SCIENTIFUR No, 3. August 19805 Contents. 1. CONTENTS, 1-4 2. NOTES, 5-45 SOME CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE TRICHOPHAGY I N MINK, N, PZist5snac. 7 CYTODIPFERENTIATION I N TKE PARS DISTALIS OF THE PITUI- TARY GUND IN THE FETAL AND JWENILE MINK, MUSTEJA VISON, Birgitta Weman. 11 TNE PINEAL GUND OF TKE MINK, MUSTELA VTSON: LIGHT-, FLUORESCENC;E- AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPICAL STUDIES. Birgitta Weman, Anders Nobin, 12 EVOLUTION OF BODY COMPOSITION OF GROWING MALE MINK FROM WEANING, Genevieve Charlet-Léry, M, Fiszlewicz, M.-T, Morel, B. Allain. 13 TRE POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE THERMOREGULATION OF TFIE WEASEL (~ustela sibirica davidiana), Wang Peichao, Lu Rogee* i4 INFLUEWCE OF E W I R O m E N T TEMPERATURE ON OXYGEN CONSUMP- TION AND HEAT PRODUCTION OF ADUL,T CHINCHILLA ( C h i n c h i l l a lanigera), Wang Peicbao, Lu Hogee, Sheng Helin, Chen Kuochen, Zhu Longbiao . l 6
Transcript
S C I E N T I F U R
N o , 3 . A u g u s t 19805
C o n t e n t s .
1. C O N T E N T S , 1-4
2 . N O T E S , 5-45
SOME C O N S I D E R A T I O N S CONCERNING THE TRICHOPHAGY I N M I N K , N , PZist5snac. 7
C Y T O D I P F E R E N T I A T I O N I N T K E P A R S D I S T A L I S O F T H E P I T U I - T A R Y G U N D I N T H E F E T A L AND J W E N I L E M I N K , M U S T E J A V I S O N , B i r g i t t a W e m a n . 11
TNE P I N E A L G U N D O F T K E M I N K , MUSTELA VTSON: L I G H T - , FLUORESCENC;E- AND E L E C T R O N M I C R O S C O P I C A L S T U D I E S . B i r g i t t a W e m a n , A n d e r s N o b i n , 1 2
E V O L U T I O N O F BODY C O M P O S I T I O N O F GROWING MALE M I N K FROM WEANING, G e n e v i e v e C h a r l e t - L é r y , M , F i s z l e w i c z , M . - T , M o r e l , B. A l l a i n . 13
T R E P O S T N A T A L DEVELOPMENT AND T H E THERMOREGULATION O F TFIE WEASEL ( ~ u s t e l a s i b i r i c a d a v i d i a n a ) , W a n g P e i c h a o , Lu R o g e e * i 4
I N F L U E W C E O F E W I R O m E N T TEMPERATURE ON OXYGEN CONSUMP- T I O N AND HEAT P R O D U C T I O N O F ADUL,T C H I N C H I L L A ( C h i n c h i l l a l an igera) , Wang P e i c b a o , L u H o g e e , Sheng H e l i n , C h e n K u o c h e n , Z h u Longbiao . l 6
CARCASS V A L m AND FOOB P R O P E R T I E S O F NUTRIA MEAT. K a r e l K o s t r o " , F , K u k l a .
4 , G E N E T I C .
CROSSING BLUE FOX (ALOPEX UWPUS) TO RED FOX (WLPEC VULBES) USEWG A R T I F I C I A L I N S E M I N A T I O N , K j e l l N y ' b e r g ,
I m m O G E N E T I C STUBY ON T K E P O L m O R P H I S M O F SERUM 4 - I , I P O P R O T E I N S I N M I N K , I , I D E N T I F I C A T I O N AND G E N E T I C C ~ N T R O L O F F I V E Lpm ALLOTYPES. O . K . B a r a n o v , M .A. Savina, D , K , B e l y a e v ,
I m m O G E ' N E T I C STUBY ON THE B O L m O R P H P S M O F S E R m - L I P O P R O T E I N I N MINK, III, % d l ALLOTYPE O F %OW-
D ~ N S I T Y L I P O P R O T E I N . O . K. B a r a n o v , M .A. S avina . 5. REPRODUCTIOM,
T H E E F F E C T O F V I S U A L I S O L A T I O N ON MINK REPRODUCTION, E r k k i H e r w e s n i e m i , 2 1
A STUDY O F WEPWODUCTION FACTORS I N BLUE FOXES. M , S k F i v a , L , S t o l c , F , L o u d a ,
T H E R O L E O F T H E R E T E O V A R I I I N M E I O S I S AND F O E E I C L E FORMATION I N TITE CAT, MINK AND F E R R E T . A r m e G r e t e B y s k o v ,
EMDOCRINE TESTICUEPIR %i'UNCTION I N M I N K DURING T H E F I R S T YEAR O F L I F E , E , N i e c c h l a g , K , B i e n i e k , 32
SEASONAL CHANGES O P T E S T I C U U R F U N C T I O N I N TWO W S T E L I D S : FERRET (MUSTELA FURO L, ) AND MINK (MUSTELA VISON S , ) . L . B o i s s i n - A g a s s e , J , B o i s s i n , 33
T H E PROGESTERONE CONCENTRATIONS I N T H E P E R I P m M L PLASMA OF THE MINK (MUSTELA VISON) DUWING PREGNANCY, O,M, M s l l e r , 34 PLG1SM.A PROGESTERONE BEFORE AND A F T E R OVARIECTOMY I N UNMATED AND PREGNANT MINK., MUSTELA V I S O N . O,M, M w l l e r , 36
RO$ A S THE CAUSE O F ABORTION I N M I N K , J , K a g a s , J . M E k e l a ,
OESTWADIOL-%7P C O N C E N T U T I O N S I N T H E P E R I P H E R A L PLASMA OF THE BLUE FOX (ALOPEX UWPUS) AROUND OESTRUS, 0 , M . M s l l e r , J , M , A u r s j m , @ , V , Sjaastad, 38 A R T I F I C I A L I N S E M I N A T I O N I N F O X E S , J , A a r n d a l , J , Fougner, K , N y b e r g , 37
4 , NUTRITTON AND F E E D TECHNOLOGY.
F E E B I N G POTATOE P R O T E I N TO M I N K , A n n e - H e l e n e Tauson, Eva A l d k n , 40 V I T A M I N E AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS F O R V I S O N S AND F O X E S , Jan Te jnora, M i l o s S k ? i v a a , 4 1
MEAT PRESERVED BY NATRSVM-PYROSULPHIT I N V I S O N S P D I E T . Mikos i S k ~ i v a n , Jan T r d l i k $ t ,
D I G E S T I B J L I T Y O F F A T AND FAI"Y A C I D S I N RBINBOW TROUT AND M I N K , E r l a n d A u s t r e n g , A n d e r s Skrede, Ashild ESdegard,
TOXXC AND CARCINOGENIC E F F E C T S O F N I T R O S O D I M E T H Y M M I N E I N MINK, N , K o p p a n g , H , R i r n e s l å t t e n ,
P R O P K Y L A X I S T O D E G E m R A T I O N O F % I V E R I N MINK - A C T I O N O F V I T A M I N B ON EXPERIMENTAELY INDUCED F A T I N F I S d T U T I O N O F LIVE-, N , N a n k o v ,
J W E N I L E R I C K E T S AND I f l P E R P A W T I S ~ O I D I S M I N T H E A R C T I C F O X , G e r a l d J , C o n l o g u e , W , J , F o r e y t , A , L , H a n s o n , J A . O g d e n ,
VETERINARY S C I E N C E ,
P I U I R U C O I B G I C A L I N V E S T I G A T I O N S ON T R E CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM OF THE ANESTHETIZED MINK (MUSTELA VISON). E , K O h l e r , H , B i e n i e k , 48
AMYLOID-WELATED SERUM P R O T E I N S A h FROM T I B E E A N I M L S P E C I E S : COMPARISON WITN AN SAA, R o b i n F , A n d e r s , J , B . N a t v i g , K, S l e t t e n , G. H u s b y , K , N o r d s t o g a . 49
T H E CONTENT O P M I N E M L ELEMENTS I N SERA O F MINK. L e o n Saba, J , T y c z k o w s k i , J , S E a w o n , S , W o j c i k ,
C A D M I ~ AND ~ R C U W Y C O N C E N T ~ . T I O N S IN MINK (MUSTELA VXSON) A F T E R EXPOSURE TO P C B s , M, O l s s o n , 3 , E . K % h l s t r h m , S , Jensen, J o O r b e r g , 50
DIEa'kaRY E F F E C T S O P POLYCHLORINATED B I P H E N Y E S O F M I N K , N , S . B l a t o n o w , % , H , K a r s t a d , 51
CHLORINATED WDROCARBON I N S E C T I C P D E R E S I D U E S I N A D I P O S E L I V E R , AND BIPAIN SA.MPLES FROM IOWA M I N K , 3 , C h r i s t i a n Franson, P , & , D a h , L , D , Wing, 52 OCULAR U N I F E S T A T I O N S O F TED3 CREDIAK-HIGACHP SYNDROME I N FOUR S P E C I E S O F A N S M L S . Linda E , C o l l i e r , G ,M, B r y a n , D , J , P r i e u r ,
C ~ M C T E R I Z A T I O N O F PLATEL,ETS FROM NO MINK W I T H T H E CNEDIAK-NIGASMI S m D R O M E , M,M. M e y e r s , H , H o l m s e n , C , L , Seacbord , G , H o p k i n s , J , G o r h a m ,
PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA , I V , P Y O C I N E TYPZNG O F S T M I N S I S O U T E D FROM T H E BLUE FOX (ALOPEX LAGOPUS (MUSTEEB V I S O N ) , AND DOG (CANIC F A M I L I A R I S T H E I R E N V I R O N m N T , B . G i e r l ~ f f ,
'UaZEAPLASM I S O U T E D FROM THE R E S P I M T O R Y T M C T O F MINK. N . F , F r i i s , K , B , P e d e r s e n , B , B l o c h ,
8. COMMUNICATION.
The York Conference 1980,
Research References on Mink & Foxes,
Letter from People9s Republic of China,
Personalia,
Change of address, '
NOTES
CCIENTIFUR
Vol. 4, No, 3, August 1980,
We hope that all our readers have had a good holiday. The same
hope we have for many of our potential contributors, We can see
in the file that only very few have used their time on writing
reports or abstracts for SCIENTIFUR. This is the reason that a
number of abstracts in this issue of SCIENTIFUR are not of very
new date, Nostalgy is not a good thing for a scientific journal,
but we feel that you might be interested in some of the reports
from previous years.
