Genetic parameters in Finnish blue fox population: Pelt character and live animal grading traits

Abstract

Finnish blue fox farmers breed for increased litter size and pelt size, and improved fur quality. Some farmers select pelt size and fur quality indirectly using live animal evaluations (grading traits). In order to be able to define breeding goals properly, heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated for size traits and fur quality traits. There were four pelt character traits (pelt size, pelt colour darkness, pelt colour clarity and pelt quality) measured on dried skins, and six grading traits (animal size, grading colour darkness, grading colour clarity, underfur density, guard hair coverage and grading quality). The data included 54,680 animals born during the years 1987–2002, originating from seven farms. The heritabilities were high for pelt colour darkness and grading colour darkness, moderate for pelt size and low for other traits. In general, heritability of a pelt character trait was higher than its corresponding grading trait. Genetic correlations within the pelt character traits were low (～0.11) and within the grading traits mainly moderate or high (～0.44). There was high genetic correlation between pelt darkness and grading darkness, pelt quality and grading density, pelt size and animal size; between pelt quality and grading quality and between pelt colour darkness and grading guard hair coverage. This suggests that selection of pelt character traits via grading traits in most cases is relatively effective.     

Economic profit from increased litter size,body weight and pelt quality in mink (Mustela vison)

Economic benefits of improving litter size, body weight (i.e. pelt length) and pelt quality were estimated in mink. Effects of the size of the litter in which the kit was born, on pelt length and pelt quality, were also assessed. The traits were recorded during a selection experiment involving the traits litter size, body weight and underfur density. Skins originating from litters of ≥10 kits tended to be smaller and sold at a lower price, compared with pelts from smaller litters. Litter size did not seem to affect fur quality. Pelt quality score decreased with increasing September weight. Pelts of animals with September weights of < 2000 g and pelting weights of < 2300 g had a lower sales price than pelts of heavier animals. Pelt quality had only a small effect on the price The highest economic gain was achieved by increasing litter size. The net revenue from each extra kit per litter was, in Swedish Kronor, SEK 70, 122 and 170 at an average sales price of SEK 150, 200 and 250, respectively.     

Genetic parameters for fur quality graded on live animals and dried pelts of American mink (Neovison vison)

Fur quality and skin size are integral qualities in the mink industry and are main determinants of sales price and subsequent income for mink fur producers. Parental animals of future generations are selected based on quality grading from live animals, but selection response is obtained from dried skins sold after pelting. In this study, we evaluated traits assessed during live grading and pelt traits examined on dried skins to determine correlation between live and pelt traits. Grading traits and body weight were measured during live animal grading for 9,539 Brown American mink, and pelt quality traits and skin size were evaluated on 8,385 dried mink skins after pelting. Data were sampled from 2 yearly production cycles. Genetic parameters were estimated using the REML method implemented in the DMU package. Heritabilities and proportions of litter variance were calculated from estimated variance components for all traits, and genetic and phenotypic correlations between all traits were estimated in a series of bivariate analyses. Heritability estimates for live grading traits ranged from 0.06 to 0.28, heritability estimates for pelt quality traits ranged from 0.20 to 0.30, and finally heritability estimates for body size traits ranged from 0.43 to 0.48. Skin size and body weight were regarded as different traits for the two sexes and were therefore analysed for each sex separately. Genetic correlations between grading traits exhibited a range of 0.30–0.99 and genetic correlations between pelt quality traits ranged from 0.38 to 0.86. Genetic correlations between quality, wool density and silky appearance evaluated during live animal grading and on dried skin after pelting were 0.74, 0.41 and 0.33, respectively. Skin size and body weight were negatively correlated with pelt quality traits and ranged from −0.55 to −0.25. Using standard selection index theory and combined information from both live grading and skin evaluation increase of reliability of selection ranged from 0.6% to 14%. Due to moderate genetic correlations between traits evaluated during live grading and on dried skins, and negative correlations between pelt quality traits and body size, we concluded that traits should be selected simultaneously.     

