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The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the diet, mother type and sex of the offspring on the mechanical and geometric parameters of long bones as well as bone tissue density in minks. Primiparous and multiparous dams were supplemented with β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (a metabolite of leucine, at the daily dosage of 0.02 g/kg of body weight) and/or 2-oxoglutaric acid (a precursor of glutamine, at the daily dosage of 0.4 g/kg of body weight) during gestation. The diet did not influence bone tissue density and the length of the humerus. An increase in the length of the femur was noted in male offspring delivered by multiparous dams. The diet resulted in an increase in the weight of the humerus in males from multiparous dams and a decrease in offspring from primiparous dams. Heavier femora were noted in male offspring delivered by both types of dams. The maximum elastic strength of the humerus was higher in the offspring delivered by multiparous than primiparous dams, irrespective of the offspring sex. The diet resulted in reduction in the ultimate strength of the femur in the male offspring delivered by primiparous dams. Only females born by multiparous dams, irrespective of the diet, showed a significant increase in the cross-sectional area of the humerus, while a significant decline was noted in males delivered by multiparous dams and in all the offspring delivered by primiparous dams. An increase in the cross-sectional area of the femur was noted in the offspring delivered by multiparous dams, while reduction was observed in the offspring delivered by primiparous dams. These results have shown for the first time that the presence of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate or 2-oxoglutaric acid in the diet of pregnant primiparous or multiparous dams unambiguously affects the geometry and mechanical properties of offspring's long bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American mink ( Neovison vison ) is used for commercial fur production in Denmark. In recent years, antimicrobial prescription for Danish mink has been increasing. In this study, the patterns and trends in antimicrobial use in mink were described and a multi-variable variance analysis was carried out with the objective of identifying risk factors for antimicrobial use on herd level. The study was based on register data for 2007–2012. Information on antimicrobial use was obtained from the national database VetStat, monitoring all medicinal products used for animals on prescription level. Data on microbiological feed quality was obtained from the Voluntary Feed Control under the Mink producers Organization, and data on herd size and the relation between farm and feed producer was obtained from the registers at Kopenhagen Fur, based on yearly reporting from the mink producers. Descriptive analysis showed a clear significant effect of season on antimicrobial use, with a peak in “treatment proportions”, TP (defined daily doses per kg biomass-days) in May, around the time of whelping, and a high level in the following months. In autumn, a minor peak in antimicrobial use occurred throughout the study period. From 2007 to 2011, a 102% increase in annual antimicrobial TP was noted; on herd level, the increase was associated with an increasing frequency of prescription, and a decrease in the amounts prescribed in months with prescription. A binomial model showed that on herd level, the annual number of months with antimicrobial prescription was significantly ( p < 0.01) affected by feed producer, veterinarian , disease (specific laboratory diagnosis) infection, herd size and year , with an interaction between feed producer and year . A log-normal model showed that in months with antimicrobial use, the TP on herd level was significantly ( p < 0.001) affected by year, month (season) , feed producer , feed quality score, veterinarian, herd size and laboratory confirmed diagnosis of specific infections; additionally the interaction terms year × feed producer and herd size × month were significant ( p < 0.001). In conclusion, antimicrobial use on herd level was significantly associated with the microbiological food quality, the feed producer, and the veterinarian. The prescription patterns varied significantly between veterinarians, and some veterinarians were associated with both larger and more frequent prescriptions of antimicrobials at herd level. Herd size is associated with different prescription patterns. Finally, infection with P seudomonas aeruginosa , astrovirus, influenza virus and Salmonella spp. was associated with an increase in antimicrobial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The objective of the study was to assess the effect of mink feed