Norwegian Journal of Agricultural Sciences : selection for litter size in mink

Abstract

The correlated responses in postweaning growth of males and females and the fur characteristics of male skins are presented from a six generation selection experiment for litter size in dark mink. No general trend in body length, skin size or fur characteristics could be observed resulting from divergent selection for litter size at birth. However, during the last two generations, most of the fur traits favoured the line selected for increased litter size at birth, when the traits were expressed as deviations from the control line. In the last generation, significantly lower average body weight at pelting was observed in both males and females in the high line compared to the low line; 85 grams and 68 grams, respectively. A significantly lower average in hair quality and in general fur quality was observed for male skins in the low line during the last generation. The length of both guard fur and underfur increased in all lines during the experiment, while body length at pelting decreased. Heritability and genetic correlations were estimated for the traits recorded.