Abstract
The incidence of perinatal mortality in mink was investigated in commercial farms in Argentina. Of a total of 2122 kits, 548 of those that were born alive died within the first four weeks of life (25.8% mortality) and there were also 62 stillborn kits. Death resulted from a variety of causes of which septicaemia, starvation and hypothermia were the most common conditions. The highest mortality occurred within the first week of life (61.9%). The lesions found in young kits at post-mortem examination are described and related to contributory factors such as weight, litter size and age at death.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Einarsson, E., 1980. Prenatal and postnatal mortality in mink. Proceedings of the 2nd International Scientific Congress on Fur Animal Production, (Vedbaek, Denmark, 8–10 April), 14 pp
Einarsson, E., 1982. Prenatal mortality in blue fox and standard mink. Scientific Meeting, (Alesund, Norway), 13 pp
Grakova, N.V. and Grakov, N.N., 1977. Male and female mortality in litters of American minks. Proceedings of the 2nd All-Union Scientific Conference, (Iyulya, USSR, 26–29 July), 81–82
Graney, E.E., 1985. New insights into losses of newly born mink kits. Fur Rancher, July, 12–13
Howell, R.A., 1978. An examination of the causes of excessive postpartum kit mortality as it occurs in finely-bred dark mink. Progress report to Mink Farmers' Research Foundation (USA), 45–49
Konrad, J. and Mouka, J., 1979. Some causes of loss of mink in the postnatal period. Scientifur. 3, 44–47
Löliger, H-Ch. and Mathes, S., 1979. Mortality in young minks and rabbits. Proceedings of the XXI Veterinary Congress, (Moscow, USSR), 11pp
Pastirnac, N. and Gruia, R., 1986. Influenta bolii de Aleutine asupra rezultatelor de reproductie la nurca. Revista de Cresterea Anmalelor, 3, 49–58
Stepanenko, N.D., 1977. Role of Escherichia coli in the mortality of the newborn kittens. Proceedings of the 2nd All-Union Scientific Conference, (Iyulya, USSR), 26–29 July, 369–370
Udris, A. and Olden, A.B., 1977. Valpedo-deligheten fram till pälsnigen vid olika kullstoriek hos mink. Vära Pälsjur, 48, 82–84
Wenzel, U. 1978. Stoffwechseltorungen bei fleischfressenden pelztieren. Brülh, 19, 10–12
Wenzel, U., 1983. Causes of non-infectious perinatal kit losses in farm mink. Brülh, 24, 11–14
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dr Villar died on 26 September 1989