Genetic parameters of pelt character,feed efficiency and size traits in Finnish blue fox (Vulpes lagopus)

Pelt character traits (size, quality, colour clarity, darkness) are important economic traits in blue fox breeding. Better feed efficiency (FE) is another economically important and new breeding goal for fur animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlations between pelt character traits, FE and size traits and to estimate genetic parameters for pelt character traits. Pelt size (pSI_cm) had a high positive genetic correlation with animal grading size (gSI), final body weight (BW_Fin), body length and daily gain (DG), and a moderate correlation with body condition score (BCS). Animal body length and BCS (describing fatness) were considered as genetically different traits. Genetic correlations between pelt quality and size traits were estimated without precision and did not differ from zero, but colour clarity (pCL) had a low antagonistic genetic correlation with FE. Pelt size and DG had a favourable genetic correlation with FE but a fairly high unfavourable genetic correlation with dry matter feed intake. The current emphasis on selection for larger animal and pelt size improves FE indirectly, but selection for larger pelt size favours fast‐growing and fat individuals and simultaneously increases feed intake. The detected genetic connections between FE, size, feed intake and pCL should be taken into account in the Finnish blue fox breeding programme.     

Effects of age, castration, and season on difficulty of pelt removal in lambs

Sixty-four white-faced rams and wethers were dressed with the aid of a commercial pelt puller. The effects of age, castration, and season on difficulty of pelt removal and pelt damage were evaluated. Lambs were divided into two age groups (5 and 12 mo) within gender (ram and whether) and season (spring and fall). A greater force (P less than .05) was required to remove pelts from rams than from wethers in both 5- and 12-mo-old groups. Older lambs slaughtered in the fall required more force (P less than .05) to remove their pelts than did those slaughtered in the spring, but differences by season did not exist for 5-mo-old lambs. The difference between rams and wethers in percentage of live weight that was closely shorn pelt weight was not significant (P greater than .05). The area of grain crack in the flank expressed as a percentage of total area of the skin was lower (P less than .05) for skins from 5-mo-old lambs and ram lambs than it was for skins from 12-mo-old lambs and wether lambs, respectively. Factors involved in difficulty of pelt removal in ram lambs included crosscut shoulder weight, fat firmness, and carcass weight. Difficulty of pelt removal in wether lambs was best predicted by including crosscut shoulder weight and bodywall thickness in multiple regression equations.     

The influence of the hemoglobin concentration in growing mink kits on certain skin characteristics

The relationship between some skin characteristics and hemoglobin values during the growth period were statistically examined in standard male minks. Significant correlations) (P < 0.05–0.001) were found between the hemoglobin concentrations determined at 3 points during the growth period (in July, August and November) and the density and colour of underfur, and skin length, respectively. According to the study even the early hemoglobin values in July and August have a significant influence on the size and quality of the pelt. Mink kits with low hemoglobin values are liable to develop a winter fur coat with defective pigmentation and hair structure of the underfur. Anemic minks develop the most extreme stage of the pigmentation defect and these so-called cotton fur skins have little value in the fur garment industry. When these abnormal hemoglobin values are recognized at an early stage, cotton fur skins may be avoided, and larger skins of better quality may be produced.     

Factors influencing difficulty of removing pelts from lamb carcasses.

Forty-eight Suffolk x white-faced ram and wether lambs approximately 5, 7, or 9 mo of age were slaughtered to evaluate the effects of age and gender on difficulty of pelt removal, pelt damage, and leg damage. A commercial belt-type pelt puller and a scale that recorded force required to remove the pelt from the thickest part of the legs was used as lambs hung suspended from their front legs. Rams required more force (P less than .05) to remove the pelt than wethers, and the difference between genders became larger as age increased. Neither pelt damage due to grain crack nor leg damage judged by amount of fell and fat removed by the pelt puller changed with age. Rams possessed thicker pelts (P less than .05) than wethers; this plus a greater amount of collagen crosslinking in ram skins could be responsible for the slightly smaller amount of grain crack observed in ram pelts. Factors involved in difficulty of pelt removal in ram lambs included age, splenius weight, and overall maturity. Difficulty of pelt removal in wether lambs was best predicted by including age and splenius weight in the model. These data tend to support packers' common practice of discounting rams over 5 mo of age because rams develop masculine characteristics and become harder to dress with increasing age.     

