Energy Requirement for Growing Mink Fed on Diets of Different Energy Levels.

The requirement of energy for growth was studied in 176 pastel farm-raised mink (88♂+88♀). Diets formulated with 32% of crude protein and increasing bean oil contents were fed to eight groups of mink. It were fed containing approximately 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 or 24% bean oil in the complete dry power respectively. Mink were voluntary feed intake was found to be dependent upon dietary energy content. Body weights were regulated by energy intake tended to increase at first and then decreased as the energy level was increased. The growth rate and voluntary feed intake regression coefficients for energy and the growth responses from weaning to the age of 26 weeks were studied in male and female mink receiving diets varying in energy level content. The apparent digestibility was digested better by male than by female. The energy levels affected the performances of female mink to a lesser degree than those of male mink. Diets containing energy at levels below 15.06KJ/kg and exceed 29.06 KJ/kg of dry matter did not support optimum growth of male, but energy levels at least as low as 17.81KJ/kg and no more than 29.06 KJ/kg appeared to be satisfactory for the growth of female. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]