NUTRITION OF MINK IN NATURAL HABITAT AND THEIR ADAPTATION IN CAGE BREEDING CONDITIONS
Abstract
In industrial breeding, animals are exposed to conditions different from those of their natural habitat to which they have adapted through evolution. Many factors of this artificially created environment, feeding and housing, have a certain influence on the physiological condition of animals. This paper contains the materials of research aimed at studying the peculiarities of mink nutrition in the natural habitat and their adaptation in the conditions of cage breeding. It should be noted that experimental minks had certain dietary preferences. So, the American mink turned out to be more omnivorous, while the diet of the European mink was dominated by amphibians. The European mink also ate bird eggs, which was not the case with the American mink. The data obtained clearly show the traceability of seasonal changes in the food components of minks. So, in the winter period a gradual decrease in the diet of minks of fish from 33.4% to 0% was observed. It is found that this food plays an important role in the life of American mink in all seasons – its consumption ranged from 5.6 to 18.6 %.
For citations:
Parkov I.V., Herman Y.I. NUTRITION OF MINK IN NATURAL HABITAT AND THEIR ADAPTATION IN CAGE BREEDING CONDITIONS. Zootechnical Science of Belarus. 2024;59(2):26-35. (In Russ.)