Effects Of Extruded-soybean As A Substitute For Fish Meal In The Chinese Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes Ussurienusis) Fur Quality

The object of this study is to assess the possibility for the change of fishmeal into extruded soybeans,and find out the suitable level in the feed under the homeostasis of energy and protein metabolism.150 healthy raccoon dogs aging in 9 weeks were divided into 5 groups equally and randomly(15(?)+15♀).There was no significant difference among the groups in initial average weight(F=0.12,P=1.000,P＞0.05).The control group was fed with standard meal,while in other groups the fishmeal was substituted by soybeans in feeding.The relative level of soybeans in each feed is 25%,50%,75%or 100%.In the whole feeding experiment, the development stage of fur was divided into the growing period and the furring period.The state of the growth of fur was examined and determined,including the length,diameter, squama quantity of unit length and the medulla diameter to hair diameter.The fur quality was then determined after sacrifice the animals.The result were as following,(1) In the growing period,partial or complete replacement of fishmeal by extruded-soybean in diets was able to fit the winter fur requirement.There are no significant differences in the length and diameter from all the groups(P＞0.05).(2) There were no significant differences in the length of pin-hair and fluff between control group and others(P＞0.05).(3) There were no notable changes in the medulla diameter to hair diameter of pin-hair among all the groups.Similarly,the medulla index of fluff did not change significantly in all animals(P＞0.05),indicating that there are no obvious effects on the fur medulla diameter to hair diameter,the fur toughness and the intensity after the change of fishmeal into extruded-soybean.(4) The scale of unit length of fluff did not change significantly in all trial groups.Feeding with extruded-soybean had no effects on the density of furs squama and the growth of hair in the raccoon dogs and the resistance to wear and the gloss of hair were not affected too.(5) There were no remarkable changes in the weight and length of fur plates in all trial groups(P＞0.05).(6) The replacement of fishmeal by extruded-soybean in the raccoon dog diet did not affect the fur's density and luster,as well as the losses of pin-hair.After the analysis in the length and diameter of hair,the number of the scale in unit length, the hair medulla diameter to hair diameter and the fur quality in the animals from all the groups, results demonstrate that the level of proteins or amino acids and the energy metabolism may be maintained without obvious changes after feeding in different ways.We also find that the absence of fishmeal in the feed did not affect the fur quality,while the partial replacement of fishmeal by extruded-soybean can even improve the fur quality.