Fur bearing animals, especially mink and foxes, in our opinion
ase the most facinating animals for the scientists as well as for
the users of the end product - the fur,
Bue to the fact that mink have been accepted as a suitable experi-
mental animal species for many purposes because of their behaviour,
physiology,and the possibility to obtain homogenous groups of
animals, Tkerefore, it is assumed that mink and foxes in many
areas will replace dogs and cats as experimental animal in the
future,
Due to this assumption and to our interest in this field as well
as to lack of contributions to SCIENTIFUR we made a litterature
search in the human-medical litterature and received a lot of papers,
which were unkmown for us9 where mink os foxes have been used as
experimental animals, Some of these reports are brought in abstracts
in this issue of SCIENTIFUR - and several more will follow in the
It i s unquestionable t h a t itwould be a g rea t advance f o r both
the s c i e n t i f i c work i n t h i s f i e l d and f o r the production of f u r
bearing animals i f these species were more widely used a s experi-
mental animals i n d i f f e r e n t areas . The advance w i l l be more pronoun-
ced i f some of the experiments could be done i n close cooperation
between s c i e n t i s t s working i n f u r animal production and s c i e n t i s t s
i n t e r e s t e d i n more s p e c i f i c problems.
We know t h a t many of the f u r animal experimental farms a r e i n t e r e s t e d
i n such a cooperation, and why not get more p r o f i t out of t h e money
spent on resea rch both from the human s i d e and from t h e producers
point of view.
Why not use experimental animals which have a production value in-
s tead of mice, r a t s , guinea p igs , dogs, c a t s , e t c , The experimental
animals w i l l o f ten be more homogenous, they w i l l be a v a i l a b l e i n s u i t -
able numbers and - THE EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS WILL I N SOME CASES
DOUBLE THEIR VALUE BECAUSE THEY CAN BE USED MORE DIRECTLY OF BOTH
THE SPECIFIC USER AND THE ANIMAL PRODUCER.
It should not be necessary t o e s t a b l i s h somethinglike a s o c i e t y of
FARM RAISED ANIMALS AS EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS , because the maximal
u t i l i z a t i o n of experimental animals ought t o be important f o r
both s c i e n t i s t s , donators , and animal p ro tec to r s .
IT WILL INCREASE - BUT YOUR ATTENTION WILL HELP.
F i n a l l y , we w i l l on the behalf of the f u r animal producers and
SCIENTIFURs readers dec lare our thanks t o the inves t iga to r s who
a re us ing mink and foxes a s experimental animals,
PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR O R I G I N A L REPORT OR ABSTRACT TO THE NEXT
ISSUE OF SCIENTIFUR - NOV, 1980.
Kind r e ~ r d s
The e d i t o r
ORIGINAL REPORT.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE TRICHOPHAGY IN MINK.
Dr. N. Pgstirnac, Dep, Agric, de Stat - EAS Prejmer, Judetul Brasov,
R. S ; Romania,
The trichophagy in mink is a parapsychetic syndrom, consisting in
eating, either his own hair (autotrichophagy) or the hair of another
animals (allotrichophagy). In fact, the mink has a predisposition
also for placentophagy, foetophagy, caudophagy e.a.
The appearance of this syndrom is associated, usually, with some
disturbances in metabolism and in behaviour.
Generally, the trichophagy begins in the fall, mainly in August
September, in comection with the fa11 of the temperature; sporadi-
caly it is possible to appear all the winter,
The incidence is variable, accordingly with his etyology which is
very complexe. The young animals are more affected, especially the
females, due to their physiological and biological peculiarities.
So, after the litter, the females eat the placenta and the kits
still born, and lately, cleaning the living kits, their taste is
perverted and they may eat the tails or even the legs of the kits.
The literature concerning the causes of this syndrom is very poor,
and the aim of this paper is to show-down the problem based on
practical investigations, made in comection with some factors
which may predispose or may be favousable for the appearance of the
syndrom, and whcch are connected with some mistakes in the feeding,
the hausing and general management of the animals,
The trichophagy has constantly appeared as a consequence of diets
with a low protein level, associated with deficiencies in olygo-
elernents (selenium, copper, cobalt, manganese), in macroelernents,
(calcium and phosphorus compounds et al.) or in vitamins; the excess
in protein has the same effects, (l, 2 , 3 , 4, 5 ) ,
In this context, the young animals, from the age of 16 weeks until
the slaughter age, need a minimm of 25% digestible protein from
the dry substance in diet, which determine a high rate of $rowth
and a good maturation of the fur, The levels under this mi-nimum,
as well as the excess of protein (45-50%) may determine disturbances
favourable for the appearance of the tr5chophag-y.
The deficiency in vitamins may occur as a consequence of the oxidation
of ths fat, os as a consequence OP an incomplete assimilation of the
vitamins due to some diseases, such as the gastroenteritis, os the
disfunction of the liver,
For instance, the inactivation of the biotine by the oxidated fats
or by avidine found in the egg white, determilies besides a hyper-
keratoses and the friabiltty of the hair, the tri-chophagy, the
lichoma.ny, the caudophagy e.a, The same phenomena may occur in the
case of subnutrition or the nutrition with diets which are satisfac-
tory as level of nutrients but are limited as coniponents.
The stress factors, especially the low temperatures and the high
humitidy which occur in the a u t m n months, rise the nutritional
needs and, in the case of limited diets, bring about the deficiency.
The obstruction of the perianal glands, the eczema, the metabolic
acidosis or the toxicosis, ase sornetimes Eavourable for the appear-
ance of trichopha-gr,
The nutritional disequilibrium determines disturbances in the activi-
ty of various organs and, as a compensatory need, appears a perversion
of the taste and, among others deregulati.ons,the trichophagy may
occurr
Another series of factors generating the tsichophagy are the
comp~lamental ones, The allotrichophagy may be a consequence of
the psychical stress (the scare, the agglomeration, the noises).
For instance, if during the lactating pesiod appears a scare state,
the females take the kits whith the mouth, and after the weaning,
the kits imitate their mother, taking each other with the mouth
afterwards they may accustom to it and the allotrichophagy may occur,
In these cases, the factors which may provoke the fierceness are ve-
ry important. One of them is the overcrowding of the animals, or a
too limited space for feeding, as well as the noise made during the
distribution of the food.
Anatom%%linical, the affected animals have, on the posterior part
of the body, some irregular areas where the hair seems to be
"pastured" or even "denuded", with the exception of the head, so
the animals have an aspect "lionin".
In the incipient phase, it is possible to distinguish some "aggres-
sors" and some "victims", but after a while, the same animal may be
an aggressor and a victim in thc same time.
The symtomatic diagnosis is out of difficulty. The ci%o%ogical and
haematological examination as well as the biochemical analyses have
shown, in some cases, disproteinaemia, anaemia, or changes in the
mineral level of the blood serum, accordingly with the deficiencies,
but in most of the cases the trichophagy was not associated with
such disturbances.
Tkie ethiological diagnosis is mose difficinlt because it would be
necessary a detailed analysis of the conditions of feeding, housing
and hygiene of the farm.
The prognosis of the trichophagy is, economically, very grave the
value of the fur production being compromise, It is very interesting
to underline that the trichophagy may persist even though the %
determinant factors have been eliminated. The remission of the syn-
drom during the hot seasons is transitory because at the beginning
of the autumn it reappears. So, it is necessary to separate all the
affected animals, and to eliminate them at the time of slaughter.
The observations made during several years have demonstrated the
importance of the actions aimed at the prevention of the syndrom,
such as an equilibrated feeding according to the age, season and
physiological condition, and a careful management before the cold
seasons and before slaughter. Very important are the climatisation
of the shades, the prevent of the cold air currents and of the
humidity.
As for dietetical intervention, good results may be obtained by
using muscular meat, liver, eggs et al. in addition with vitamine-
mineral supplement,
Conclusions .
The appearence and the extension of the syndrom of trichophagy in
a mink farm may determine important economical loss by the deprecia-
tion of the furs,
The trichophagy has a various incrirninant factors which determine the
same effect and which may act all together. The most important are
the nutritional factors determining deficiencies of several kind,
and the mistakes in management, Another factors determining the
trichophagy are connected with the behaviour, as a consequence of
the pshychical stress, conductiong to the perversion of the taste,
os simply by imitation.
Ref erences.
l, Kulbach, W.L. 1961, Der Nerz und seine Zucht. F . C . Mayer-Verlag
Miinchen. p. 463, 2. Adamesteanu, I. Poll, E. 1967. Patologia medicalg a animalelor
domestice. Ed. II, Vol. II, Edit. Agrosilvicz. Bucuresti.
3 . Russkil.1, A.P, i Russkih , N , A . 1967, U luc i en i e kaces tva
k l e t o c i n o i pushnin l , Pzd, "Kolos" Moscova. p. 63-69.
4. Gorharn, J , R , , Hagen, K.%/ , , Keth F a s r e % , R . 1972, Mink d i s e a s e s
and p a r a s i t e s , A g r i c u l t u r e Nandbook, n r . 175, p. 29.
5. Cioboca, Tr, 1972. Bo l i de n u t r i t i e s i metabolism. E d i t .
"Ceres" Bucure s t i . p. 61-71.
0 CYTODIFFERENTIATION I N THE PAR§ DISTALIS OF TBE PITUITARY
GLAND I N TI-IE FE'X'AL AND JWENILE M I N K , MUSTELA VISON.
BBrg i t t a Wewan, Dept. o f Zoolo-y, U n i v e r s i t y of Stockholm,
Bo- 6801, C - 1 1 3 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
Hypophysial t i s s u e of mink ( ~ u s t e l a v i s o n ) embryos, newborn young
and k i t s aged 1 day t o 27' weeks was examined by l i g h t and e l e c t r o n
microscopy, Among the embryos f i v e d i f f e r e n t on togene t ic s t a g e s
were d i s t i n g u i s h e d , It appears t h a t t h e prirnordium of t h e p i t u i t a r y
gland d i f f e r e n t i a t e s i n e a r l y ernbryonic l i f e , Seve ra l t ypes of
g l andu la r c e l l s c o n t a i n i n g v a r i a b l e amounts of g r a n u l a r m a t e r i a l were
recogmaizable by t h e t ime of b i r t h . The r o l e of t h e g r a n u l a r c e l l s
and t h e o r i g i n of t h e Ivimina i n t h e p a r s d i s t a l i s a r e specu la t ed
upon ( i n t h e Discuss ion) .
Acta Zoologica 55, 101-117, 1974.
1 kable , 9 f i g s . , 48 r e f e r e n c e s .
Authors a b s t r a c t .
O THE PINEAL GLAND OF THE MINK, MUSTELA VISON:
LIGHT-, FLUORESCENCE- AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPICAL
STUDIES.
Birgitta Weman, Anders Nobin, Dept. of Zoology, Universit~ of
Stockholm, Box 6801, S-113 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
The pineal gland of normal and experimental female mink has been
studied by light-, fluorscence- and electron microscopy. The general
structure of the mink pineal is described, Two main cell types are
recognized. One, termed pinealocyte, predominates in number.