Visual Colour Shades in Pelts from Brown Mink (Mustela vison) Explained Colourimetrically

Microspectrophotometric methods were used to provide objective correlates to the visually judged colour shade (CS) of the underfur in scanbrown mink pelts. The study included 21 scanbrown mink pelts (winter coat), representing a larger group of 87 mink pelts coming from a feeding trial with experimental and control animals. The pelts were visually graded from 1 (blue-greyish) to 5 (reddish), primarily in respect of the CS (in auction classification=clarity of colour) of the underfur seen on the edge of the pelt. Prepared samples of underfur fibres showed in visual inspection a gliding change of colour from paler to darker in a proximal-distal direction and were consequently examined at three levels above the skin surface. The means of the dominant wavelengths (hues) were 589.40, 588.00 and 586.70 nm, respectively, indicating that the variation between levels was small. Investigation of the small pelt material concerned showed that CS was significantly correlated with the measured lightness (L*) and with the yellow chromaticity coordinate (b*) of the underfur samples. In this investigation it was also shown that the underfur fibres with a visually blue-greyish colour shade were relatively dark and less yellow compared with underfur fibres with a reddish colour shade. However, data and the model estimating the colour shade demonstrated that, for the material concerned, visually very reddish underfur colour shades were not found in the lightest coloured pelts.     

Genetic relationships between pelt quality, maternal ability, and lamb production in the Gotland sheep breed

The aim of the present investigation was to study the genetic relationships between pelt quality traits (shade of fleece, size of curl, score for fleece colour, score for curl, score for quality of hair, score for thickness of fleece, sum of pelt scores, and overall score) on one hand and maternal ability, live weight, and carcass traits on the other hand for the Gotland sheep breed. Data were received from the Swedish Sheep Recording Scheme and included observations on 4-month weight (4MW) and pelt quality for 51,402 lambs and on weight (CW), fatness (FAT), and fleshiness (FLESH) of the carcass for 12,440 lambs. The lambs were born during the period 1991–2003. When maternal genetic and permanent environmental effects were included in the model direct heritabilities for the pelt quality traits varied between 0.16 and 0.25. Maternal heritabilities (0.01 to 0.05) and common environmental variances as a fraction of the total phenotypic variances (0.07 to 0.10) were low. Maternal heritabilities were higher for 4MW (0.11) and CW (0.12) than for the pelt quality traits. Direct-maternal genetic correlations were both for the pelt quality traits and for 4MW and CW generally negative and low to medium high. Direct genetic correlations between pelt quality traits on one hand and 4MW, CW, FAT or FLESH on the other hand were low (− 0.16 to 0.12). Maternal genetic correlations between pelt quality traits and 4MW or CW were positive and high (0.38 to 0.96). It was concluded that breeding for increased growth and improved carcass quality would not influence pelt quality negatively or vice versa. If maternal genetic effects are considered for 4MW and CW in the breeding program for the Gotland sheep breed, selection for maternal effects on 4MW and CW will have positive effects both on lamb weight and pelt quality.     

Detection of dermatophilosis and lice (Bovicola ovis) on flayed pelts and cockle on the skin of live lambs

Pelts from lambs submitted to an abattoir were obtained at monthly intervals from December to August. One half of each freshly flayed pelt was examined for cockle, lice (Bovicolu ovis) and dermatophilosis, and the observations compared with defects attributable to cockle and dermatophilosis in the corresponding pickled half-pelts. Formalin-fixed samples from pelts identified as having cockle were examined microscopically. Cockle was not detected macroscopically in flayed half-pelts despite being obvious in 4% of the pelts after pickling. Lice were detected in 17% of the flayed half-pelts. Dermatophilosis occurred in 12% of flayed half-pelts, presenting most commonly as small lesions in the dorsal midline regions of the lambs. However, only 4% of pickled half-pelts showed defects attributable to dermatophilosis. In other groups of lambs, cockle was detected in vivo by examining the skin over the upper shoulder region after close shearing of the wool. This method of detection showed sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 100%. The results of this work provide a basis for the monitoring of dermatophilosis and cockle in live lambs.     

