etc. should be disinfected before feeding. Generally, they are heated in a pot to 70-80°C, kept at that temperature for 15 minutes, and after cooling added to the feed for feeding. Milk powder is dissolved and diluted with warm boiled water at a ratio of 1:7-8, and then added to the mixed feed for feeding. Eggs mainly include fresh eggs, infertile eggs, dead embryo eggs, etc., all of which must be cooked before feeding.

(3) Processing of fruit and vegetable feed Vegetables should have their roots and rotten parts removed, be washed free of soil and impurities, and rinsed of harmful pesticides or chemical fertilizers before being minced and fed raw. Spinach has a mild laxative effect, so it is best to blanch it in hot water before mixing it evenly with other feed for feeding. Fruit should have the rotten parts cut off, be washed free of soil and harmful pesticides, and then minced and fed raw. Tomatoes, zucchini and leafy vegetables used in combination have a good effect.

(4) Processing of grain feed The seeds of crops should be crushed into a fine powder, in powdered form; it is best to mix and feed several kinds of grains together for a good effect. Grain feed should be fully cooked before use. Otherwise, when it is half-cooked, raccoon dogs are prone to gastrointestinal bloating or enteritis after eating it, which is harmful to their health. The processing method can be steaming into cornmeal buns or boiling into porridge; it can also be cooked in a pot, crushed or puffed. Soybeans can be made into soybean milk for use. The method is to soak the soybeans for 10-12 hours, then crush them (a blender can be used) and boil them, and after filtering through coarse cloth, soybean milk is obtained. Another method is to crush the soybeans into fine powder, add 8-10 liters of water per 1 kg of soybean flour and boil; it can be used without filtering. The prepared hot soybean milk, after cooling, is mixed into other feed to feed the raccoon dogs.

(5) Processing of vitamin feed Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and vitamin C, etc.; they can first be dissolved in warm water below 40°C, and then mixed into the feed before feeding. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin E, vitamin AD, etc.; they are relatively concentrated and can be diluted with soybean oil and soaked, then added to the feed before feeding the raccoon dogs. Medicinal yeast and feed yeast can be directly added to the feed and mixed evenly before feeding the raccoon dogs.

(6) Processing of inorganic salt feed Salt should be accurately weighed and fully dissolved into salt water before being added to the mixed feed, and it must be stirred evenly. Note that it is not allowed to mix salt grains directly into the feed for use. Bone meal and bone ash can be added directly to the feed in measured amounts, but be careful not to mix and prepare them together with vitamin B1, vitamin C and yeast, to prevent the active ingredients from being destroyed.

II. Feed Preparation

The feed processed as described above must be strictly weighed on a scale, minced and mixed. Small raccoon dog farms can mix several kinds of feed together and mince them; large raccoon dog farms can first mince fish and meat feed and livestock and poultry by-products, then mince grain products and vegetables and other feed, and finally add water, vitamins or inorganic salt feed, stir evenly and then feed.

During the process of feed processing and preparation, attention should be paid to:

(1) Strictly prepare according to the feed varieties and quantities specified in the feed list; they must not be changed at will.

(2) The preparation speed should be fast, and the processing time should be shortened as much as possible. Each preparation should be completed just before the feed is divided for feeding, and must not be done in advance, so as to avoid nutrient loss caused by too long a time.

(3) Ingredients should be accurate, the mixing should be even, and the consistency should be moderate. During the breeding period, the consistency should be thinner; during the non-breeding period, it should be thicker.

(4) Feed such as vitamins, dairy products and yeast must be added just before feeding, and must be stirred evenly, to prevent early mixing into the feed from causing oxidative destruction, or unequal intake causing adverse consequences.

(5) Feed with relatively large differences in temperature (cold and hot) and in raw and cooked state should be stored separately, and mixed and stirred together only when the temperatures are close.

(6) After thawing, feed should not be stored in the preparation room for more than 24 hours, to prevent the feed from spoiling due to too long a time.

(7) Feed and water must be hygienic; moldy and spoiled feed must not be used, and the water must be clean and hygienic.

(8) The feed preparation room must be kept clean and hygienic; equipment and tools used for processing feed, etc. must be cleaned promptly, and regularly disinfected with potassium permanganate or alkaline water.