TITLE:
Effect of Carotenoid Supplement on Production Performance in Mink (Neovison vison)
AUTHORS:
Hannu T. Korhonen, Hanna Huuki
KEYWORDS:
Microalgae, Farmed Mink, Carotenoids, Weight Gain, Reproductive Success
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine,
Vol.5 No.4,
March
26,
2015
ABSTRACT: The present study sought to find out how carotenoid supplement influences on body weights, feed consumption and reproductive success in standard farm mink (Neovison vison). Carotenoids were from microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis. A dose of carotenoid supplement of 0.20, 0.25, 0.20, 0.20, and 0.10 g/animal was added daily in feed in February, March, April, May and June, respectively. Experimental groups were: 1) control group, and 2) carotenoid group. Each group comprised 100 females and 25 males. The results showed that appetite of animals in all groups was good. Significant differences were not found in body weights before breeding. However, weights of control females were significantly (P