Though slight morphological differences (e.g. electron density of the
cytoplasm and content of organelles) were observed, this study indi-
cates that the pineal of mink only contains one single population
of pinealocytes. The other, termed glial cell, inserted between
the pinealocytes, is characterized by the presence of elongated
processes, containing microfilaments, Different treatment (ovariec-
tomy and LH-RH administration) and different endocrine states during
the year induced morphological changes in the pinealocytes. A rich
network of nerve fibres containing electron-dense granules (40-50 nm)
is observed. Microspectrofluorometrica11y these fibres exhibit the
spectral characteristics of cateholamines. All the pinealocytes
show a yellow fluorescence. This cellular fluorophor shows the same
microspectrofluorometric characteristics as does the fluorophor of
serotonin, Occasionally, synaptic robbons are observed in the peri-
karyon and the processes of the pinealocytes, A large number of
cellular junctions between pinealocytes and endothelial cells is
present. Their presmed function(s) are discussed, There is evidence
of a blood-brain barrier within the mink pineal gland,
D , Allain, I,aboratoire de Physiologie de 1a Nutrition,
Centre National de Recherches Zootechniques, I.N,R,A.,
78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Body somposition was studied in 36 growing male minks that were
divided into 6 groups at weaning (an ~uly), on the basis of equal rnean
body weigki.(;s (750 g) and age (70-77 days). The animals were fed a
pelleted diet ad libitum, containing 44 p,cent protein and 5460 kcal/ kg dry matter,
Successive groups were killed at the average weights of 732, 1003,
1231, 1535, 1759 and 1838 g, During the whole experimental period,
the mean weight of stored lipids increased from 72.7 to 659.9 g?
the protein content from 140.5 to 320.0 and minerals from 23.4 to 46,8 g, Buring the first l2 days of the experirnent, when the weight
of animals increased from 732 to 1003 g, the daily body lipid re-
tention was higher than for proteins (!j82 vs 4*3 g/d), in spite of
the very important protein gain made during this period (36 p, loo
of the whole experimental period), The daily retention of protein
decreased from 4,3 g/d to 0,3 g/d, while the Eigid retention in-
creased from 4 , 2 to 8 , 5 g/d during the experiment, In the growth
period '732-1838 g, the total energy and protein efficiencies were
very low: lo,l and 3,3 respectively.
T t was concluded that mink ar@ characterized by: l) a very high
Iipid retention resulting at the end of the growth period in a
fat content o£ 65.5 p. 100 dry matter and 2) very low efficiencies
for ener- and protein retention revealed by the rnethods of fasted
b o d y analysis used,
A m , Zootech, 1979, 28, 4, 423-430, 3 tables, 8 references. Au-thors sunmary
In French with summary in French and English,
(h- THE POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE THERMOREGULATION OF THE
WEASEL (Mustela sibirica davidiana).
Wang Peichao , Lu Hogee, Animal Ecology Research Group, Dept. of Biolog-y, Changhai Normal University, Shanghai 200062,
Peoplegs Republic of China.
This paper dealswith the postnatal development and the thermoregu-
lation of five litters of a subscpecies of weasel (11 males, 8 fema-
les), All the animals used in this study were bred in captivity.
Records and data of forty days of observations were obtained on the
morphological developrnents, oxygen consumption, formation of thermo-
regulation and homeothermy, The correlation of each is discussed.
I. Weasels are born-precocious hornethermic carnivore mamrnals.
Although the new-born are immature and showed a poikolothermic re-
sponse on exposure to cold, they have a relatively high body tempe-
rature. Shortly after birth the temperature of the juvenile male
and female is 79.21% and 79.47% respectively, of the adult body
temperature. Our study indicates that the thermoregulator develops
relatively rapidly in the earlier and later stages and slowly in
the intermediate stage. At 39-40 days of age the body temperature
attains independent control and is fully stabilized and reaches
nearly 38O C, the adult temperature,
II. The oxygen consmption rate is correlated to morphological devel-
opment and physiological age. In this species the measurement of O the oxygen consumption data at an ambient temperature of 28 1 0.5 C
during 1 day of age was maxirnum, During day 3 it dropped suddenly.
In young females it was reduced 69%, equalling only 31% of the
first day. That of the juvenile males decrease 81% or only 18% of
tbe first day, After day 6, the oxygen consumption rate declined
steadily, At day 18 in males and day 21 in femalec as the chemical
temperature regulation is established and the oxygen rate is mini-
mal - down to 8% of day 1 in the male and 10.3% for the female. The simple correlation measurement shows significant correlation +
III, This study shows that the morphological development is rela-
tively more rapid khan the thermoregulatory capability, This may be
the character for the altricial type weasel, or is a strategy pat-
tern during development, Before the ful1 development of ontogeny
thermoregulation it is proportioning more ener-y into growth and
morphological development than to the growth of the thermoregulation
system,
IV, There are number of important ways for the young weasels to gain
thermoregerlatory abilities, These are:
1, The young weasels are born and reared in a nest provided by the O
female with a temperature of 32-33 C * Relatively high and
stable thermal protection provided by the nest and thus avoided
change in enviroment condition, reducing heat loss in young
weasels, The new born weasel which is reared in such a thermoneu-
tral range benefits by rapid development. This has significance
in helping the young to adapt to extreme changes of environment,
thus increasing the chance of survival.
2. The quick g-owth in morphological development provides basic
material for the relative development of the thermoregulation
capability in the weasel, Gradually aftes birth, the skin thickens,
develops subcutaneous fat and pelage, which would reduce the heat
loss during thermoregulation,
3., The young weasels response to cold by huddling together in the
nest, The g-eatly reduces the exposed body surface, preventing
heat losc and prornoting economy in using energqp,
4, Another factor in adaptation for quick morphological development
is that after suckling, the new-born weasels decrease their
activities, By extensive sleeping and resting, they diminish
heat production, thus, lowering the rnetabolism.
Journal of Raising Fur Bearing Animal, No. l, 1980, p-1-6,
4 tables, 6 figs,, 4"eferences,
Jn chinese, Authors introduction and summary,
O INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENT TEMPERATURE ON OXYGEN CONSUMPTION
AND HEAT PRODUCTION OF ADULT CHINCHILLA (chinchilla lanigera).
Wang Peichao, Lu Kogee, Sheng Helin, Chien Kuochen, Zhu Longbiao,
Dept. of Biology, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200062,
PeopleRs ~epkblic of China.
The objective of this study was to detesmineunder what ambient
temperature the oxygen consurnption and heat production rate is mini-
mal and the most economic in using energy, which will be of benefit
for the survival, growth, development and breeding of the young.
Adult standard chinchilla of both sexes obtained from the university
farm were used. The average weight of males were 392,6 g and the
females were 399.8 g. The total test numbers 306 (females 144 and males 162), The resting metabolic rate was determined in a closed-
system respirometer and was carried out at of several ambient tempera-
tures between 12-35' C.
The temperature significantly effects the rate of oxygen consumption
of adult chinchillas. At 20° C the measurement was lowest. At 12' C O
the measurement was highest, in comparison with 20 C it increase
23.9% in females and in males 26.2%, the results showed a very signi-
ficant increase (~<o.ool). At 35O C the results were higher 14.7% O in fernales and in males 11.3% (P<o.o5). Between 25-30 C there was
average an increase about 5.2% in females and 1.1% in males, the
vaiue was not significant (P>o,o~).
The rate of oxygen consumption and heat production
sex No,of times oxygen consumption heat production animal tested (ml/g/hr) (~cal/day)
rnean S.D.
F 12 2 0,981262 0.123342 M
o. 110687 20 2 0,033030 0.158349 o. 116526
(cont.) +
T sex No,of times oxygen consumption heat product ion
"C) anirnal t es t ed ( m l / g / k i r ) ( ~ c a l / d a y )
mean S.D.
F 9 3 00827733 0,108593 O , 093368 " &f 12 C) o ,834067 o . 092653 o , 094083
The thermoneutral zone f o r the adu l t c h i n c h i l l a was est imated from O 20-30 C , and was r e l a t i v e l y wide, We bel ieve t h i s range i s a
s u i t a b l e temperature f o r r a i s i n g ch inch i l l a s .
Comparision of the metabolisrn body s i z e t o o ther rodents t h e oxygen
consumption and heat production i s l o w , and on other hand t h e basa l
metabolisrn r a t e of c h i n c h i l l a was 15-30% below the rnouse-elephant
r a t e . Tlie chemical r egu la t ion i n c h i n c h i l l a i s not very s t rong.
Shanghai Nomnal Universi ty Natural Science Edi t ion No.4. 1980.
( i n p r e s s ) ,
4 t a b l e s , l o re ferences ,
I n Chinese,
Authors extended a b s t r a c t .
CARCASS VANE AND FOOD PROPERTIES OF NUTRIA MEAT.
( ~ a t e E n á hodnota a konzuinni v l a s t n o s t i masa n u t r i i ) .
Karel Kostro5, Frantigek Kukla, I n s t i t u t f o r Fur Breeding, Dept. of
Horse, Sheep and -Fur Breeding, Zem5dklská L , Brno, CSSR.
Ous analyses of n u t r i a meat revealed:
1, The ca rcass value of n u t r i a meat i s favourable f o r t h e combined
use of these animals, i , e , as the fur-bearing and meatproducing ani-
mals;
2 , The d ress ing percentage i s s l i g h t l y decreasing with age i n n u t r i a *
females and increasixzg i n males, Young males i n p a r t i c u l a r a r e s n i t -
a b l e a s meat p roducers , while c u l l e d females should be wel l f e d be-
f o r e slaug11tes and s t r i pp ingg
3 e ChemicaL ana lyses i n d i c a t e t h a t n u t r i a meat ranks among t h e b e s t
k inds i n r e s p e c t of q u a l i t y ;
4, Organolept ic p r o p e r t i e s o I n u t r i a meat a r e ve ry good.
Acta U n i v e r s $ t a t l s Ag-icuLturae, X V I I , 807, 4, 1969? 799-803.
3 t a b l e s , 8 r e f e r e n c e s ,
I n Czechoslovakian wi th summaries i n Engl i sh and German.
CROSSING BLUE FOX TO RED FOX ( VULPES VULPES )
USING ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION,
(~orsak med artskrysning mellom blårev (~lopex lagopus) og
radrev (vulpes vulpes) ved hjelp av kunstig szdoverf~rin~).
Kjell Nyberg, Boks 62, N-9301 Finnsnes, Norway.
An experiment with breeding red fox to blue fox by artificial in-
semination is described, The conception rate obtained was low.
Of five blue fox vixens three whelped, and average litter size
was 6.5. None of the six red fox vixens whelped. Examination of
semen from the hybrid males showed aspermia. The testosterone le-
vels in the male hybrids were significantly lower than those in male
blue fox, the difference was less outstanding between the hybrids
and the red fox males. The histological investigation of testes
of the hybrids indicated that the spermatogenesis was arrested in
the later prophase of the first meiotic division.
Nord. Vet.-Med, 3.980, 132-138, 32.