supplementation at weaning on the hygiene and sanitary conditions of feed and selected parameters of animal health . The experiment was carried out in two stages. In the first stage of the study, as 0.5% addition of bentonite and a 1% supplement are incorporated into the daily feed intake mink experimental groups D1 and D2, respectively. In the second step, the increase in the proportion of bentonite in the two groups is up to 1% and 1.5%. K group (control group) was not supplemented. The microbiological examinations of the chosen indices of mink feed were performed twice in each feeding period. The mink health state was monitored and evaluated via hematological analyses and lysozyme activity. The research results enable a conclusion that the application of sodium bentonite in the analyzed amounts does not negatively influence the analyzed parameters of mink blood. In fact, it may be recommended to reduce fungus numbers in feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty liver syndrome is a metabolic disorder that occurs in mink (Mustela vison). The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dietary fat sources (chicken oil, fish oil and soybean oil) on the recovery fatty liver syndrome in female mink in response to short term fasting for 5 days and subsequent re-feeding for 7-28 days. Food deprivation resulted in the rapid mobilization of body fat, causing an elevated hepatosomatic index and increased liver lipid content. Re-feeding resulted in a more pronounced recovery of liver health in the mink fed the fish oil diet than chicken oil or soybean oil diet. The fish oil diet was found to be useful to relieve the severity of hepatic lipidosis in mink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors evaluated effects of feeding ranch mink ( Mustela vison) diets containing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated fish from the upper Hudson River (New York, USA) on adult and offspring organ mass and pathology. Diets contained 2.5 to 20% Hudson River fish, providing 0.72 to 6.1 µg ΣPCBs/g feed (4.8-38 pg toxic equivalents [TEQWHO 2005]/g feed). Absolute thyroid and adrenal gland masses were increased in adult females and 31-week-old juveniles, respectively, and absolute liver and heart masses were decreased in six-week-old kits exposed to dietary PCBs. Dietary concentrations of 0.72 µg ΣPCBs/g feed (4.8 pg TEQWHO 2005/g feed) and greater induced mandibular and maxillary squamous epithelial proliferation in adult animals. The dietary concentration of ΣPCBs predicted to result in 20% incidence of the jaw lesion (EC20) was 2.3 µg ΣPCBs/g feed (15 pg TEQWHO 2005/g feed), and the hepatic concentration was 2.8 µg ΣPCBs/g liver (89 pg TEQWHO 2005/g liver). The EC20 values were greater than the dietary and hepatic concentrations predicted to result in a 20% increase in kit mortality (LC20) at six weeks of age (0.34 µg ΣPCBs/g feed or 2.6 pg TEQWHO 2005/g feed and 0.80 µg ΣPCBs/g liver or 13 pg TEQWHO 2005/g liver). However, the EC20 values reflect exposure of adults to PCBs for approximately six months, and the LC20 values reflect exposure of offspring from conception onward. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:794-801. © 2013 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This experiment compared the behaviour of mink during two different feeding routines; slightly restrictive (‘food free period’ of 6h) or standard (‘food free period’ of 2h), respectively, and the mink''s use of two different types of occupational material; an attached tube made of wire mesh and a shorter loose tube made of plastic, respectively. The behaviour of the mink was observed by scanning on 2 days in weeks 4, 10, 14, and 18 after weaning. On the first day, the mink were observed every hour from sunrise to sunset and fed at normal feeding time (13:00h) but on the second day the feeding time was postponed to 15:00h and the behaviour was registered once an hour from 12:00h until 14:00h inclusive. The daily feed ratio, live body weight, behaviour, temperament, and fur quality were measured. The results indicate that a slightly restrictive feeding, based on 6h ‘food free period’, is difficult to practise because mink increase their eating speed and thereby maintain their energy intake and body weight. The mink were not able to compensate for a ‘food free period’ of 12h, which may cause the feeling of hunger measured as increased stereotypic behaviour during postponed feeding and a more aggressive temperament. However, restrictive feeding may be profitable for the health of mink by reducing the occurrence of the obesity related illness wet belly (urine leakage). It is concluded that 6h ‘food free period’ is not a feasible management tool for reducing the deposition of fat in mink but 12h ‘food free period’ increases stereotypic behaviour, which may indicate reduced welfare due to an enhanced feeding motivation. The two types of enrichments did not affect the fur-quality differently and neither the stereotypies. The mink used the attached tubes more than the loose ones, which may have reduced the locomotive activity, but the welfare implication of the reduced activity is ambiguously. None of the two types of enrichments seem valuable for reducing the occurrence of fur chewing in mink. