Low protein and methionine in blue fox diet during crowing-furring season : a field study
January 2005
in “
Jukuri (Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke))
”
TLDR A low-protein diet with methionine is cost-effective and supports normal growth and high-quality pelts in blue foxes.
The study on 382 blue foxes during the growing-furring period investigated the effects of a low-protein diet supplemented with methionine on growth and fur quality. The experimental group received a diet with 19% protein and methionine, while the control group had a standard 33% protein diet. Results showed no significant differences in weight gain, pelt length, or fur quality between the groups, although the experimental group had a slightly better specific growth rate. The control group had darker pelts and higher phosphorus and nitrogen in feces. The study concluded that a low-protein diet with methionine is cost-effective and sufficient for normal growth and high-quality pelts, reducing phosphorus and nitrogen waste. Methionine was essential for hair growth and skin development.