4 tables, 3 figs,, lo references,
In Norwegian with summary and subtitles in English,
Authors summary,
O IMMUNOGENETIC STUDY ON THE POLYMORPHISM OF SERUM %2-LIPO-
PROTEINS IN MINK, I. IDENTIFICATION AND GENETIC CONTROL
OF FIVE Lprn ALLOTYPES,
O.K, Baranov, M,A. Savina, D.K, Belyaev, Academy of Sciences of
the USSR, Siberian Branch, Institute of CytoZogy and Genetics,
Novosibirsk, USSR,
Five allotypes, Lprn I, Lprn 2, Lprn 3, Lprn 4, and Lprn 5, were detected by isoimrnwnization in mink sera, Tmmonoelectrophoresis, prepara-
tive ubtracentrifugation, and histochemical tests for lipids and %+
esterase permitted reference of these alloantigenic markers to
a very high density K -lipoprotein. Based on population analysis 2 1
and breeding tests, five genetic units are postulated: Lpm , 4 Lpm , ~ p m ~ 94, ~ ~ m ' 2, and Lpm 29495. These units determine the poly-
morphism of the Lpm system and behave as Mendelian alleles.
e THE EFFECT OF VISUAL ISOLATION ON MINK REPRODUCTION
Erkki Hernesniemi, 41800 Korpilahti, Finland.
Introduction
It has been established that social stress is one of the factors governing popu-
lation size o£ mamalian species. It has been observed that as the density of
the strain increases, social stress is generated leading, for example, to a fa11
in reproduction rate, This phenomenon is a certain kind of autoregulatory factor
typical to several species. Numerous different parameters have been used to de-
monstrate the effects o£ social stress at both individual and population levels.
Thus, it is quite likely that the normal breeding o£ minks in shaded houses cre-
ates conditions generating social stress. To clarify the effects o£ this possible
stress on the reproduction o£ minks I carried out a trial at the Keski-Pohjanmaa
Parming Institute Fur Ranch in Kannus. In this study I tried to reduce social
stress by visual isolation. This was done by placing boards between the running
cages of female minks, which prevented them from seeing each other. The females
used in the trial were all young standard minks, The trial groups were divided
into three groups in such a way that visual isolation started in the first group
on 3rd December, in the second on 7th January, and in the third on 4th February.
The female minks in the control groups were bred in the usual way, in other words
with no boards obscuring their vision between the running cages. Each group con-
tained 15 minks. The animals in all trial and control groups were fed similarly
and weighed at the beginning of the trial and again on 15th March. New-born kits
were always counted one week after birth.
Resules
Table I shows that the loss of weight was somewhat greater in the group I control
group; in group LI the weight o£ the trial group remained more or less the same
during the period concerned while a slight increase occurred in the control group.
In contrast to this, in group III the weight of the minks in the trial group in-
creased clearly more during the period concerned than in the control group. *
The total number of kits produced in the trial groups was 175 and in the control
groups 160. O £ the 45 females mated in the trial groups 41, or 91.12%, whelped.
Correspondingly, of the 45 mated female minks in the control groups only 34, or
75.562, whelped. The mean birth rate per female mink mated was 3.88 in the trial
groups and 3.55 in the control groups. In contrast, the mean birth rate per
whelped female was 4.26 in the trial groups and 4.70 in the control groups.
Discussion
When itivestigating the weights and alterations in weights o£ the minks in the
trial and control groups it can be observed that in group I the weight loss oc-
curred more rapidly in the controls than in the trial group. On the other hand,
the increase in weight in control group III occurred more slowly than in trial
group III: This result is in agreement with earlier studies. It has been es-
tablished on this basis that as a result of stress corticoid steroid secretion
from the adrenal cortex rises, increasing energy turnover in the body which leads
to weight loss. However, because the differences in weight changes between the
trial and control groups were quite small, interpretation of these results will
remain speculative to a certain extent. The various factors affecting the body
weight o£ animals are extremelydiverseand thus it cannot be unambiguously con-
cluded that faster'weight loss or slower gain are caused by stress alone. It
has been undisputably demonstrated in several studies, however, that when an ani-
mal suffers from stress it begins to lose its appetite and the body energy turn-
over falls. The results obtained here are suggestive, if not statistically sig-
ni ficant .
In cantrast to this, when examining the reproduction of the minks, or the birth
rate, in the trial and control groups attention is first caught by the high per-
centage of sterility, or unsuccessful mating of the female minks in the control
groups I and II. As no autopsies were performed on the minks studied, it could
not be elucidated whether this was due to intrauterine mortality or resorption
of kits, or some other reason. Other reasons may include poor fertilization
capacity af the males used and the statistical coincidence factor. It has been
shown, however, that in animals stress often causes spontaneous resorption of
kits, thus regulatilig the density o£ the population. The stress mechanism mani-
B\
festing as foetal mortality apparently functions as follows: due to stress hypo-
physeal corticotropin secretion is elevated, which raises the secretion of ad-
renal corticosteroids, The increased corticosteroid production reduces the out-
put o£ gonadotsopic hormones. Decreased production of gonadotropic hormones
signifies impaired function o£ the female genitals and may even cause them to
atrophy. Then the endornetrium may not receive sufficiently nutrients and the
offcpring perish at the foetal stage, or the endometrium is not nutritious and
thick enough for nidation. As a result of stress the adrenal cortex catechol-
arnine production also increases, causing, for instance, impairment of placenta1
circulat ion. Simul taneously , the nutrient~de~radation product exchange betwten the mother and kit weakens. This may also be followed by intrauterine kit mor-
tality, or resorption. Thus it is quite obvious that in this study the rela-
tively high percentage of unsuccessful mating among the female minks in control
groups I and II was at least partly due to the resorption of kits cauced by so-
cial stress. However, this is contradicted by the high kit result in control
group III and the low percentage o£ unsuccessful mating. As, however, the com-
bined birth rate of all trial groups was greater than that of the control groups
together, the results suggest that visual isolation has a favourable effect on
mink reproduction.
Also, the fact that the weight of female ranch minks in the trial groups was
higher on average during the mating season may have exerted a somewhat unfavour-
able influence on the kit result o£ the trial groups. This is, however, only
conjecture. According to the present study, an optimal period for starting
visual isolation would be early January.
TABLE I. The weights and weight changes in the female minks o£ trial and control groups (15 minks in each group)
Group Weighing Total weight Total weight Alteration Alteration period o£ group of group (kg) in weight in weight
(kg) March 15 (kg) g /mink
Trial group I Dec 3 16.980 14.510 - 2.470 - 165.0 Control group I Dec 3 16.470 13.740 - 2.730 - 182.0 Trial group II Jan I 12.715 12.740 + 0.025 + 1.6 Control group II Jan 1 13,200 13.610 + 0.410 + 27.3 Trial group III Feb 4 12.320 14.810 + 2.490 + 166.0 Control group III Feb 4 12.690 14.540 + 1.850 + 123.3
TABLE II. Numbers o£ kits of the minks in trial and control groups.
(T = trial group, C = control group)
C I T II C II Mink no. nolof kits no o£ kits no of kits no o£ kits noli? kits go1% kits
Total 48 5 O 68 3 6 5 9 7 4
TABLE III. Numbers of kits in the trial and control groups per mink and percentage of unsuccessful mating.
T I C I T II C II T III C III No of kits/mated female ........... 3.20 3.33 4.53 2.40 3.93 4.93 No of kits/whelped fernale ......... 4.00 5.00 4.85 3.60 4.21 5.29 Unsuccessful mating, % ............ 13.33 33.33 6.66 26.66 6.66 6.66
h a r Edihors
I request respectfully Lhe apacs for Lhis enclosed a&icle
in your scientific newsletterp in Scientifur.
$ospilah%% 26, 5, 1980
Eykki Remesnierni
MSc,, Dr. vete med,
O R I G I N A L R E P O R T .
A Study of Reproduet ion F a c t o r s in B%ue Foxes
S u m m a r v .
The e u t h o r s stud ied t h e effects of d a t e o$ meting and lengéh
of the g e s t a t f o n p e r i o d oh the wumber o f eubas per litoer et
birth and a t weewiwg, as well es the level o f - t e r i - & t y %w b l u e fox females, The sample under s t u d y involved a t o t a l of
2820 bPue f s x females, and it mas found t h e t the date of ae-
t i n g does n o t goverw t h e number of cubs per l i t t e r a t b i r t h and a t weaning, yer t h s t it has a s i g n i f i ~ s n t e f f ec r on the Ievel o f s t s r i l i t y %n b l u e f s x e e , As for ahe e f f e c t s f t h e
I s n g t k of the gestataon per iod, b lue foxee showing a 50-day o r sho r te r gesmaiion per iod were found t o have given barhk t o cubs of a d i s t i n e t l y lower váability, the death l o s - sf
tke Pa t t e r frow b % r t h t o weaning be ing 40,17%, and the num-
ber o f weaned cubs aversging 5.68 young foxes, On the o ther
hend, fox b i t chss showing 56-dey end l onge r gestation per%-
ods gave b i r t h to omaller l i t t e r s ( L 9 4 s u b s a t b i r t h ) ,
The f e r t i l i t y o f f u r en imals . is ows of t h s i r maJor -om-
mercial and productivity c h a r a c t s r i s t f c s , and hand i n band
w i t h t h e q u a l i t y of f u r e i t gsverns t o a l a rge Reasure the
resu%ts and e f f e e t i v e n e s s o f t h e fur en ima l opera t ione ,
Be ing one o f t k e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s exhibiting a low coef-
f l e i s n t o f heritebility, %t is adfeeted t o a l a r g e aeasure
by t h e v a r i a t i o n in env i ronmen ta l f a c t o r s . %
Shor t Survey o f b i t e r a t u r e
Ths blu@ f o x e x h i b i t s h ighese f e r t i l i t y l s v e l s smong
a l l f u r an fma l spec ies ,
MACIEJOWSKX (1972) s t u d i e d 25,747 b l u e f ox cubs o r i g i -
n e t i n g f rom 2,984 1 8 t t e - s by 2,481 fsma lss and found t h e mean
numbsr o f eubs b s i n g 8,7%, of- wh ich one-year-o ld females gave
7,94 cubs p e r l i t t e r , o l d e r ones (up t o f i v e yea rs o f age)
mors "an 9 cubs, w h i l e a s i g n i f á c a n t d rop i n fsmale f e r t i -
l i t y t akes p l a c e s s i n c e t h e i r 6 t h year oF age,
The $Lus fow f e r t i l i t y is govsrned b y a number o f fac-
t o r s ; adsquate n u t r i t i o n (FRINDT, 1978), a p p r o p r i a t e husben-
d r y (SEKOTOV, BOLOTONA, K U E ~ R O V , 19771, day leng rh (HERHANOVA
1970; KUZIEGOV , 19601, l e n g t h o f ehe g e s t e t i o n p e r i o d (SLA-
WON, WOLIYSKL, l 9 7 5 ) , number o f mat ings, da te O P mat ing and
p a r t u r i t i o n ( I C H E B C , 1977) e t c ,
Any e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e f e r t i l i t y o f b l u e f o x b i t e h e s i n
a p o p u l a t i o n under s t u d y shou ld n e e e s s a r i l y t ake i n t o c o n s i -
d e r a t i o n a l s o t h e number o f s t e r i l e ( b a r e ) fsmales, s i nee i t
has a f a r - r s a c h i n g e f f e c t on t h e h e r t i l i t y l e v e l m e a n s ~
M a t e r i a l s and Methods
The o b j e c t i v e o f t h i % paper was t o make an o b j e c t i v e
a n a l y s i a o f t h e f a c t o r s c s n t r o l l i n g t h e number o f cubs p e r
ons L i t t s r i n b l u e fowes, more s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e e f f e c t s o f
t h s da te oC ma t i ng and o f t h e l e n g t h oC t h e g e s t a t i o n p e r i o d
on t he s i z e o f l i t r e r a t b i r t h and a t weeniag, I n a d d i t i o n ,
we exarnined t h e f o x b i t c k s t e r i l i t y i n r e l a t i o n t o da te o f
mat ing, Our o b a e r v a r i s n s were s a r r i e d s u t i n t h e course o f
seven yea rs on t h r e e f u r an ima l farms i n Czechos lovak ia , and
the b l u e Fox p o p u l a t i o n under s t u d y embrased 2,820 females
oP whieh 2,030 gave b i r t h t o l i v e cubs, Ths e v a l u a t i o n o f
the exper iment was made by r o u t i n e s t a t i s t i c a l t schn iques .
