Premium
The Effect of Slimming on Embryo Survival Rate and the Number of Corpora Lutea at 25 Days of Pregnancy of Minks ( mustela vison )
Author(s) -
Kemp B.,
Martens R.P.C.H.,
Soede N.M.,
Noordhuizen J.P.T.M.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0531.1993.tb00726.x
Subject(s) - embryo , pregnancy , andrology , biology , pregnancy rate , gynecology , medicine , genetics
Contents: 70 yearling Scanblack breeding females (8 month old, weighing 1061 g) were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups which were slimmed to a live weight of 787 (L), 878 (M) or 1071 g (H) during 54 days. Subsequently they were bred and at day 25 of pregnancy they were slaughtered and the number of corpora lutea, embryos and fetuses were counted. From this experiment it can be concluded that rearing conditions resulting in Scanblack breeding females of 787 g of live weight at the start of the breeding period will have a lower ovulation rate (16%) but comparable prenatal mortality rates as compared to females weighing 878 or 1071 g. Therefore reduction of littersizes caused by slimming results from a depressed ovulation rate.