Mink breeding at home

The content of mink can become a really profitable occupation. Breeding these fur animals in our country there are not so many farmers. At the moment in Russia there are only about 30 households of this specialization. In principle, the content of such fur-bearing animals is a relatively simple matter. However, the successful breeding of minks in Russia, as in any other country in the world, is possible, of course, only if the farmer has certain knowledge and skills.

The value of mink skins

At the moment, farms specializing in the cultivation of these animals are the main suppliers of material for the fur industry of the country. It is the mink most often goes in Russia for sewing fur coats, hats, collars, scarves and even mittens. The demand for such a fur is actually very high. This is due, first of all, to his truly unique qualities.

In the wild nature of the mink, the breeding and maintenance of which must be done, of course, taking into account the biological characteristics of their organism, live mainly in the northern regions of Russia. Thick fur helps these animals keep warm in winter. Between the hairs of the animal skins a thick air layer is created, which does not allow the passage of cold. However, the density is not the only advantage of the mink fur. All the hairs of the skins of these animals have exactly the same length. Therefore, the mink fur looks velvety and noble.

The price for one such unrefined skin is about 120 rubles per 100 cm ² . But this figure is, of course, approximate. The real cost of mink skins depends on two main factors - the quality of the fur itself and its hue.

Breeds and varieties

Most often in artificial nurseries, including in Russia, there is a Scandinavian mink. Breeding it - the occupation is not difficult, because this species is very unpretentious. In the wild there are only two groups of mink - European and American. Scandinavian, in fact, is a kind of the latter. As for the breeds, their breeders were brought out just a huge amount. Farms can be bred, for example, a mink:

• Piano-pastel (brown);

• Finnish topaz (light brown);

• American Palomino (beige), etc.

In particular, silver-blue, sapphire, iris and the like are considered valuable breeds. Also very expensive are the skins of rare white hetlunds. Breeding mink at home will be most beneficial when choosing exactly blue and white breeds. But the cost of buying these manufacturers, of course, more expensive.

What you need to know a beginner farmer

They contain mink, as well as rabbits, most often in cages installed in special open rooms - sheds. The latter are, in fact, a simple canopy without any fencing. In winter, mink should be kept in conditions that are as close to natural as possible. That is, simply speaking, in the cold. Otherwise their fur will not be so beautiful and dense. Since in the wild nature these animals live in burrows, in each cage small insulated houses are installed for them.

Unlike the rabbit, the mink is a predatory animal. This, of course, should be taken into account when selecting feeds. As the last farmers usually use fish, meat and chicken waste in a mixture with a different kind of premixes.

Mink breeds quickly enough. A good female at a time can bring up to 16 cubs. But most often in the litter there are 5-7 kids.

How to make calculations

The breeding of mink will be successful, of course, only if the entrepreneur will in advance make a detailed business plan for the farm. The initial capital of a person wishing to organize such an enterprise should be quite large. Construction of the actual shed will not be too expensive. But for manufacturers, of course, have to give a round sum.

It is believed that breeding a mink at home as a business can be profitable only if the farm contains at least 20 females. The cost of one such individual of ordinary brown color is approximately 3000 rubles. For each male will have to give about 2300 rubles. There must be several such producers on the farm, of course. For one day during the rut the male can cover no more than three future queens. Thus, only for the purchase of producers a beginner farmer will have to spend at least 60-70 thousand rubles.

Of course, feed for mink will also be quite expensive. In fact, on whether the farmer will be able to find their cheap supplier or not, and the success of the enterprise will depend. Most often, entrepreneurs engaged in breeding of minks, conclude contracts with poultry farms on the supply of giblets. Calculations should be made proceeding from the fact that on the day one female should receive 40-60 g of meat with bones, and the male - 60-80 g.

Very often farmers add to the forage mink and fish. This allows you to slightly reduce the cost of maintenance. However, using such an additive, one should keep in mind that its total share in the animal's diet should not exceed 40%.

Where should be located a farm for breeding mink

When choosing a place to build a shed, the entrepreneur should, of course, follow certain SES standards. Of course, the mink is not a pig. But the smell from a farm specializing in the breeding of these animals can come quite unpleasant. According to the regulations, if the farm contains up to 50 females, the distance from it to the nearest residential building should be at least 30 m. With a larger number of animals this figure increases to 60 m.

Of course, it is necessary to build the bridge where it is possible to connect to the power line. Also, the farm will need a large amount of water. Therefore, to choose a shed is a place where it does not lie too deep. In this case, drilling a well will be cheaper.

Of course, the farm should be located in a place with convenient access roads. After the breeding of burrows involves the delivery of a large number of feeds, hay, sawdust, etc., to the farm, etc. Also, the skins will need to be removed from the farm.

Construction works

To build, in fact, the very work itself, of course, does not amount to. To build this structure, you just need to put the pillars and cover them with a two- or one-shed canopy. However, the shed is not the whole farm. The initiating hunter will also need to erect buildings intended for slaughtering animals and storing inventory and feed. We will also have to build a small quarantine block.

