Body condition and reproduction success in farmed mink males (Neovison vison)

Abstract

Correct managing of dam body condition during the winter period results in increased number of live born kits. So far, male body condition has not been related to male reproduction success. We therefore wanted to study whether the male body condition, visually graded using a 1 to 9 point scale, has influence on re-production results. Body condition of 6500 mink males of the brown colour type from 12 farms were scored in December, January, February and March in the winter period 2011/2012. The data will be used to seek answers for the following questions: (1) Has male body condition, or changes in body condition at specific point in time influence on mating willingness (mating willingness defined as the number of successful mating’s), percentage of barren dams and litter size? (2) Have changes in male body condition in specific periods influence on number of mating’s, percentage of barren dams and litter size? (3) What would be the optimal body condition development for mink males from December to medio March in relation to reproduction results?