GAME AND FISHERIES FOR 1929 11 



The results were highly successful. Not only did the pups develop into strong- 

 boned, well-grown foxes, but there was an entire absence of any intestinal 

 troubles so common among young fox pups, and which officials at the Experi- 

 mental Fur Farm attribute to the over-feeding of semi-liquid feeds, in the 

 form of cereals and milk and eggs, and a lack of fresh meat. 



It was definitely established that an over-abundance of the anti-rachitic 

 vitamins can produce the very trouble that they are given to prevent, viz., 

 ricketts. Eggs, milk and cod oil are all abundant in anti-rachitic substances, 

 and should be fed only in small quantities. Eggs have a putrefactive effect 

 on the intestines of fox pups and should be mixed with solid feeds. Spectacular 

 results were obtained with fox pups suffering from malnutrition through excess 

 feeding of soft feeds when they were placed on the standard ration. 



The effect of feeding horse meat during the summer and early fall months 

 was carefully compared with the results obtained with beef and beef offal. 

 There was no doubt but that the effect was detrimental to the colour of the 

 pelt. Foxes which in previous years had shown good, clear colour took on a 

 decidedly brown tinge to the fur. It was also noted that when horse meat 

 was discontinued, and the rations consisted mainly of beef offal (such as tripe, 

 beef hearts and liver), there was decided improvement in the colour of the pelt. 



No critical feeding experiments were attempted with mink. The animals 

 were fed the standard ration and raised their young with complete success from a 

 nutritional point of view. The young thrived and developed to maturity on 

 the same ration. Future experimenting will take place with mink on the effects 

 of various combinations of feed on the quality of the fur. 



Mink farmers are frequently corresponding with the Fur Farm regarding 

 a dietetic condition. This condition is characterized by swellings of the hind 

 legs and profuse urination in the male and female. In all cases the diet is 

 defective, in that it does not contain fresh feed, particularly in the winter months. 

 By the addition of fresh vegetables, such as canned tomatoes, and small quan- 

 tities of yeast, the disease is overcome. 



The investigation of all types of diseases in fur bearing animals takes an 

 important place in the work. Routine examinations of feces, post-mortems, 

 and treatment of sick animals are rapidly growing. During the spring and 

 summer months animals are brought to the Farm daily for a large variety of 

 conditions — parasitic infestations, broken legs, obstetrical operations, wounds 

 and a number of the more common organic diseases, such as pneumonia and 

 all classes of gastro-intestinal disturbances. Research on the use of board 

 floors for the eradication of the internal parasites was continued. It was 

 definitely shown that the use of well-drained board-floored pens is of the utmost 

 value in eradicating the lung worm in pups. Pups born from parents both of 

 which are ir ""ected with the disease, do not become infected if born on the board 

 floor pen. It has also a noticeable effect on the hook" worm, but is not effective 

 against the round worm. The grossest infections of lung and hook worm are 

 found in foxes run on grass-bottomed pens. The grass and loose state of the 

 earth created an ideal environment for the development of the eggs of the 

 parasite to the infective stage. It has been noted that the bladder worm is 

 apparently increasing in Ontario foxes and further work is needed to find a 

 measure to control this menace. 



For the first time, two well-defined cases of tuberculosis were found in 

 foxes. The fox has always been considered more or less immune to this disease. 



