20 THE REPORT UPON No. 9 



to the weather. It is possible with this type of house to observe the animals 

 without disturbing the entire nest, which is not the case where the den is placed 

 in an open pen and covered with straw. 



"With the many different varieties of animals on hand, the study of the 

 most suitable and economical rations occupies a very important place in the 

 experimental work carried on at the farm, and will continue to do so for many 

 years to come. 



"The fur farmei is faced with many new problems in this respect not encount- 

 ered by the breedeis of domestic animals, who have years of experience and 

 experimental data to draw from. At all times the effect of various feeds on the 

 colour and texture of the prime pelt has to be carefully considered. At the 

 Experimental Fur Farm very definite data has been obtained with the colour 

 phase of silver fox. While cereals such as corn meal, rolled oats and whole 

 wheat flour may be fed the year round, if such food is continued through the 

 summer months the colour of the pelt is decidedly affected. Any feed containing 

 large quantities of fat, including whole milk, tends to produce a rusty pelt in 

 late fall. It is also becoming evident that fur farmers as a rule are feeding too 

 much meat, heavy meat feeding having a tendency to produce off-colour pelts. 

 "The question of how far fish can be substituted for meat with fur-bearing 

 animals will be thoroughly investigated this year and it is hoped that reliable 

 data will be secured on this point. 



"It is found that animals will thrive on feed that cannot in any way be said 

 to be their natuial feed. Beaver, for example, will do well on a diet of roots 

 and grain, and are very fond of bread. The fur farmer cannot, when operating 

 on a commercial basis, feed the natural feed of the animal, and extensive experi- 

 ments are required to find out how far it is possible to go from the natural 

 without depreciating the pelt value and affecting production of young. ' 



"Many problems in regard to breeding have arisen in the fur farming indus- 

 try, particularly to in-breeding and line breeding. It is claimed by some that 

 the mating of closely related animals is detrimental to the offspring; while 

 others, again, claim that it is the only possible method by which a unifoim strain 

 of animal, showing desirable characteristics, can be bred. 



"Results at the Fur Farm tend to show that where judgment is used, 

 in-breeding is a desirable method of producing high-class stock, but the greatest 

 care must be taken that only the best animals be used for such purposes, as the 

 bad as well as the good points of the parents are intensified. It will take con- 

 siderable time to find out how far it is possible to in-breed a certain family, and 

 still produce healthy, virile stock. Such experiments are now in progress at 

 the Fur Farm. 



"There is a steadily-growing demand for advice and help to combat the 

 various diseases that are being found among fur-bearing animals. It is only 

 to be expected as the number of animals kept in captivity increases and fur 

 farms become more congested that new diseases will arise that at present are 

 unknown or go unrecognized by the owner. 



"In the past it has been the short-sighted policy of many fur farmers to 

 keep a secret any deaths among their stock; particulaily has this been the case 

 where the sale of breeding stock has been bringing high prices. To date, the 

 greatest detriment to the health of fur-bearing animals comes mainly from two 

 sources — parasitic and dietetic. These animals are particularly susceptible to 

 parasites, due to their being kept in small enclosures, with the result that the 

 ground becomes completely saturated with the infection, and medicinal remedies 



