Effects of Dietary Fat Levels on Growth, Nutrient Digestibility, Nitrogen Utilization and Fur Quality of Growing-furring Blue Foxes

摘要

This study evaluated the effects of dietary fat levels on the growth, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and pelt characteristics of the blue fox(Alopex lagopus). Age-matched blue foxes(12 weeks old) with similar body weights were randomly divided into six dietary groups over 98 days, during the growing-furring period. Blue foxes in the six groups were fed with experimental diets containing 10%(groupⅠ), 12%(groupⅡ), 14%(group Ⅲ), 16%(group Ⅳ), 18%(groupⅤ) and 20%(group Ⅵ) fat during the growing period(from 13 weeks to 18 weeks of age);foxes were fed with diets containing 12%(groupⅠ), 14%(groupⅡ), 16%(group Ⅲ), 18%(group Ⅳ), 20%(groupⅤ) and 22%(group Ⅵ) fat during the furring period(from 18 weeks to 26 weeks of age). The results indicated that 16%-18% dietary fat, during the growing period significantly improved nutrient utilization, and as a main energy source, significantly reduced the feed/gain ratio. A dietary fat level of 18%, during the furring period not only improved the growth and development and decreased the feed/gain ratio, but also increased nutrient digestibility and fur quality. These data, combined with data from a conic regression model, showed that dietary fat levels between 16.29% and 18.40%, during the growing period and between 17.72% and 18.72%, during the furring period enhanced the growth performance and fur quality of blue foxes.