Genetic study on pelt quality traits in the Gotland sheep breed

Abstract

Genetic parameters were estimated for pelt quality traits of the Gotland sheep breed using data from the Swedish Sheep Recording Scheme and multiple-trait animal models. Data on detailed pelt quality traits were available for 51,455 lambs born from 1991 to 2003. For 4,771 lambs there also was information about a subjectively measured overall score for pelt quality. Sex of lamb, age of ewe, litter size, age of lamb, and interactions between these had significant effects on pelt quality. Heritabilities were moderately high (0.20 to 0.48) and genetic correlations between the traits were low to highly positive (?0.18 to 0.95). Breeding for an increased overall score will in the short term improve score for quality of hair, score for curl, and score for nuance of colour. Size of curl and score for thickness of fleece may also increase and this is not always advantageous as these are traits with optimum values.     

Growth and fur parameter variations of farmed raccoon dogs

Growth, body composition and hair coat parameter variations were evaluated in farmed raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) reared in a conventional two animals -in-cage-system. Daily rate of body weight gain (BWG) of litters very significantly (p less than 0.001) correlated with their time of birth (r = 0.879); the later in spring they were born the faster they gained weight. Final body weight (FBW) of the whelps was to be predicted from their body weight (BW) in early August (r = 0.689). There was no significant correlation between litter size and FBW, BWG or daily rate of BWG. Social competition for food produced great variation in FBW of the animals; the difference between the heavier and lighter raccoon dogs within a cage averaged 1.2 kg (p less than 0.001). Except in FBW and obesity index, there was no significant differences in other parameters between these social groups. Social status within a cage explained only 3.6% of the pelt quality variation while it could explain 52% of the BW variation. Litter explained 36% of the pelt quality, whereas it could explain 4.9% of the BW variation only. Social status and litter did not show any significant two-way interactions. Pelt weight very significantly (p less than 0.001) correlated with pelt quality (r = 0.48) and mass (r = 0.55). Also mass very positively (p less than 0.001) correlated with pelt quality (r = 0.82), indicating that the subjectively estimated pelt quality, in fact, can be derived directly from its weight. We conclude that differences in growth parameters and fur characteristics are mainly produced by social and hereditary factors, respectively.     

Size Allometry in Mink (Mustela vison) Selected for Feed Efficiency

Objectives were to analyse absolute and relative size of mink at maturity, and to test effects of selection line, sex and interaction on size. For male and female mink selected for high or low feed efficiency, size at 30 weeks was analyzed for body weight, carcass weight, pelt weight, subcutaneous fat weight, and pelt length. For absolute size, an ANOVA model included effects of line, sex, and interaction. For relative size, two models were used: an allometric model and an extended allometric model, which included effects of line, sex, and interaction.

For the ANOVA model, sexes differed for each variable; females were less than males. As a percentage of body weight, however, carcass weight was larger in females than males, whereas fat weight was smaller in females than males. For the extended allometric growth model, sexes differed for carcass weight and subcutaneous fat weight; females fattened faster than males.     

