Genetic and environmental factors of raccoon dog reproduction traits

The aim of the studies was to analyse reproduction of raccoon dog females, estimation of genetic and environmental variability parameters of prolificacy and other reproduction-related traits. The material for the study was represented by data obtained from breeding documentation of a fur-animal breeding farm in the Wielkopolskie Province. The data were on raccoon dogs bred during 1997-1999. The observations covered 1165 females of the breeding stock, which had given birth and their offspring had been weaned. The results of the reproduction of the females were presented in relation to: year of an observation, age of females, litter size of their origin, colour type, date of heat appearance, gestation length, and whelping date. The restricted maximum likelihood method (REML) was applied for the estimation of genetic and phenotypic reproductive traits.