Reproductive performance and kit growth in mink feed diets containing copper-treated eggs

摘要

Female mink (Mustela vison) were fed conventional diets containing 20% copper (Cu)-treated (0, 500, or 1000 ppm) raw eggs prior to and during breeding, gestation, lactation, and early kit growth, Microbial analysis was conducted on the Cu-containing eggs to assess the effectiveness of Cu as an anti-microbial agent in non-refrigerated eggs. The results of this study indicate that Cu at a concentration of 1000 ppm is an effective agent for minimizing bacterial and fungal growth in eggs for up to one week at room temperatures (50-79°F) and that feeding mink conventional diets containing 20% of a Cu-treated (1000 ppm) raw eggs had no adverse effects on female mink reproductive performance or kit growth and survival.