Examination of mink (Mustela vison) fed a sulphuric acid preserved fish silage during lactation and growth period. II. Production and pathologic studies correlated to results of clinical-chemical studies.

Abstract

Earlier and present experiments have shown detrimental influence of sulphuric acid preserved fish in mink feed on production parameters, early kit growth and kit mortality. Comparison of the production parameters with clinical-chemical parametres and pathological-anatomical findings give a picture of the tolerated amount of sulphuric acid preserved fish silage in the mink feed during different production periods. It seems that the animals tolerate only small amounts of sulphuric acid preserved fish silage (5-8 per cent) in the total feed during the stress periods of reproduction, lactation and early kit growth but higher amounts (20-30 per cent) during late growth period, where the need of feed is high.