Analysis of parturitions in Pearl American mink (Neovison Vison)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe parturitions in eight Pearl mink females. The video material, recorded inside each of the eight nests, was analysed using the Behaview software package. Duration of labour was determined, as well as the number of times female left the nest during parturition, the mean time of female’s absence from the nest, and time intervals between births of individual kits. The results show that the average duration of parturition was 3 hours and 23 min, during which a female left the nest 8 times on average, remaining outside for an average of about 18 minutes. Time intervals between individual kit births ranged from 16 to 52 minutes.