饲喂水平对冬毛生长期雄性北极狐生产性能、器官发育及机体能量沉积的影响

旨在研究不同饲喂水平对冬毛生长期雄性北极狐生产性能、器官发育及机体能量沉积的影响。本试验选取46只161日龄,平均体重为（7 285±5.77）g健康的雄性北极狐,其中6只北极狐作为试验初屠宰试验对照,另外40只北极狐随机分成4组（每组10个重复,每个重复1只）,分别按照自由采食组（AL,I组）、自由采食量的80%组（IR80,II组）、自由采食量的60%组（IR60,III组）和自由采食量的40%组（IR40,IV组）4个水平饲喂,预饲期7 d,试验期67 d,通过饲养试验、屠宰试验并结合化学分析方法来评定生长性能、毛皮品质、器官发育及机体能量沉积的各项指标。结果表明：1）随饲喂水平降低,平均干物质采食量（ADFI）呈极显著降低（P<0.01）,II组平均日增重（ADG）极显著高于IV组（P<0.01）,显著高于III组（P<0.05）,与I组差异不显著（P>0.05）;饲喂水平对北极狐末重和料重比（F/G）无显著影响（P>0.05）,但II组末重略高于其他组,F/G略低于其他组。2）饲喂水平极显著影响了北极狐鲜皮长（P<0.01）,I组极显著高于III和IV组,与II组无显著差异（P>0.05）;随饲喂水平降低,体长、干皮长、针毛长和绒毛长均呈降低趋势,但各组间均无显著性差异（P>0.05）。3）饲喂水平显著影响了北极狐心脏重和心脏指数（P<0.05或P<0.01）,II组心脏重显著高于III组（P<0.05）,与I组和IV组差异不显著（P>0.05）,IV组心脏指数极显著高于I组（P<0.01）,显著高于III组（P<0.05）,与II组差异不显著（P>0.05）,而饲喂水平对肝、肾、肺和脾重及其脏器指数均无显著影响（P>0.05）。4）随饲喂水平降低,毛皮增重、毛皮脂肪沉积及其能量沉积、毛皮沉积总能量、胴体脂肪沉积及其能量沉积、胴体蛋白沉积及其能量沉积和胴体沉积总能量均呈降低趋势,但饲喂水平对毛皮、胴体能量沉积各项指标均无显著性影响（P>0.05）。采用适当限饲（IR80）不影响冬毛生长期北极狐机体器官的正常发育,能够保证其体重增长及毛皮品质,提高了饲料转化效率,且还降低了机体能量沉积过度带来的肥胖风险。     

Feed Consumption and Efficiency in Paternal Progeny Groups in Mink

Abstract

A total of 730 dark mink, half of each sex, representing 94 paternal progeny groups originating from 16 farms were housed on a test station from about 10 weeks of age until pelting. Average daily feed consumption in paternal progeny groups was registered daily. Individual body weights were recorded five times. Feed consumption, feed efficiency and weight gain in paternal progeny groups were calculated in four subperiods corresponding to the times of weighing. These traits, body weights and length of pelts were analysed for differences between paternal progeny groups and farms of origin. A considerable difference between farms of origin and paternal progeny groups was found for most traits, indicating genetic variation. Correlations between averages of paternal progeny groups were calculated, and interpreted as approximations to genetic correlations. Feed consumption was highly correlated across periods. Feed efficiency showed low to medium correlations between periods. A favourable correlation was found between efficiency of weight gain and efficiency of longitudinal growth.     

Effects of different dietary protein levels and DL‐methionine supplementation on hair growth and pelt quality in mink (Neovision vision)

The effect of different dietary protein levels and DL‐methionine (Met) supplementation on hair growth and the resulting pelt quality in mink was studied. Four groups of male mink were fed with four isocaloric diets containing 32% (P32), 24% (P24), 16% (P16) or P24+Met (0.8%) crude protein of dry matter (DM) from September to December. Skin biopsies were taken at the pelting. Histological techniques and computer‐assisted light microscopy were used to determine the ratio of activity (ROA) of under hairs and guard hairs respectively. The results showed that when the dietary protein level reduced from 32% to 16%, body length, number and diameter of under hairs and guard hairs of minks declined, and pelt length and pelt weight of minks decreased significantly (p < 0.05). These parameters were similar between P32 and P24 with Met supplementation (p > 0.05). The hair follicle density of the winter coat was not influenced by the dietary protein levels and Met supplementation (p > 0.05). Low‐protein diets content led to a reduction of hair follicle developing to next phase. It was documented that 24% crude protein of DM with Met supplementation during growing‐furring period was sufficient for minks to express their genetic capacity to develop hair follicles and achieve the prime fur characteristics. Overall this study demonstrated that hair growth and hair properties in pelts are very dependent on the dietary protein and Met supply in the growing‐furring period of minks.     

