Comparison of two breeding systems for timing of whelpings in farmed silver foxes (Research Note)

Two principally different mating systems are practised for farmed silver foxes. In the traditional system the breeding females are kept all the time in cages well separated from each other. In the Nordic system, on the other hand, the breeding females are transferred prior to mating time into a sepa...

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Main Authors: M. HARRI, J. MONONEN, T. REKILÄ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Scientific Agricultural Society of Finland 2008-12-01
Series:Agricultural and Food Science
Online Access:https://journal.fi/afs/article/view/5620
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author M. HARRI
J. MONONEN
T. REKILÄ
author_facet M. HARRI
J. MONONEN
T. REKILÄ
author_sort M. HARRI
collection DOAJ
description Two principally different mating systems are practised for farmed silver foxes. In the traditional system the breeding females are kept all the time in cages well separated from each other. In the Nordic system, on the other hand, the breeding females are transferred prior to mating time into a separate shed where they are placed close to each other and sometimes males are put among them. After artificial insemination (AI) or natural matings, the females are transferred in the mating order to new cages. The condensed premating grouping is assumed to enhance the effect of air-borne male and female pheromones leading to a more intense and synchronised heat development. In this study these two systems were compared for timing and synchrony of parturitions. In contrast to the working hypothesis, date of whelpings were positively skewed with a great kurtosis in the traditional system, an indication that the majority of deliveries occurred during a short period and at the beginning of the season. On the other hand, in the Nordic system the whelpings were more uniformly distributed over the whole season and the peak was later. The results show that the most recent system, although widely used, is not necessarily the only possible alternative but other alternatives should also be considered. ;
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spelling doaj.art-e9950e6e52e6439980fa3e89bb3d82c52022-12-21T19:09:44ZengScientific Agricultural Society of FinlandAgricultural and Food Science1459-60671795-18952008-12-0181Comparison of two breeding systems for timing of whelpings in farmed silver foxes (Research Note)M. HARRIJ. MONONENT. REKILÄTwo principally different mating systems are practised for farmed silver foxes. In the traditional system the breeding females are kept all the time in cages well separated from each other. In the Nordic system, on the other hand, the breeding females are transferred prior to mating time into a separate shed where they are placed close to each other and sometimes males are put among them. After artificial insemination (AI) or natural matings, the females are transferred in the mating order to new cages. The condensed premating grouping is assumed to enhance the effect of air-borne male and female pheromones leading to a more intense and synchronised heat development. In this study these two systems were compared for timing and synchrony of parturitions. In contrast to the working hypothesis, date of whelpings were positively skewed with a great kurtosis in the traditional system, an indication that the majority of deliveries occurred during a short period and at the beginning of the season. On the other hand, in the Nordic system the whelpings were more uniformly distributed over the whole season and the peak was later. The results show that the most recent system, although widely used, is not necessarily the only possible alternative but other alternatives should also be considered. ;https://journal.fi/afs/article/view/5620
spellingShingle M. HARRI
J. MONONEN
T. REKILÄ
Comparison of two breeding systems for timing of whelpings in farmed silver foxes (Research Note)
Agricultural and Food Science
title Comparison of two breeding systems for timing of whelpings in farmed silver foxes (Research Note)
title_full Comparison of two breeding systems for timing of whelpings in farmed silver foxes (Research Note)
title_fullStr Comparison of two breeding systems for timing of whelpings in farmed silver foxes (Research Note)
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of two breeding systems for timing of whelpings in farmed silver foxes (Research Note)
title_short Comparison of two breeding systems for timing of whelpings in farmed silver foxes (Research Note)
title_sort comparison of two breeding systems for timing of whelpings in farmed silver foxes research note
url https://journal.fi/afs/article/view/5620
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AT jmononen comparisonoftwobreedingsystemsfortimingofwhelpingsinfarmedsilverfoxesresearchnote
AT trekila comparisonoftwobreedingsystemsfortimingofwhelpingsinfarmedsilverfoxesresearchnote