loss the production of the 4,300 female breeders was lost either as a result of the 

 effects of the drug or the fact that insufficient males were available for breeding. 

 Based on the individual 5 year ranch average this loss amounted to 12,900 mink 

 kits. 



The cereal company concerned recognized its responsibilities and indemnified 

 the ranchers for their losses. 



The disease incidence on Ontario ranches is well under control with only four 

 cases of distemper and one case of virus enteritis reported by the Ontario Veterinary 

 College. This good record has been achieved by the increased use of preventative 

 vaccines for these diseases. However, six cases of plasmacytosis have been 

 diagnosed at the College and prospects are for a greater incidence in this disease 

 as a vaccine to prevent or control it has not as yet been found. The only control 

 that exists at the present time is the use of the iodine agglutination test. Any mink 

 showing a positive reaction to the test should be killed thereby eliminating the 

 carriers of the disease. 



A total of 494 Fur Farmers' Licences were issued during 1965. Of these, 452 

 were renewals of previous licences, 41 were for newly established ranches and one 

 licence was issued with retroactive provisions to legalize the operation of the ranch 

 during the previous year. 



It will be noted from the summary of breeding stock kept, that despite the 

 slight decrease in licences, the number of breeders kept is constantly increasing. 

 This invariably results in an increase in the production of mink pelts. This trend 

 has persisted since 1947 when 1,768 licences were issued. The value of ranch 

 raised mink pelts produced on Ontario Ranches is more than twice that of all the 

 wild fur species caught in the Province. 



The following table shows the location by County or District of Licenced 

 Fur Farms: 



County or 



District Number 



Algoma 3 



Brant 9 



Bruce 23 



Cochrane 1 



Dufferin 7 



Durham 14 



Elgin 3 



Essex 12 



Frontenac 2 



Grenville 2 



Grey 24 



Haldimand 11 



Haliburton 2 



Halton 28 



Hastings 1 



Huron 10 



Kenora 3 



Kent 14 



Lambton 4 



Lanark 2 



Leeds 2 



Lincoln 24 



Manitoulin 5 



County or 



District Number 



Muskoka 2 



Middlesex 21 



Nipissing 3 



Norfolk 13 



Northumberland .1 



Ontario 17 



Oxford 13 



Parry Sound 6 



Peel 9 



Perth 38 



Peterborough 1 



Rainy River 1 



Simcoe 22 



Sudbury 2 



Thunder Bay 8 



Victoria 4 



Waterloo 21 



Welland 21 



Wellington 43 



Wentworth 16 



York 26 



TOTAL 494 



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