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Coloured minks are widespread – more than 200 colour variations in hair colour are known. Currently, breeding in fur farming continues. One of the most recent breeding achievements is the albino pastel mink. An important characteristic of the new breed is the body size and growth of the organism during the postnatal period, which does not occur evenly but goes through certain phases. In different periods of growth, the organism requires appropriate conditions, in the presence of which further development occurs. As a result of studies of mink growth from birth to adulthood, data necessary for the correct organization of measures for rearing and feeding the animals are accumulated. When analysing the growth dynamics of young animals, it has been established that sexual dimorphism in body weight of males and females of the albino-pastel genotype is absent at one day of age. The most intensive increase in body weight in female and male albino-pastel minks occurs from day 50 to day 80. The increase in body weight continues after 3–4 months of life, with males more intense than females.

The study presents the results of many years of breeding work on the creation of a new breed of sable – «Saltykovskaya silver». The breed is consolidated in color and hair quality. To date, the level of selection on the basis of gray hair is assessed as stabilizing. The live weight of females of the main herd is 1,2 kg, males 1,9–2,3 kg. The average values of fertility and yield of puppies in females of the breed «Saltykovskaya Silver» are at the level of the highest values for the species. The stability of reproduction indicators is shown both according to the data of safely whelping females and indicators of the average number of puppies per main female over a number of years. The new breed will improve the competitiveness of domestic fur in international markets.