Fur Quality Traits in Standard Mink—Price Relationships, Heritabilities and Genetic and Phenotypic Correlations

Abstract

During 1980, 1981 and 1983, 3000 mink kits of standard type had their weights measured in September and their fur traits graded in August and November. In addition, pelt gradings were performed on 1 100 skins. Individual auction reports were collected. The effects of body weight and fur traits on sales price were estimated, as were genetic variation and heritabilities. Relationships between traits at a given grading were studied, and correlations between different gradings were measured. It was estimated how sales price was affected by fur darkness, underfur density, guard hair quality and overall impression, at the time of grading in August and November. The August grading of overall impression explained slightly more of the variation in sales price than the November grading. Heritabilities for underfur density and guard hair quality were low (h ²=0.1–0.2), while they were medium for overall impression and high for colour shade (h ²=0.5–0.9). Genetic and phenotypic correlations between September weight and fur traits were nonexistent or slightly negative. High genetic correlations were obtained between underfur density and guard hair quality (r _g=0.8–1.0). The incidence of metallic sheen was 19% in August, 14% in November and 22% in pelts. Only 3% of the animals exhibited metallic sheen on all three occasions.

Key Words:

• pelt grading
• summer fur
• body weight
• genetic parameters