Nutritional Requirements of Raccoon Dogs and Scientific Feeding Methods

The survival of raccoon dogs requires 6 nutrients, which can be grouped into three major categories.

1. Animal-based feed is the source of digestible protein. It mainly includes meat, fish, eggs, fish and meat by-products, and dried animal feed. Among these, meat, milk, and offal such as heart, liver, and kidneys are sources of complete protein. They have high nutritional value and should be effectively used during the breeding period and the growing period of young raccoon dogs. Fish and meat by-products are relatively low in price and can serve as the basic protein feed year-round. Dried animal feed and feed yeast can serve as substitutes or supplements for animal protein. Animal protein should generally account for 10%-40%.

2. Plant-based feed is the source of carbohydrates and energy. Plant-based feed includes grains and vegetables. Among these, cornmeal, soybean meal, and wheat bran are mixed in a certain proportion, cooked, and then fed, and should usually account for 55%-70% of the daily ration. Oil cake and bran have relatively high fiber content and have the effect of stimulating the gastrointestinal tract to strengthen peristalsis and secretion. However, their usage should not exceed 30% of grain-based feed; if excessive, it will cause indigestion and diarrhea. Commonly used vegetable feeds include cabbage, radish, rapeseed, tomatoes, etc., and are used year-round at 5%-20%, serving as a source of some vitamins. Vegetable feed should be kept fresh and must not be piled up for too long, otherwise it will rot and deteriorate, producing large amounts of nitrate, and raccoon dogs will suffer nitrite poisoning after eating it.

3. Additive feed: yeast, @#@245@#@ sprouts, vitamin E, bone meal, salt, etc., livestock oxytetracycline, etc. Bone meal is the main source of calcium and phosphorus, and 5-8 grams can be added per raccoon dog per day. Vitamin E can replace malt, added at 10 mg per raccoon dog per day. Salt needs to be added year-round, with 1 gram added per raccoon dog per day.

4. Feed preparation When preparing feed, comprehensive consideration should be given to nutritional composition, feed palatability, and feed cost in order to achieve better economic benefits. Fresh miscellaneous marine fish, livestock and poultry meat, and vegetables can be washed clean and then fed. Freshwater fish, non-fresh livestock and poultry meat, various scraps, animal blood, and grain feed should be cooked before feeding. Dried feed should be fully soaked, and milk should be heated to 80°C for 15 minutes. Medicinal yeast and feed yeast can be added directly when preparing feed. When feeding raccoon dogs with fish meal, the fish meal should first be soaked in cold water for 2-5 hours, then filtered through gauze to remove salt, and then grain powder should be added according to the daily ration, and boiled with an appropriate amount of water for 15-20 minutes. Although fish meal protein content is relatively high, it is not easily digested and absorbed, so part of the fish meal and meat can be added to the daily ration.

5. Daily ration during the mating period During the mating period, each raccoon dog should be provided with 200-250 grams of mixed fresh feed per day, of which animal-based feed accounts for 40%, grain feed accounts for 40%, vegetables account for 10%, water accounts for 10%, and salt 2 grams. Male raccoon dogs should be given one supplemental feeding at noon, mainly fish, meat, milk, and eggs. The proportion of animal-based feed in the daily ration of female raccoon dogs should also be increased. To promote estrus, each raccoon dog should be supplemented daily with 2-3 grams of yeast, 15-25 grams of malt, and 5 grams each of scallions and garlic. If conditions permit, 15-20 grams of animal brain and liver can also be supplemented. During the mating period, feed 2 times a day, with 40% of the daily ration in the morning and 60% in the evening.