Research Article

Effect of the quality of handling and care on the reproduction parameters of mink

Beata Seremak, Małgorzata Dziadosz, Bogdan Lasota, Lidia Felska-Błaszczyk, Kamil Pławski, Anna Masłowska, Grzegorz Mieleńczuk

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 10(3), 2011, 93‒102

Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of animal handling, defined as the so-called human factor, on the level of reproductive parameters of female mink.We analyzed some reproductive parameters of 6 348 one- and two-year-old Scanbrown females, such as fertility, prolificacy and rate of rearing the young. Mink were divided into four groups; group I and II consisted of one-year-old females, group III and IV comprised females at age two years. Individual groups of females were operated by four different teams of workers. The results indicate a strong influence of the quality of care on the parameters of breeding.

Keywords: animal handling and care, fertility, mink, prolificacy, weaning success