If the farm will contain 20 animals, the owner can take care of them, of course, independently. For more animals, you will likely have to hire additional staff. In this case, the farm will need to provide, including a cabins with a changing room and a shower room.

Mink breeding at home: what should cells be like?

The dimensions of the shed, of course, will depend, first of all, on the number of animals that are grown. Cells in such structures are installed close to each other, in one tier, in several rows. The dimensions of such dwellings for mink can be different. But in any case, the length of the cell should not be less than 70 cm, and width - 30 cm. The most comfortable for the mink, the height of the frame is 45 cm.

In most cases, the owners of the farms acquire ready-made cages for mink. However, if you want, you can make such equipment yourself. Make cages for these animals from a bar and a metal grid with cell sizes 25x25 mm. Houses for mink knocked more often from boards or plywood. On the door of each cage hang a trough and a drinking bowl.

Cold mink are not afraid. However, to make the animals feel comfortable, the bottom of each cell should always put the litter. Do it usually from an equal amount of wood shavings, hay and straw. In the future, the litter, of course, will have to be changed periodically. On average, one mink requires about 40 kg of a mixture of hay, straw and shavings per year.

Features of feeding mink

Breeding mink as a business will bring tangible profits, of course, only if properly developed animal ration. Meat and fish of any species to these animals are given exclusively with bones and veins. Adult animals are usually fed twice a day. Young people are given food 3-4 times a day. The simplicity of feeding mink lies primarily in the fact that these animals never overeat. Do not be afraid to overfeed them.

In addition to fish and waste products of poultry farms, mink can be given specially prepared factory dry food, beef, lamb, game and mice. You can not feed these animals with sausages, sweets, salty foods, canned goods, citrus fruits, dairy products and anything roasted. Fish mink can only be given to the sea.

Reproduction of animals

The breeding of mink will not be successful if the owner of the farm does not take care of both the periodic updating and the increase of his stock. The mink of mink comes in March. Determine that the individual is ready for mating, you can by its characteristic rumbling. These animals can be crossed from the age of 11 months. The offspring of the queens, which were covered in March, appear by the beginning of May. During pregnancy, females eat much more than in the normal state. This farmer, of course, must be considered. If the pregnant mink does not receive enough nutrients and vitamins, the cubs will be born weak and painful. It is impossible to get good skins from them in the future. To feed pregnant minks it is necessary. Of course, you need to give maximum attention and development of the menu of male producers. It should be as varied as possible.

Prepare for maternity owners of mink farms usually begin on April 15. At this time, the houses of females are cleaned, treated with flea remedies and disinfected. Further in the cage the females lay more mixtures of hay, straw and sawdust.

The young mink emerge into the world absolutely naked. Valuable fur, they begin to build up only after a while. Therefore, the female house in the cage must be well insulated. Only in this case breeding mink at home will be successful. In a cold nest, puppies can easily catch a cold and die.

Care of young animals

Firstly, puppies of mink feed exclusively on mother's milk. Eyes in cubs open approximately on the 25th-30th day. On the 20th day puppies cut through teeth. It is by this time in the cell should start to put a well-ground meal on a small metal plate. The uterus will carry it on its own to its nest.

When the puppies are one month old, the female will start to pull them outside, to the feeder. After a while, the cubs get used to going to the tray themselves.

At 5-7 weeks of age, mink pups become very voracious. If they do not have enough food at this time, they can peregryzt each other or even kill and eat the female itself. It is necessary to take into account the owner of the farm, of course, of course.

The attack of young animals in mink is usually small. Some pups die in the main only in the first week after childbirth.

They take young moles out of the uterus more often at the age of 1.5 months. Cages for young animals are prepared in advance. They spend puppies one at a time or in pairs. The minks born in May are usually killed in November.

Possible profit and feedback

You can get income from a farm of this specialization basically in two ways - selling skins of animals, as well as thoroughbred producers. Some owners of farms for breeding mink, some of the young animals are sold as pets. Profit with the proper organization of the farm breeding of mink can bring a really big.

Example of calculating costs and revenues

So, how profitable can a farm for breeding mink? Next, for clarity, we present to the reader several digits for a nursery for 240 head of females and 60 males. The organization of the farm in this case is usually about 4,200,000 rubles. At the same time, annual expenses amount to about 2 891 000 rubles. Skins and producers for a year in such a nursery can be sold for about 4,000,000 rubles. Thus, the net profit of the farmer is 1 109 000 rubles. / Year.

Instead of concluding

Of course, 240 heads of females are a lot. In most cases, entrepreneurs initially buy far fewer producers. But even a farm of 20 goals can become quite profitable. It is believed that from one pair of mink only one can get up to 120,000 rubles of income per year. So, the business is really quite profitable - breeding mink as a business. Reviews of such farms, of course, basically there are only good ones. But, according to farmers, the effort to maintain such a nursery will have to apply very, very much. Otherwise, it will not be possible to get profit from the breeding of burrows.