R e s u l t s and D i s ~ u s s i o n
The e f f e c t o f t h e da te o f ma t i ng on f e r t i l i t y i n b l u e
f oxss has been o f t e n d i s ~ u s s e d b y p r a c r i e a l f o x breedera,
and i t f s l l o w s t h a t b l u e f s x P e r t i l i t y can be p a r t l y impro-
ved by i n e l u d i n g i n t h e breedáng programmes new females se-
l e e t e d f rom t k e e a r l i e s t l i t t e r s ,
f n Table 1, there %e Lnf~rmation on the nuabsr o f cubs
per l i t t e r f o r the w h s l e sample o f b i r th -g iv lng feaeles, i n
Table 2, tkesa ere the wumbers O P wsaned cube using t h e same
T A B L E 1
Numbar o f . 1 i v e - b o r n b1ue f o x cubi p e r l i t t e r i n r @ 1 a t i o n t o d a t e s f r r e t i n g
t Q
Mer 3 t o
Mer 16 t o
Mar 2 1 t o
Apr 1 t o
Apr 11 t o
Apr 21 t o a f t e r
Feb 28 50
Mer 1 0 239
Har 20 493
Mar 31 520
Apr 1 0 361
&r 20 X29
Apr 3 0 120
Apr 30 38
Nuaber o f msanad blue f o x cuba p e r l i t t e r i n r e l e t i o n t o d a t e o f a e t i n g
C l s e e No.
t o Feb 28 50 7.42
Mar 1 t o Mar 1 0 239 7,653
Mar 11 t o Mer S0 493 7 .98
Msr 21 t o Mer 3 1 520 9.89
r 1 t o 4 r 1 0 9561 7.96
A p r i l P o M r SO P29 7.58
Apr r1 t o Apr 30 120 7.51
~ l f t a r A p r 3 0 38 6 *76
A canpar i son o f d i f f e r e n c e s betneen t h e r e s p e c t i v e me-
ans has n o t r e e u l t e d i n any s t a t i s t i c a l l y a i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e -
rencas. and t h e Tables show c l e a r l y t h a i t he d a t e o f mat ing
[ i n p r e g n a t i o n ) has n o t de te rmined t h e nunber o f cubs p e r l i t -
t e r a t b i r t h and a% weaning,
I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e above conc lus ion . t h s d a t e o f mat ing
p l a y s a s i g n i f i c a n t r o l e i n c u t t i n g down t h e s t e r i l i t y r a t e
i n f e i a l e foxes (Tab. 3 ) . t h e h i g h e s t l e v e l s o f d r yness be-
i n g recorded i n females mated p r i o r t o February 28 (29.33%).
d e c l i n i n g a f t e r t h i s date . and r i s i n g i n t h e females mated
a f t e r A p r i l 21 r o as much as 40.0 x. T A B L E 3
Blue fon femele e e e r i l i t y i n r e l a t i o n eo date of mating
C l a s e Date of mering femelee bearing aborrione e t e r i l e proportion No esrved females and e a r l y f e i a l e e ( X )
b i r t h s
l t o Feb 28 75 5 O 3 22 29.33
2 Mer 1 - Mar l 0 332 239 5 88 26.51
3 Mar 11 - Mar 20 613 473 6 134 21.86
4 Mar 21 - Mar 31 679 520 8 l51 22.24
5 Apr l - Apr 10 486 36 1 7 118 24.27
6 Apr b l - Apr 20 308 229 5 74 24 .O3
9 Apr 21 - Apr 30 208 120 4 84 40.38
8 a f t e r Apr 30 65 38 l 26 40 .O0
Since the percentage o f mat inga sn Pox farms i n t h i s
c o u n t r y by months i s as f s l l o w a , February - 2,71%, Mareh
58,71%, A p r i l 3 6 , 2 a 8 and e a r l y aune 2,35%, i t f o l l o w s t h a t
f o r t h e reasons g iven sbove g r e a t e s t a t t e n t i o n s h o u l d b s g i -
ven t o s e l e c t f o n o f sn ima l s f o r duroher b reed ing , and thac
thess shou ld be f rom t h e e a r l i e s t l i t t e r s ( b i r t h s ) because
t h s y s r s expected t o be t h e e a r l y - o g e t r u s snimals,
The b l u e f o x female p o p u l a t i o n under s t u d y waa c l a s s i -
f i s d on t h e b a s i s s f t h e l e n g t h of t h e g e s t a t i o n p s r i o d and
a 56-day o r mose g e s t a t i o n p e r i o d was fsund i n 319 females
(15,70%), 97 o f rhem (4,77%) showed g e s t a t i o n p a r l o d s below 50 days, and the mast f r e q u e n t d u r a t i o n s ranged f rom 53 t o
55 dayse The a h o r t e s t pregnancy l a a t e d 47 days, t h s l o n g e s t s
62 deys - t k e t ime span b s i n g l 5 days, w h i l s t h s r e s p e c t i v e
mean wee 53.66 deys.
The T a b l s 4 p r o v i d e s an i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e e f f s c t o f
t h e l e n g t h o f g s s t a t i o n on t h e numbsr o f cubs p e r l i t t e r a t +
b i r t h : t h s l owes t numbsr o f cube (7.94 - 0.201) was i n t h e
fsma les b e i n g pregnant f o r 56 o r mors days, and t h i s f i g u r e
i s h i g h l y s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t ( a t P 0.01) i n a r s l e -
t i v e comper ison w i t h t h e o t h s r b i t c h c lasses .
T A B L E 4
Number o f l i v e - b o r n b l u e f o x cube p e r l i t t e r r n r e l a t i o n t o l e n y t h o f y e e t o t i o n p e r i o d
Cl t res No.
C e e t e t i o n p e r i o d (deye)
1 l e e e than 5 0 dsye 97 9.51 0.LOO 2.750 29.02
2 5 1 110 10.28 0.455 4.984 48.47
3 5 2 299 10.04 0.174 3.014 30.05
4 5 3 414 10.48 0.139 2.831 27.01
5 54 471 10.50 0.139 3.016 29.38
6 55 310 10.10 0.168 L.961 29.33
7 56 deye and more 319 7.94 0.201 3.592 45.23
C l e e s No r
2 3 4 5 6 7
The impec t on t h e numbsr o l weawed cubs i s r e p r s s s n t s d
in l a b l e , 5 : l owse t numbsrs o f wesansd cubs were observed i n
t h s f sme le foxes w i t h g e s t a t i o n s l a s t i n g 50 days and l e s s =4 (5.68 - 0.488 cubs) , whiPe t h s 56-day and mors g s s t e t i o n e
+ gave 6,222 - 0.206 cubs p e r l i t t e s a t weaning. These two
msens are s i g n i f i c e n t when compersd w i t h t h e o t h s r mesns - and h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t i n a c o n f r o n t a t i o n o f t h e c l e s s e s
1 - 3 , 1 - 4 , 1 - 5 , 1 - 6 , 3 - 7 , 4 - 7 , s - 7 , a n d 6 - 7 .
Our f i n d i n g s a r s i n agreemsne w i t h the d a t a o b t a i n e d b y
SLAWON and WOLXNSKI (1975) ahsugh t h e l a t t e r a u t h o r s made
na s t a t i s t i c a l s v a l u e t i o n O P t h e i r r e e u l t s .
Editors note.
This report was sent as contribution to The Second International
Scientific Congress in Fur Animal Production, Denmark, April 1980,
but first received in August 1980. As supplement to the map of
participants and contributors to the congress we are bringing Dr.
Skfi.van@s personal data under communication.
@ THE ROLE OF THE RETE OVARII IN MEIOSIS AND FOLLICLE
FORMATION IN THE CAT, MINK AND FERRET.
Anne Grete Byskov, The Finsen Laboratory, The Finsen Institute,
0 OESTRADIOL-17P CONCENTRATIONS IN THE PERIPHEML PLASMA
OF TWE BLUE FOX (ALOPEX LAGOPUS) AROUND OESTRUS.
O.M. Maller, J,M. A u r s j ~ , 0 . V . Sjaastad, The Research Farm for
Fusbearing Animals, 1380 Heggedal, Norway.
Tkhe concentrations of oestradiol-17a in the peripheral plasma of 3
blue fox vixens, 2-4 years old, were studied during late prooestrus,
oestrus and early gestation. The vixens came into heat between
L 2 and 28 April. Oestrus lasted for 3 or 4 days, and 2 of the vixens wese mated once and 1 vixen was mated twice.
Days befwe and after the first day of oestrus
F i g u r e 1 . Plasrna wstradiol-17fi concentrations in 3 blue fox vixens during llate prooestrus, oestrus and early gestation. Tlie black hori- aonlal bar indieates tRe period OP copulatory beliaviour as judged once 6i day ibn the basis of receptivity. The ,arrow marks the day when the
vixen was riiatcd.
Blood samples were taken daily between 9 and lo a,m.
In all 3 vixens a well-defined oestradiol-l7p peak, with maximal
concentrations of about 200 pg/rnl, was observed 1 to 3 days before
onset of oestrus ( ~ i g . 1).
The demonstration of an obvious oestradiol peak before the onset
of oestrus, suggests that a rapid increase in plasma oestrogens
is a prerequisite for induction of oestrus in blue fox vixens.
However, the total requirements for induction of oestsus in blue
fox are not clear. Baded ori the present results and the previous stu-
dies on plasma progesterone, it seems reasonable to predict an abi-
lity of progesterone to elicit copulatory behaviour in oestrogen-pri-
med vixens. This speculation clearly warrants further investigation.