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Our research material involved Mustela neovison mink feed collected at a farm during two feeding seasons: in preparation for animal reproduction and winter fur coat development. The feed was divided into 3 treatment groups -- the control with no bentonite supplement and 2 others with dietary sodium bentonite additive at doses of 1% and 1.5% of weighed feed portion. The material was studied for total count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total fungal numbers, hemolyzing streptococci, and Salmonella rods. The analyzed material did not show the presence of hemolyzing streptococci or Salmonella rods that evidences good sanitary condition of feed. The highest percentage of microbial reduction was determined in the feed samples obtained from the period of animal preparation for reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of fermentation of barley, using two different strains of lactic acid bacteria, a Lactobacillus plantarum/pentosus strain isolated from spontaneously fermented rye sourdough (AD2) and a starch-degrading Lactobacillus plantarum (AM4), on contents of mixed-linked (1 → 3) (1 → 4)-β-glucans, α-amylase inhibitor activity, inositol phosphates, and apparent digestibility of macronutrients in mink. Effects of fermentation were compared with effects of gamma irradiation (γ-irradiation: 60Co γ-rays at 25 kGy). The diets were fed to mink with and without a supplementary enzyme preparation. Both lactic acid fermentation and γ-irradiation followed by soaking and incubation, reduced concentrations of soluble β-glucans, phytate and α-amylase inhibitor activity. Dietary enzyme supplementation increased significantly digestibility of crude protein, fat, starch and crude carbohydrate (CHO). Fermentation of the barley increased digestibility of starch and CHO. Fermentation with lactic acid bacteria AD2 resulted in higher starch and CHO digestibility than strain AM4, and had greater effect than γ-irradiation, soaking and incubation. The highest digestibility of starch and CHO was obtained after AD2 fermentation followed by enzyme supplementation. It is concluded that both lactic acid fermentation of barley and enzyme supplementation have positive nutritional implications in the mink by limiting the effects of antinutrients and improving digestibility and energy utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A study was conducted to determine whether changes in thyroid and vitamin A dynamics were induced in ranch mink exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. Adult female mink were fed diets that contained 0% (control), 10%, 20%, or 30% wild carp (Cyprinus carpio) collected from the Saginaw River, Michigan, USA. Total polychlorinated biphenyls concentrations were 0.03, 0.83, 1.05, and 1.69mg/kg feed, respectively; the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-diozin toxic equivalents were 3.4, 27.9, 47.6, and 73.2ng/kg, respectively. Diets were fed 3 weeks prior to breeding and throughout gestation and lactation. When the kits were weaned at 6 weeks of age, they were continued on their respective diets until 27 weeks of age. Plasma thyroid hormone concentrations, thyroid gland activity and structure, and vitamin A dynamics were assessed in young mink at 6 and 27 weeks of age. Plasma total T4 and free T4 in 6-week-old female and male kits fed the 10% carp diet were significantly higher than those of controls, while kits fed the 20% and 30% carp diet had nonsignificant decreases relative to the control mink. Plasma total T3 concentrations in 27-week-old juvenile males fed the 30% carp diet were significantly lower than those in individuals fed the 10% carp diet. No overt thyroid toxicity was apparent as thyroid weight, activity, and structure in kits and juveniles of both sexes were similar among diet groups. Plasma retinol and total ester concentrations in both kits and juveniles were reduced in mink fed the 30% carp diet relative to controls. The ratio of retinol to retinyl palmitate in livers of juveniles fed the 30% carp diet was two times higher than that in control mink. Significant reductions in kidney retinol and fatty acyl retinyl esters were observed in kits and juveniles fed the 30% carp diet relative to control values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]