Holarctic Marmots as a factor of Biodiversity.
Rumiantsev V.Yu;, Nikol'skii A.A. & Brandler O.V. eds.,
Abstracts, 3d Conference on Marmots (Cheboksary, Russia, 25-30 August 1997),
Moscow ABF 1997, 216p., 102 (Russian), 145 (English).


SELECTION OF MARMOTS IN FUR BREEDING


G.A. Fedoseeva*, I.V. Rymalov**

* Afanasiev' NIIPZK MSHZ RF
** Severtsov' IPEE RAS, Moscow, Russia


Selection of marmots in fur breading is directing at their benefit for man. There are two types of selection criterions - reproduction and exterior. These criterions may be used to marmots adapted to captivity only. We worked with steppe marmots which had born at the fur farm "Pushkinsky".

We estimated exterior signs in the beginning of autumn before hibernation. The animals weight was maximal and fur was mature in this period. The quality of the fur was estimated for special 5-bale complex scale. The main signs were marmots thik-haired, length of hairs, defects and so on. The main defect is twisted hairs at the back of the neck.

In population we picked out two types colour of fur: golden and pearl. We selected marmots with more rage signs of these types. At the same time dates of Tokarsky shows that more marmots colour-forms (black, blue) are in nature. Probably, many different marmots color forms may be selected in captivity.

The weight of marmots correlated with their length. We selected more heavy animals of different ages.

Unfortunately we can not find correlation between reproduction and exterior criterions. The number of population is not enough for this work now. But we think that this correlation takes place in population.


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