Growth, viability and productivity of young American Mink of different genotypes and behavioural types

Abstract

The relevance of this work is to identify the features of the domestication of the American mink (Neovison vison) depending on the behavioural type of animals. For example, the authors found that aggressive females and males of the black crystal genotype exceeded the average live weight of tame animals of the same genotype by 141 and 269 g, respectively. On the other hand, aggressive and tame females of the Hedlund genotype did not differ in body weight (778 and 804 g), while males of domestic behaviour were 150 g heavier. Furthermore, the amount of food eaten between tame and aggressive minks in both genotypes also differs. Thus, the difference was 1160 g per one averaged head in the bold line of black crystal, while in the aggressive line of Hedlund, it was 1090 g. However, no grounds exist to state that food intake varies significantly depending on the genotype. There are no differences between females in terms of average daily gains. Regardless of belonging to the genotype and the nature of the behaviour, they vary within 7.3–8.6 g. A similar picture is observed for males of tame lines: 12.4– 13.4 g, while aggressive black crystal males of the compared lines had an average daily gain of 18.3 g versus 11.0 g for aggressive Hedlund males. In this regard, one average head’s feed cost per production unit was reduced by 7.7 g. Thus, the authors found the lowest feed price per unit of production of one medium head for the aggressive line of the black crystal - 27.0 g and the manual line of Hedlund - 25.5 g.