Since the oestrogen peak probably induces an ovulating boom of LH
even in the fox, rneasurernents of I,H should be included in further
Anne-Helene Tauson and Eva Aldén, Department of Animal Husbandry,
Swedish Unive r s i t y of A g r i c u l t u r a l S c i e n c e s , Funbo-Lovsta ,
S - 7 5 5 90 Uppsa la , Sweden.
P o t a t o e p r o t e i n (Pro tamyl P F ) from Avebe, Ho l l and , was t e s t e d i n
growth t r i a l s w i t h mink k i t s a t t h e Swedish r e s e a r c h farm and a t
a p r i v a t e Swedish mink farm. A t t h e Research farm t h e expe r imen t
c o n s i s t e d of t h r e e g r o u p s , each wi th 30 male and 30 f emale k i t s
of p a s t e l t y p e . F i s h meal i n t h e c o n t r o l d i e t was s t e p w i s e ex-
changed with p o t a t o e p r o t e i n . A t t h e h i g h e s t l e v e l ( 8 % ) about
50 % of t h e t o t a l p r o t e i n i n t h e d i e t was of p o t a t o e p r o t e i n o r i g i n . The f i e l d t e s t was c a r r i e d o u t wi th two g r o u p s , each
wi th 48 male and 48 female s t a n d a r d k i t s . The c o n t r o l group was
f e d t h e normal r a t i o n of t h e farm and i n t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l r a t i o n
a l l cod o f f a l i n t h e normal r a t i o n was r e p l a c e d by p o t a t o e pro- t e i n .
Growth per formance was normal wi th e x c e p t i o n f o r k i t s o n t h e
h i g h e s t p o t a t o e p r o t e i n l e v e l a t t h e Research farm a t t h e begin- n ing of t h e e x p e r i m e n t . These an imals had a lowered growth r a t e
due t o e l e v a t e d f e e d l o s s e s through t h e n e t t i n g of t h e cage . % n t h e f i e l d t e s t t h e expe r imen ta l group was f e d t i l 1 t h e end of
August a r a t i o n of bad h y g i e n i c q u a l i t y r e s u l t i n g i n lowered
growth r a t e . When t h e h y g i e n i c q u a l i t y of t h e r a t i o n was made
b e t t e r , t h e growth r a t e of t h e k i t s was e l e v a t e d .
E s t i m a t i o n of f u r q u a l i t y and s a l e s v a l u e of t h e s k i n s s u g g e s t s
a b e t t e r p e l t q u a l i t y e s p e c i a l l y f o r males f ed p o t a t o e p r o t e i n
compared wi th a n i m a l s f ed c o n t r o l d i e t s .
Due t o above mentioned r e s u l t s , p o t a t o e p r o t e i n of q u a l i t i e s low i n s o l a n i n e cou ld be recommended i n mink r a t i o n s up t o 2 - 3 % i n t h e p e r i o d of l 5 J u l y - p e l t l n g . Use o f h i g h e r l e v e l s should be c o n s i d e r e d f o r each s p e c i a l c a s e r e g a r d i n g o t h e r food i n g r e d i e n t s . More than 1 % of p o t a t o e p r o t e i n i s no t recommended f o r t h e l a c t a - t i o n p e r i o d .
Våra P a l s d j u r , 1980, 5 1 , in p r e s s . 1 f i g . , 1 6 t a b l e s , 1 r e f e r e n c e .
Authors a b s t r a c t .
0 VITAMINE AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR VISONS A N D FOXES.
( v i t a m i n o v y a minerAIni doy ln&k p ro norky a l i 8 k y ) .
J a n T e j n o r a , Mi los S k r i v a n , U n i v e r s i t y of A g r i c u l t u r e ,
160 21 P raha 6 - Suchdo l , Czechos lovak ia .
Two l a r g e s c a l e e x p e r i m e n t s were c a r r i e d o u t on v i s o n s w i t h t h e
o b j e c t i v e of e s t a b l i s h i n g the e f f e c t o € v i t a m i n e and m i n e r a l p a r t
of b i o f a c t o r supp lemen t s . The exper iment w a s c a r r i e d o u t i n 2
s t a g e s . The f i r s t s t a g e covered t h e r e p r o d u c t i o n p e r i o d t i l1 t h e
moment o f weaning t h e young a n i m a l s , a n t t h e second s t a g e covered
t h e p e r i o d a f t e r weaning, The c o n t r o l g roups were g i v e n a sup-
plement of v i t a m i n e s and m i n e r a l s u b s t a n c e s s o , as i t w a s u s u a l
a t t h e f a r m i n q u e s t i o n .
I n b o t h expe r imen t s d u r i n g t h e r e p r o d u c t i o n p e r i o d , b e t t e r r e s u l t s
were found i n t h e t e s t g soups , s o f a r as t h e number of bo rn as w e l l
as weaned young a n i m a l s p e r one fema3.e w a s concerned .
No h i g h e r n a t a l i t y w a s found i n t h e t e s t g r o u p s , d u r i n g t h e ex-
pe r lmen t a f t e s weaning. The i n f l u e n c e o f t h e v i t a m i n e and m i n e r a l
supplement o f b i o f a c t o r s upon t h e f u r r e s u l t e d i n a b e t t e r c l a s s i -
f i c a t i o n of f a r s of t h e an ima l s from t h e t e s t , g roup. Fo l lowing
t h e r e s u l t s publ ished, t he vi tamine and mineral i n g r e d i e n t s of bio-
f a c t o r supplements f o r v i sons and foxes were recommended t o be made
i n packages of 5 kg and of 0.25 kg each.
Bio log izace a chemizace v$8ivy z v i F a t , 1977, 81-90.
21 t a b l e s , 1 photo.
I n Czechoslovakian with summaries i n Russian, Engl i sh , German,
French and Spanish.
Authors summary.
") MEAT PRESERVED BY NATRIUM-PYROSULPHIT I N VISONS' DIET.
( ~ a s o konzervované pyrosiFiFitanern sodnfm v krmnich
dávkách norku) . Milos SkFivan, Jan T r d l i k á t , U n i v e r s i t y of A g r i c u l t u r e ,
160 21 Praha 6 - Suchdol, Czechoslovakia.
The e f f e c t of feed ing meat preserved by one o r two pe r c e n t of
t e c h n i c a l nat r ium pyrosu lph i t ( ~ a S O ) t o the v i sons of t h e type 2 2 5
Standard was s tud ied i n two experirnents. Twenty, o r t e n grams,
of N a S O were added t o looo grams of ground meat. The food 2 2 5
was mixed f o r 1 5 minutes , and then i t was put i n t o t h e p l a s t i c
bags which were sea led by mel t ing.
For t h e f i r s t experiment, 50 young, i n d i v i d u a l l y housed males and
50 females were used, and they were d i s l o c a t e d i n f i v e groups.
This experiment l a s t e d s i n c e the 3rd of J u l y til1 the 21s t of
November 1971. The second experirnent wi th t he same animals (25
males and 50 females) l a s t e d s i n c e November 2Lst , 1971 t i l 1 June
30, 1972, When 30, o r 65 p e r cen t of rneat which w a s p reserved by
2 per cen t of Na S O were i n t h e d i e t , no s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i - 2 2 5
f i c a n t i n h i b i t i o n of t h e growth of t h e young v i sons w a s found b u t ,
the lower l a y e r of t h e i r f u r w a s of l i g h t colour . When preserved
meat a n l y was f e d , the growth of bo th sexes was slow and t h e q u a l i t y
a f f u r was low, a
The stock bred animals which were reared on experimental diet had,
owing to the use of NaeS205, mostly a significantly smaller number
of young born, and the mortality of young animals til1 60 days of
age increased to as much as the double.
Biologizace a chemizace v$Zivy zviFat, 4 , 1974, 379-384.
4 tables, 6 references.
In Czechoslovakian with summaries in Russian, English, German,
Franch and Spanish.
Authors summary,
o DIGESTIBILITY OF FAT AND FATTY ACIDS IN RAINBOW TROUT
AND MINK.
Erland Austreng, Anders Skrede, Ashild Eldegard, Dep. of Poultry
and Fur Anirnal Science, Agricultural University of Norway,
N-1432 Ås-NLH, Norway.
The digestibility of different fats in rainbow trout and mink showed
somewhat higher values in mink than in fish. Digestibility coef-
ficients in fish did not exhibit distinct differences between two
water termpeatures (3 and 11° C).
Wainbow trout and mink responded very similarly to digestibility
differences between dietary fats and fatty acids. Both species re-
vealed decreasing digestibility of total lipids and fatty acids with
increaaing melting point, Thus soybean oil, cod liver oil and
capelin oil were efficiently digested, while hydrogenation o£ cape-
lin oil resulted in decreased digestibility, Mild hydrogenation to
21° C melting point had a slight effect. The digestibility of sa-
tusated and unsaturated fatty acids were similarly influenced by
hydrogenation. The digestibility of individual fatty acids decreased
with increasing chain length up to C 18 *
A further increase in chain
length up to CZ2 caused increased digestibility, Unsaturated acids
showed higher digestibility than their saturated counterparts,
Aquaculture 19, 1980, 93-95.
1 table, 1 fig., 1 reference. Authors abstract .
0 TOXIC AND CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS OF NITROSODIMETHYLAMINE
IN MINK. _ I
N. Koppang, H. Rimeslatten, National Veterinary Institute,
PB 8146- Dep, Oslo 1, Norway.
In a feeding experiment, 96 mink divided into four groups were kept on diets in which each animal received from 0.04-0.07 mg/kg bw NDMA/day. After four months' feeding the mink were still in
good health. Except for 20 mink kept for breeding, the animals
were skinned. They showed no gross lesions; however, in the livers
of mink receiving a total of 16-21 mg/kg bw NDMA some of the swnaller
hepatic veins were partially occluded.
The remaining mink and their offspring were all kept on the same
diet, which included 10% herring meal with a NDMA content of
7.2-7.8 mg/kg. After 233 experimental days and a total intake of
26 mg/kg bw NDMA, one male died of liver fibrosis and occlusive
changes in the hepatic veins. The remaining 16 in the parent
group and 22 in the F group developed haemangiomatous liver l
tumours after a total intake of 25-87 mg/kg bw NDMA. The carcinoge-
nic action of NDMA on mink appears to be nearly loo$ if the exposure
time is long enough and if the dose is near to the hepatotoxic
level.
Internat. Agency for Research on Cancer, 1976, 14, 443-452. 2 tables, 4 figs., 5 references.
Authors summary.
0 PROPHYLAXLS TO DEGENERATION OF LIVER IN MINK - ACTION OF VITAMIN B ON EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED FAT
l5 INFILTRATION OF LIVER,
ur Prophylaxe der Leberdegeneration bei Nerzen - Der Einfluxx des Vitamin B
l5 X) auf die experimentell hervorgerufene
Fettinfiltration der ~eber).
x) ~lucons~ure-6-bis-(~-diiso~ro~ylamin~)-azetat - oder Pangmsaure.
