Conditioning & Breeding (December - March)
This is the time of the year that ranchers focus on bringing mink (both male and female) into good breeding condition.This involves adjusting the diet and feeding program to remove excess weight and encourage increased exercise. This is important for good production and a successful whelp.
Some ranches choose to blood test (Aleutian disease) or vaccinate at this time.
In preparation for breeding, mink are positioned within the barns depending on the breeding system practiced on the farm.Usually this involves small sections of male mink surrounded by larger sections of female mink.Most farms breed a ratio of 4-5 females for every male.This positioning makes the transfer of females into the males' pens more efficient and less labour intensive. Females are always placed into the males' pens for breeding - never the reverse, as it is important for the males to be on their own territory.
The act of mating stimulates ovulation.This is similar to domestic cats but different from other domestic species.At 9 days after the first pairing, the ovaries have been replenished.Thus, most ranchers practice a breeding program of Day 1 and Day 9.Many ranchers also mate the day after Day 9 (Day 10), as the extra mating often results in the fertilization of more eggs.
Ranchers keep breeding records to track the mating dates,the genetics of the parents andgrandparents, and carefully track all importantselection information such as reproductive success, health status and fur quality.