Risk aversion affects economic values of blue fox breeding scheme

The profit and production of an average Finnish blue fox farm was simulated using a deterministic bio‐economic farm model. Risk was included using Arrow‐Prat absolute risk aversion coefficient and profit variance. Risk‐rated economic values were calculated for pregnancy rate, litter loss, litter size, pelt size, pelt quality, pelt colour clarity, feed efficiency and eye infection. With high absolute risk aversion, economic values were lower than with low absolute risk aversion. Economic values were highest for litter loss (18.16 and 26.42 EUR), litter size (13.27 and 19.40 EUR), pregnancy (11.99 and 18.39 EUR) and eye infection (12.39 and 13.81 EUR). Sensitivity analysis showed that selection pressure for improved eye health depended strongly on proportion of culled animals among infected animals and much less on the proportion of infected animals. The economic value of feed efficiency was lower than expected (6.06 and 8.03 EUR). However, it was almost the same magnitude as pelt quality (7.30 and 7.30 EUR) and higher than the economic value of pelt size (3.37 and 5.26 EUR). Risk factors should be considered in blue fox breeding scheme because they change the relative importance of traits.     

不同月份对母猪产仔及活仔率的影响

经11705窝(胎)次母猪各月份产仔和3733窝(胎)次母猪各月活产仔数的数理分析,其产仔数,活产率受不同月份气温、相对湿度等综合生态因子而影响;特别是8月份是母猪全年繁殖力最差的月份,8月份配种11月份产仔数最少,平均窝产13.66头;活产仔也是全年最低,平均12.75头;8月份活仔率87.09％,且一次情期受胎率为83.51％,都是全年最低的。     

Influence of dietary protein level and the amino acids methionine and lysine on leather properties of blue fox (Alopex lagopus) pelts.

The influence of dietary protein, methionine, and lysine on leather quality in blue fox pelts was studied. The pelt material originated from animals in two consecutive feeding trials (Exp. 1 and Exp. 2) with three protein levels: conventional, slightly lowered, and very low. The two lowest protein diets were fed as such or as supplemented with methionine or with lysine (lysine only in Exp. 2). The following physical leather properties were measured: breaking load (BRL), tensile strength (TEN), relative elongation at break (PEB), straining of skins at pelting, and shrinkage at dressing. A decline in the dietary protein content reduced BRL and, hence, leather firmness, and increased straining and the corresponding shrinking in Exp. 1. The supplemented methionine tended to improve leather strength and elasticity by increasing TEN and PEB in Exp. 1, whereas lysine elicited no response. Methionine supplementation at the slightly lowered protein level increased BRL in both experiments by almost 10% as compared with the respective non-supplemented diet. We conclude that with high protein quality diets, a level of 200 g/kg DM (as digestible protein) appears to be adequate for producing pelts with firm, elastic leather, provided that an adequate amount of methionine is included in the diet.     

The comparative ability of some lousicides to reduce cockle in sheep pelts

Sheep naturally infested with the biting louse, Bovicola ovis were treated with a range of organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroid dip formulations. The sheep were killed 42 days after treatment and the pelts examined for evidence of cockle, a nodular condition that appears in some sheep as a response to the presence of lice. Sheep treated to saturation with dip formulations produced more high quality pelts than did sheep treated with low volume, pour-on or spray-on dips. These differences are suspected to arise because louse populations decline more slowly after treatment with pour-ons or spray-ons than with saturation dips. The removal of lice and regression of cockle resulted in a high percentage of first grade pickled pelts. However, processing through to the dyed crust leather stage highlighted lesions in the same pelts that were not apparent at the pickle stage and lead to a substantial increase in the number of downgraded pelts.