Genetic and phenotypic parameters of age at first mating, litter size and animal size in Finnish mink

Koivula, Minna; Strandén, Ismo; Mäntysaari, Esa

doi:10.1017/s1751731109991170

Cited by 16 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Heritability estimate of LS was 0.11. In other studies heritability for LS in mink has varied from 0.02 to 0.20 (Berg, 1993;Lagerkvist et al, 1994;Rozempolska-Ruciń sca, 2004;Koivula et al, 2009bKoivula et al, , 2010. Thus, the obtained heritability estimate in this study is within the range reported for mink.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 81%

“…One reason is a strong negative genetic correlation between large animal size (AS) and LS. For example in minks this correlation has varied from (0.18 to (0.28, (Lagerkvist et al, 1994;Rozempolska-Ruciń sca, 2004;Peura et al, 2007;Koivula et al, 2009bKoivula et al, , 2010, and in blue foxes negative correlation has been even higher ((0.36 to (0.43) (Peura et al, 2007;Koivula et al, 2009a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, at the same time the average number of kits per mated female has slightly decreased in Finland as well as in other countries (Hansen & Berg, 2007, 2008Hansen, 2009). Increase in body size may have lead to smaller LS (Hansen & Berg, 2007, 2008Hansen, 2009;Koivula et al, 2009bKoivula et al, , 2010. This seems to be a problem also in other species because when selecting for body size negative genetic trend has often been observed in traits measuring reproduction and survival despite their importance to profitability (Peura et al, 2007;Goddard, 2009;Koivula et al, 2009a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New breeding value evaluation of fertility traits in Finnish mink

Koivula

Mäntysaari

Strandén

2011

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science

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Litter size (LS) has been included in the Finnish mink breeding goal for several generations. Still, the phenotypic trend in the average number of pups per mated female has slightly decreased while animal size (AS) has increased. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for pregnancy rate (PREG) and felicity (FEL), and their genetic correlations to LS and AS. The estimated heritabilities were low for PREG (0.032) and FEL (0.026). The genetic correlations between LS and PREG (0.34), and LS and FEL (0.53) were clearly positive. Thus, on average females having genetically larger LS have higher PREG and FEL. The genetic correlation between AS and PREG was low ((0.13), and correlation between AS and FEL was moderate ((0.27) indicating that larger animals are more likely barren or lose their kits during pregnancy or right after birth.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

New breeding value evaluation of fertility traits in Finnish mink

Koivula

Mäntysaari

Strandén

2011

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science

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“…Koivula et al. (, ) determined estimated heritability of animal size in October at h 2 = 0.18 (Koivula et al., ) and 0.19 (Koivula et al., ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic parameters for fur quality graded on live animals and dried pelts of American mink (Neovison vison)

Thirstrup

Jensen

Lund

2017

J Animal Breeding Genetics

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Fur quality and skin size are integral qualities in the mink industry and are main determinants of sales price and subsequent income for mink fur producers. Parental animals of future generations are selected based on quality grading from live animals, but selection response is obtained from dried skins sold after pelting. In this study, we evaluated traits assessed during live grading and pelt traits examined on dried skins to determine correlation between live and pelt traits. Grading traits and body weight were measured during live animal grading for 9,539 Brown American mink, and pelt quality traits and skin size were evaluated on 8,385 dried mink skins after pelting. Data were sampled from 2 yearly production cycles. Genetic parameters were estimated using the REML method implemented in the DMU package. Heritabilities and proportions of litter variance were calculated from estimated variance components for all traits, and genetic and phenotypic correlations between all traits were estimated in a series of bivariate analyses. Heritability estimates for live grading traits ranged from 0.06 to 0.28, heritability estimates for pelt quality traits ranged from 0.20 to 0.30, and finally heritability estimates for body size traits ranged from 0.43 to 0.48. Skin size and body weight were regarded as different traits for the two sexes and were therefore analysed for each sex separately. Genetic correlations between grading traits exhibited a range of 0.30-0.99 and genetic correlations between pelt quality traits ranged from 0.38 to 0.86. Genetic correlations between quality, wool density and silky appearance evaluated during live animal grading and on dried skin after pelting were 0.74, 0.41 and 0.33, respectively. Skin size and body weight were negatively correlated with pelt quality traits and ranged from -0.55 to -0.25. Using standard selection index theory and combined information from both live grading and skin evaluation increase of reliability of selection ranged from 0.6% to 14%. Due to moderate genetic correlations between traits evaluated during live grading and on dried skins, and negative correlations between pelt quality traits and body size, we concluded that traits should be selected simultaneously.

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“…The mean weight of wild males is 1,183 g in summer and 1,282 g in winter while both summer and winter mean weight of females is 627 g (Skirnisson et al 2004), which is within the weight range of mink in their native habitats in North America (Dunstone 1993). In comparison, farmed mink body size has increased considerably during the last few decades (Koivula et al 2010) and is now at least double that of feral mink in Iceland (Hanninen et al 2008).…”

Section: Communicated By C Gortázarmentioning

confidence: 98%

Habitat- and sex-related differences in a small carnivore’s diet in a competitor-free environment

et al. 2012

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The alien invasive American mink Neovison vison is fully established in the low species richness and competitor-free environment of Iceland. This study documents the diversity as well as seasonal and sexual variation in the diet of mink in Iceland based on stomach contents. Seasonal changes mainly reflected variation in abundance of migratory birds and wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus. In comparison with mink elsewhere in similar habitats, the mink in Iceland consumed more fish and birds and fewer mammals, which is in accordance with local availability. This reinforces evidence of opportunistic foraging. Females generally ate more fish and fewer birds than males and this might be explained by their smaller body size and possible limitation in catching larger birds. Mink in coastal habitats showed greater sexual differences in diet than mink in riparian habitats, probably reflecting less prey diversity in riparian habitats than coastal ones. This study is an input towards explaining the ecological consequences of sexual size dimorphism and supports the hypothesis that generalist species might be successful invaders due to their capability in utilising new and diverse resources. The mink in Iceland can be regarded as a model for a small-bodied semi-aquatic carnivore away from the confounding effects of interspecific competition.

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Genetic and phenotypic parameters of age at first mating, litter size and animal size in Finnish mink

Cited by 16 publications

References 15 publications

New breeding value evaluation of fertility traits in Finnish mink

New breeding value evaluation of fertility traits in Finnish mink

Genetic parameters for fur quality graded on live animals and dried pelts of American mink (Neovison vison)

Habitat- and sex-related differences in a small carnivore’s diet in a competitor-free environment

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