Abstract:
To study the effects of different feed types on growth performance and economic benefit of 90-210-day-old Ussuri raccoon dogs, eighty 90-day-old raccoon dogs(half male and half female) were randomly divided into TG1-TG3 groups and control group(CG), with twenty raccoon dogs in each group(half male and half female). The raccoon dogs were fed pellet diet 1(TG1), pellet diet 2(TG2), powder diet(TG3) and fresh feed(CG), respectively. The experiment lasted for 120 days. Production performance and economic benefits were evaluated. The results showed that compared with CG, there was no significant difference in body weight of 210-day-old male and female raccoon dogs(P>0.05), body length of male and female raccoon dogs increased in all groups, but the difference was significant in TG2 group(P<0.05), meanwhile, the needle hair length of female raccoon dogs in TG2 group was significantly shortened(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in needle hair length of male raccoon dogs in each group and of female raccoon dogs in the TG1 group and TG3 group(P>0.05). There was no significant difference in villi length between male and female raccoon dogs(P>0.05) in each group. Compared with the control group, feed/gain of male raccoon dogs aged 90 to 150 days in TG2 group was significantly increased(P<0.05); that of female raccoon dogs in all experimental groups was significantly increased(P<0.05), and that of female raccoon dogs aged 151 to 210 days in the TG1 and TG3 groups was significantly decreased(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in feed/gain of male raccoon dogs in experimental groups(P>0.05). The economic efficiency per raccoon dog increased by 18.74% and 12.24% and 21.04% in the TG1 and TG2 and TG3 groups, respectively. The results indicated that compared with fresh feed, feeding pellet diet and powder diet had no significant effect on the body weight before getting racoon fur, but could increase body length, and the feed/gain ratio increased from 90 to 150 days, but decreased from 150 to 210 days, and the comprehensive breeding benefit was improved.