N. Nankov, Medizinische Klinik der Tierarztlichen Hochschule Sofia,
The propknylactic action of vitamin B was tested in minks with ex- 15 perimentally induced fat infiltreation of the liver. Thirty-six
males wese subdivided into three groups, one group of controls,
one untreated test group kept on special diet, and the vitamin B 15 group. The latter group was tested for its concentrations of
total lipides in the liver, phospholip5des9 beta-lipides, and
free fatty acids in the blood serum. Vitamin B was found to J-5 be of adequately pronounced lipotropi@ effect. Storage of lipides
in lives cells is prevented, and ligolytic activity of the fatty
tissue as well as synthesis of phospholipides and beta-lipoproteids
ase stimulated. The cholesterol level in the blood serum is normal-
ised.
Monatshefte fur Veterinarmed, 2 9 , 653-655.
l table, 23 references.
In German wiLh summaries in German, Russian and English.
Authorc summary,
0 JUVENILE RIC S AND mPERPARALT OIDPSM IN THE ARCTIC FOX.
Gerald J, Conlogue, William J. Foreyt, Alfe L. Hanson,
John A, Ogden, Dept. of Surgery and Pediatrics and the
Skeletal Growth and Development Study Unit, Yale University
ScksoL of Medicine, New Haven, Comecticut 06510, USA.
Three of seven Arctic fox kits, Alopex lagopus, trapped on St. Paul
Island, Alaska, had evidence of rickets and hyperparathyroidism.
Radïugraphic , morphologic and histologic exaininati on conf irmed the diagnosis, The disease was presumed to be a juvenile-onset
disease due to calcium-deficient intake following weamaing, The pos-
sibility of insufficient exposure to sunlight eould not be deter-
mined. No other abnosmalities (@.g., genitourinary) were found, "k
Skeletal involvement was quite varied. All growth plates exhibited
columnar hyperplasia compatible with rickets, while the metaphyses
showed decreased trabeculation and cortical thinning compatible
with osteodystrophia fibrosa. One fox had bilateral metaphyseal
fractures through this osteodystrophic bone.
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Vol. 15, no.4, October 1979* 563-567.
3 figs., 7 references. Authors abstract,
566 Journal ol Wildlife Diseases Vol 15. No 4. October. 1979
FIGURE 3: From left to right, proximal humerus, distal humerus, proximal femur and distal radius and ulna. There is widening of the mid-portion of the proximal humeral physis, relatively minimal involvement of distal humerus and proximal femur, and marked involvement of the distal radius and ulna. The ulna showed massive widening of the physis. The radius was less involved, but was easily separated from the adjacent metaphysis.
SIMPLE TECIINJQUE FOR BLEEDJNG FEFGtETS ( MerSTELA. PUTORIUS FURO)
3-5 ml oE blood can be obtained soutinely from the tail oE a
conscious ferret without affecting the wellbeing of the animal.
The development of this Lechxiique makes the ferret more readily
available as an alternative species for mul.tidose toxicity studies.
Laboratory Animals, l$I8o, 14, 5$I-60.
I fig., 2 references.
In English with summaries in English and German,
COLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
OF THE ANESTHETIZED MINK (MUSTELA VISON).
E. Köhler, H. Bieniek, Pharmakologisches Institut, 4000 Diisseldorf-l, Moorenstrasse 5.
The present investigation was undertaken to clarify whether the
mink (Mustela vison) is a suitable experimental animal for pharma-
cological experiments on the cardiovascular system. This guestion
is of special interest considering the fact that the experimental
animals usually employed, the dog and the cat, in contrast to the
mink can only hardly be obtained through a dealer as a homogeneous
group. The problems involved in procuring cats in sufficient quan-
tities are steadily increasing.
This presentation encompasses the demonstration of a suitable
anesthesia for experimental work with the mink, the testing of
several substances with known positive or negative inotropic effects
on the heart, as well as a comparison of the applied doses and the
resulting effects of these substances in the mink with those
usually obtained in the cat.
In mink (~ustela vison), ariesthetized with urethanechloralose,
the blood pressure, the pressure in the left ventricle, the para-
meters of contractility dp/dtmax and ( as well as the C
(p-edp)+ )max electrocardiogram were recorded, and the influences of several sub-
stances with known effects on the heart were registered. The fol-
lowing were obtained:
1, The heart rate in the mink is about twice as high as the anesthe-
tized cat, dog or pig, dp/dtmax is about twice as high as in the
cat and the rabbit, and about three times as high as in the dog
and the pig.
2. Adrenaline (0.1-3.2 pg/kg) causes a dose-dependent increase of
the blood pressure and the contractility of the heart, whereas
propranolol (1 mg/kg) and pentobarbital (15-30 mg/kg) decrease
the blood pressuse and the contractility. a
3. In mink pretreated with 1 mg/kg propranolol and 15-30 mg/kg
pentobarbital, digoxin causes a reincrease of the blood pres-
sure and the contractility. The dose of the glycoside causing
exitus in the mink pretreated with propranozol and pentobarbital
is considerably higher (157%) than in the nonpretreated cat and considerably lower than in the non-pretreated guinea pig
(40%)
Z. Versuchstierk. 17, 145-154, 1975. 4 tables, 3 figs., 4 references. In English with summaries in English and German.
Authors introduction and summary.
0 AMYLOID-RELATED SERUM PROTEIN SAA FROM THREE ANIMAL SPECIES:
COMPARISON WITH HUMAN SAA.
1) Robin F. Anders, Jacob B. Natvig, Knut Sletten, Gunnar Husby,
Knut Nordstoga,
1) The Walter and Eliza Hall Inst. of Med. Res., Post Office,
Royal Melbourne Hosp., Victoria 3050, Australia.
Inst. of Immunology and Theumatology, Rikshospitalet, Univ.
Hosp., Inst. of Biochernistry, Univeristy of Oslo and Natl.
Vet. Inst. Oslo, Norway.
The amyloid-related serum protein SAA has been isolated by gel
filtration in lo$ formic acid from three animal species: mink,
mouse, and rabbit. Sera used in the isolation procedure were
obtained from animals in which high concentrations of S M had been
induced by treatment with LPS,
The isolated S M proteins had a subunit size similar to that of
human SAA, with m.w. values ranging from 10,ooo to 11,700 (estimated
by gel filtration in 6 M guanidine-HC~) or 12,400 to 15,000 (esti- mated by SDS-PAGE), The m.w. studies and amino acid sequence data
indicated that SAA and the amyloid fibril protein AA in the mouse, a
and probably also the mink, are related in the same way as in man,
the two proteins having common NH -terminal amino acid sequences 2 and SAA being extended by 20 to 40 residues at the COOH-terminal end of the molecule.
The Journal of Immunology, Vol, 118, 1, Jan, 1977, 229-234.
3 tables, 4 figs., 25 references.
Authors summary.
THE CONTENT OF MINERAL ELEMENTS IN SERB OF MINK,
(~awartoS6 elementów mineralnych w surowicy krwi norek),
Leon Saba, Juliusz Tyczkowski, Jerzy Slawon, Stanislaw Wojcik,
ul. Akademicka 13, 20-934 Lublin, Poland.
The blood was taken from sixty mink (standard) fed traditionally
fresh fodder containing approx. 78% of products of animal origin. The sequence of the presence of mineral elements was as followed:
~a>P>~g)Zn)Fe)Cu)Co)Euln. The content of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, CO
and Mn determined in the sera of mink maintained under typfcal con-
ditions could be treated as physiological level,
Medycyna Weterynaryjna, XXXIII, 51-52,
2 tables, :L2 references.
In Polish wfth summaries in Russian and EngLish.
Authors summary.
M. Olsson, J.E, Krihlström, S, Jensen, J. Orberg, Swedish Museum of
Natura1 History, S-lo4 05 Stodkholm, Sweden.
A high level of a contaminant in biological material is usually
assumed to correspond to a high concentration of the studied
pollutant in the enviroment. However, some substances migh
behave synergistically to influence the levels recorded. This
report indicates that PCB exposure increases the accumulation of
OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF THE CHEDIAK-HIGASHI SYNDROME IN
FOUR SPECIES OF ANIMALS,
Linda L. Collier, Gary M. Bryan, David J, Prieur, Dept. of Vet. Microbiol,
and Path., College of Vet. Med,, Washington State University,
Puiiman, WA 99164, USA.
Ocular examinations were perförmed on cattle, cats, mink,and mice
affected with Chédiak-Higashi syndrome (CHS). Bovine eyes were
examined grossly and with an indirect ophthalmoscope, and Schirmer
tear tests were performed, Feline eyes were examined grossly as
well as with an indirect ophthalrnoscope and a slit lamp biomicroscope,
and Schismer tear tests were done of them. Postrotatory nystagmus
was induced and measured in clinically normal Siamese cats, in a
clinically normal Persian and domestic short-haired cats, and in
cata with CHS, Mink and mouse eyes were examined gsossly with
PocaZ illumination.
I \ Ihe anirnals with CHS had photophobia, pale irises, and fundic
hypopigrrientat-iorb associated with red fundic light reflections.
Ca.-ka w . i t l l CHS also had cataracts, Spontaneous nystagmus was ob-
seryed 5.n. Eons of nine cats with CHS, and the duration of induced
wstagmus was longer in the cats with CHS and in Siamese cats than
in eliniea3.l-y norms.l. cats -bhat were not Siamese, Tear secretion
appeared to be normal in all species of animals sith CHS. The ocu-
Bar manifestations of CHS in these animals were compared with those
r epo r t ed in môn and were found to be similar.
JAVMA, Voi, 3-15? NO, 6, 587-590t 1979.
la fags,, lbreferences,
Authors summary.
@ CMUCTERISATION OF PLATELETS FROM NORMAL MINK AND MINK
WITH THE CHEDEAK-HIGASMI SYNDROME,
K , , M , Mayess, H, RoZmsen, C,L,, Seachord, G, Hopkins, J. Gorham,
Elep$, of Vet, and Comp. Anatomy, Pharmalogy and Physiology,
Co$l, of Vet, Med,, Washington State University, Pullrnan,
WA 9rjai64, USA,
B1.aedi.rï.g times o f mink w f t h the Chediak-Higashi (CH) syndrorne was
marIc.edS..y prolongecl, Platelet counts were normal but there was an
impai..red platelet aggregation response t o collagen. The metabolic
adenjne r),ucleotide pool oE platelets from normal and CH mink was
labcled with 14C-adonine and the platelets were gel-filtered. Gel-
Piltered pLa te leLs (GFP) from CR mink contained only 37,9% of the adenssine triphosphate (ATP) and 9,6% of the adenosine diphosphate
( A D P ) f crla.x~d :In normal. platelets and the ATP/ADP ration was similar 24- -ko t t re '"1kCmATP/'4~-~DP ratio. Platelet content of Ca , PIg2', and
i n particular 5-hydroxytryptamine was decreased, When GFP were
incubated with thrornbin to induce rnaximal secretion, only negli-
gibbe amsunts of ATP and ADP were released. The specific activity
of the e~trace~lular nucleotides approximated that within the plate-
l e t , These findings suggest that the stored nucleotide pool in CH
pl.a.telets is virtually absent and that the abmormalities in plate-
let Euazction m a y be due, in part to the essential absence of secret-
able ADP and. serotonin. The release of ca2' and &Ig2' by CH platelets
nas 56% and 27,8% of normal, respectively.
