QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Harper, R. B. Articles by Glinsky, M. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Harper, R. B. Articles by Glinsky, M. S.

Metabolizable Energy Requirement for Maintenance and Body Composition of Growing Farm-Raised Male Pastel Mink (Mustela vison)

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ithaca, New York 14853⁵

The requirement of metabolizable energy (ME) for maintenance was studied in 31 male pastel farm-raised mink. The procedure used was a body balance regression technique that included an initial baseline group, a group allowed feed ad libitum, and a group allowed feed at the level of 65% of average intake of the ad libitum animals. The requirement for ME was 147.8 ± 6.06 kcal/wt_kg^0.734/day. This value falls within the range of estimates of maintenance requirements noted for younger animals of other species, such as the rat, chicken, and calf. The relationships of the chemical composition of the body to functions of body weight were also examined. The composition of the mink body was closely related to the weight of the animal rather than to age or conformation, as has been noted in other species. However, the fat-free dry body of the mink contained more protein and less ash than any other species studied up to this point. On a percentage basis, protein was 87.29 and ash was 12.72. Protein in the fat-free body of other species range from 80 to 82%.

KEY WORDS: • mink • maintenance • metabolizable energy • body composition

¹ Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.

² Current address: Department of Animal Science, Macdonald campus of McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, P.O. 800, Canada.

³ SEA, U.S. Sheep and Fur Animal Experiment Station, 324 Morrison Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.

⁴ Current address: Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana 47907.

⁵ This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture by cooperative agreement 12-14-100 9716 (44) between the Science and Education Administration and the Agricultural Experiment Station of Cornell University.

Manuscript received 6 June 1977.