American J, of Wematology, 7, 137-146, 1979. 5 tables, 2 figs,, 30 references.
Authors summary.
0 PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA, IV. PYOCINE TYPING OF STRAINS ISOLATED FROM THE BLUE FOX (ALOPEX LAGOPUS), MINK
(MUSTEU VISON), AND DOG (CANIS FAMILIARIS) AND FROM
THEIR ENVIRO~ENT,
B, G i e r ï a f f , Srnall Animal Clinic, The Royal Vet, and Agricultural
Proedings OP the Fif2eenth Training Course and (bsnfermce k l d at the Royal Stetian Hotel, York, Eqlrnd, 11-13 April 1880.
Q The Fur Edr&er%' Asmietion of the Un i td Kingdom & Irelmd
I N D E X
Publishd & distributed by: The Fur Brders' Arnietion of the Uni td K i m o m & Irelad, Riverbank House, (1st Floor), 67, Upper Thems %re&, London, EC4V 3AB, UK
PAGE NO.
PREFACE B.G Stenn . * .- . . i
THE YORK RECEPTION . . s s .. iii
OPENING REMARKS A.F. F r a y l i n g , O.B.E.
THE IMPORTANCE O F WORKING CLOSELY WITH RANCHERS I N THE 805 J.J. B r e n n a n . . . . . * 3
PELLETS - THE MINK FEED OF THE FUTURE kJ. Leoschke, P1j.D. . . . . . . 8
MAJESTIC PROMWPION AND I T S ACHIEVEMENTS and PRACI'ICAL MINK FARMING I N CANADA Q. J o s t . . . . .. 17
A ra)DERN APPROACH TO MINK FARMING 'T R Mewrnan Buuberry
GENERAL DISCUSSION . . . . .. 36
TUE CHAMGPNG MAHI(ET PLACE 11.M. D v a n
UEAL,TW AND WELFARE O F MINK G % o f t s g c + a ë d
WELFARE OF MINK I N THE UNITED KINGDOM H . Cowan W i i s o n , BVMS,FRCVS
Tln'E I NI'ERNATI ONAL F118 TRADE FEDERATION : WWPI" IS 1 T AWL) WHY I S I T ? A . F . f r a y l i n g , 0 . B E . . . . . . . 7 1
CA?: RI,E:UTIAN DIJEWSE BE ERADICATED? H. Karïtcier , Ph . D. . * . . . . 89
PGLE:FTIAN DXSEASE - TUE PROBLEM t7 .c; Braciy
X O W W\NY MA'FINGS - I S ONE EMOUCH? C E . A d a m s , N . S c . ,Ph .D.
GENERAL. Dl SCilSS i.0N . . . v .. 1 2 7
Prmard & printd by: Jenssen Services, 44, The Baiey, Lowr Thsms Strmt, London, EC3R 8BU, UK
Secretary: Mrs. D.E. Hainmett Riverbank House, (1s t f loor)
Gazette edl tor : R.P. Rice 6 7 , Upper Thames St ree t , London, EC4V 3AB
X recommend a l ike t o tkose who were able and those who were not able t o attend the Fifteenth Annua1 Conference t o read careful ly these conference proceed~ngs. There i s a wealth of useful and in t e res t ing information contained i n these pages. My thanks are sincerely offered t o a l l who organised and par t ic ipated i n the Conference, both speakers and delegates.
In excess of 160 people attended t h i s cheerful and happy conference which s e t s a new record. Peter Hawkyard had accepted the responsihi l i ty of organising the 1980 conference and I wish t o record the F B A ' s congratulations on a job we l l done.
Final ly , our thanks t o Mick Hallam's Janssen Services for the speed of production of t h i s very professional prepared record of the York Conference 1980.
CLOSli4G WEMAWKS D.G. Stern Chai rman .
Fur Dreeders' Assn. of U . K . and Ireland
May 1 just take a moment, on behalf of the Dutch organisa t ion, to congra tu la t e our s is ter organisa t ion in Dritian on thei r Fifteenth York Conference. li'e know tha t i t i s not so difficult to organise a thing once but to do it fifteen times in a row i s qui te a n achievemeni. Each year i t h a s got better and better and we have enjoyed i t very much and we a r e a l r eady looking forward to the next York conference. Thank you very muc h .
D.G. Stern
Thank you for those kind remarks, we a r e always very pleased to see you here. We were a l i t t le disappointed that there were not so many wives here th i s year but perhaps next year you will not be so busy a n d a l l of you will be ab le to br ing your wives a s well.
Uiay 1 just remind you tha t the next York Conference will be held on 3rd - 5th April 1981. Our summer t r a in ing school will be on similar l ines to l a s t yea r and will be held on 16th and 17th Seplember. Last year i t was over-subscribed. After discussion with l ludson's Bay, in a rde r to make it worthwhile a n d ensure tha t people will get the p rac t i ca l ins t ruct ion they need, bear ing in mind the number of skinc we will have a v a i l a b l e , we have limited the number to 40 people. So, book e a r l y to be s u r e of a p lace .
1 would like to thank Bruce Sriiith for in i t i a t ing and o rgan i s ing the a t tendance of so many charming Aniericans a t our Conference. I t i s a g r e a t p leasure for a l l af us but it i s a lso very instructive to hear the i r views a n d opinions, a n d to benefit from their experience both duririg question time a n d over a g l a s s of beer a t the b a r .
Thank you a l l for making my job and that of the Committee both e a s y a n d enjoyable.
ONAL BOARD OF FUR F A M ORGANIZATIONS
J- )O, 1980
ilegre mcloring r copy of Uls bruidder recand mppl-t to our
"Rererroh Referenoer w W d I b x ~ r . ~ ile hop. you rill m k tt>rt *m
=iling U h s i ir l i r k d an tb W i d e a corsr.
A d d i t i o d copies rr?é rriLil.ble ta your mdws rt (1 U9 -h, plue
ippmprirte omriem poit.ge for iia &l d e l i w q (l& ounces).
WO hop. #at you nry b. p1 r nturn p lr i t to t b United S a t s e
h ~ % s h e t f b? the
NATIW4L MdRD FUR r7.1.?1Y OPViIVrt?TTWS, INC.
9855 .'/crth 8rookf S21 J Raad
3~aokjield, ir'isconsr'q 535C5
RESEARCH REFERENCES NK 8 FOXES
Supplement No. 2. Cumpiled 1980 hy ihe
National Board of Fur Farm Organizatioiis Dollar
U A I C ) 12/8 1980. Dear Dr. Lu Hogee
Thank you for your letter of 4 August l980 in which you enclosed 2 summaries of reports regarding chinchilla.
We will.be very glad to bring these summaries in SCIENTIFUR, and we will be very glad to receive other summaries or original re- ports in English about fur bearing aninals in the future - also the mention@d report:"The heat production ~f fur-chewing chinchillan.
Regarding your wishes for receiving OP SCIENTIFUR free of charge we have a problem, because iany aciantists from the socialistic countries want this service of the s m e reason as you - difficul- ties for getting funds to the subecriplion.
Therefore, ve have the mass that ve send an iseue - free of charge - to every author rapreassted in the actual iseue of CCIENTIFUR and we slso eachange joupnala on free of coat basis. TherefoHwe c m agre@ to send SCIENTIFUR on exchange basis for your journal% "Raising FUP Bearing Animal" if you will promise us to give an English translation of all titles in each issue and abstracts in English o% all scientific reporta given in the jour- nal. In that way I hope the sesvice will be helpful for all partles included the readers of SCIENTIFUR.
Today we have - by separate post - sent you SCIENTIFUR Vol. 3 (1979) and ttia 2 first issues of vol. 4 (1980) and hope to receiva the already publiahed issuee of your journal, "Raising Fur Bearing Aniial.
For yuur information ve can tell you that we have 2 subecribers on CCIENTIFUR in The Peoples Republic oF China, nmrly: China National Native Products & Animal By-Products, Import h Export Cooperation in respectively Shmghai and Peking.
Yours sincerely
Name: Milos Skrivan
T i t l e : doc.dr.ing.
Country: Czechoslovakia
I n s t i ~ u t e ik a d d r e s s : Universi ty of Agr icu l tuse
L60 2% Praha 6 - Cuchdol
Phnne: 233641-9 Telex:
Languagesi daiPy used: I2zed-I u n d e r s t a n d i n g & t a l k i n g : aead ing & writings English
F i e l d s o f a c t i v i t b e s : Nu tritiwi , Populat ion
Ckrivm M.- Sto lc ,L . : The e f f e c t of calcium panthotena te suppleyents t a r a t i r n s with low l e v e l o f pan thoten ic a s i d o f f e r t i l i t y of sne-year old female mink.Biol. Chem,Veter.,%979,3:%07-212.
The e f f e c t of calcium panthotenate , "pp9.en~nta t o r a t i a n s with k igher levels o f panthoten ic aeid sn t h a ,F*ertXillty of female mink. Biol,chem.Veter., 1979, 3~213-219.
Skrivm,M,-Bwda, F,houcka,R,: Biometsical and h i c t o l o g i c a l ckmges i n t h e t e s t i e l e s and epididyrnis of minks. Sbor. V" Z Prraze,AF,B,28,1979, 225-232.
Slcr j .va-~i~M,-B) ima~A~: The mest e f f i c i e n e y of e i g h t rnonths o ld caypus,$bos,VSZ v Preze9AF,B,1978, 153-165.
$krivm,M,-SirnapA.: The meat u t i l i t y of two y e a r s o ld coypus. %bor,VsL v Psaae, B, 1977,187-198,
Sit rivrn ,M, : L-lys ine ,Bbw thionine md DL-tryp tophm i n t h e d i e t u f Mink,BioleChem.Veter.,1977, 3: 213-219.
Pejwara, J ,-Skrivan 9 M B : Vitamine end mineral supplements f o r minks and foxes8Bio l ,Chem,Ve t e r e 91977y%:81-90e
%rivan.M,-Fieifbr,J,-Ciler7RB: The e f f e c t of mating time on l i t t e r r i z e i n s t m d a r d minks.Sbor.VCZ v Praze ,B ,l976,L07-119.
Vanaf 1 juli 1980 zijn w11 verhuisd naar Nederasselt. Molenweg 7. gelegeri ten zuiden van Nljmegen aan de rivier de Maas.
Vocr corresrmndecitie geldt hel volgende:
Mederlandse Verenigiq van Fakkers van Edelpelsdieren (swretariaat en cobperatie) Moienweg 7 . 661 2 AE Medarasselt
Ons lelefoonnuinnier word. 08892-19$0
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NEDERLANDSE VERERIGIMG VAN FOKKER§ , VAN EDELPELSDIEREN
