Nutria is a funny, interesting animal that provides its owners with quality meat and valuable fur. The case for their breeding is gaining more and more popularity. This is because the business is quite profitable and at the same time not so complex that it could not be mastered by a novice farmer. For the successful maintenance of rodents, you need to understand the conditions of their summer and winter residence, nutrition rules and possible diseases. Every breeder dealing with living creatures must familiarize themselves with their exterior characteristics, habits, and other behavioral characteristics. Our review provides a description of the nutria rocks and photos of their representatives.
Rock separation
Of all the types of rodents, nutria is the largest. However, compared with other pets grown for meat, the animal is still quite small. The benefit of their maintenance is that these rodents are very prolific. Although the business is relatively young, a sufficient number of individuals have been bred artificially. Description of nutria breeds will help beginner breeders appreciate the dignity of each and choose the right one. Rodents are divided into three main parties:
- standard;
- color;
- giant rodents.
Colored nutria, in turn, is divided into dominant and recessive individuals. The first group includes Azerbaijani, golden and black breeds. Recessive include: white, smoky, Italian, beige and pearlescent. Giant varieties: white Azerbaijani and black individuals. Representatives of large nutria breeds are valued because of the fur. After all, the more skins, the smaller their number is spent on sewing one product.
Standard individuals
Learn more about this breed of nutria and (photo of rodents, see below). Unlike other pets of this family, they are the most persistent and unpretentious. By external characteristics, home nutria are similar to their relatives living in the wild. Rodents are difficult to distinguish from water rats. They have the same fur in brown shades, sometimes black. The edges of the villi look bleached, the skin on the abdomen is usually lighter. The eyes are dark brown.
An adult weighs about 6 kg on average; the maximum weight is 10-12. In length they grow up to half a meter. The fur is long, tight-fitting. Due to this, a fur coat made of skins does not get wet in the rain. Water drains from the external villi, and the undercoat remains dry. The only negative is that it can fall down.
The animals have a strong immune system, they are unpretentious and not picky in feeding. Reproductive abilities, as well as maternal instinct, are at a high level in animals.
Next, consider the colored breeds of nutria with a description and photo.
Black rodents
Black nutria are distinguished by a luxurious fur coat, which they owe to Argentine breeders. They have a very thick edge of a dark gray color, and longer villi have a rich sheen. In the area of the auricles, the color of the fur is slightly different. The eyes are almost black. The body length reaches up to 70 cm, body weight - 7 kg. In purebred, thoroughbred rodents, the offspring is no worse than in standard individuals, up to five cubs. When mating individuals of these two breeds, half of the offspring is brown.
Golden
These are foreign representatives who were brought to us after 1960. They have a beautiful red color. A pronounced golden stripe is visible on the back, the underfur on the belly is a slightly different shade - cream with a pink tint. Skins are in high demand. Individuals weigh up to eight kilograms. The disadvantage of the breed is its low birth rate. To enhance it, pets are mated with other species.
Lemon
The variety appeared as a result of crossing beige and Italian breeds. The fur coat of the animal has a light orange color. The weight of an adult reaches up to 6 kg. Females have a good offspring (up to six cubs). With the participation of individuals of a white color, animals are born with a white and silver coat, but in any case, lemon shades are present. These pets do not tolerate the cold and love vitamin feed.
Pearl
When crossing snow and lemon pastel color pets, you can get a pearl skin color. This is a special rare instance, which is considered very valuable. On the back of the pet, a gray strip with an ashy overflow is barely noticeable, the internal fluff has a sand color on the abdomen. Then it goes into a creamy, somewhat silver tint closer to the back. Productivity is good, the number of cubs reaches six. The mass of adult pets is seven kilograms. The animals are demanding in care, when crossing them inside the breed, the fertility of the females decreases. Errors in the maintenance of pets affect the quality of a beautiful skin.
Brown
The variety was obtained in the Krasnodar Territory by domestic breeders. The parents of these rodents are black and golden individuals. Color varies from bright brown to lighter, with a gradual transition to the abdomen. The underfill has a slightly gray tint. Against the background of the general color, the tail stands out in the rodent - it is very dark. Pets have the same weight as standard mid-sized individuals.
Smoky
The nutria breed, whose representatives do not require too much attention in care, is suitable for beginners in this matter. The qualities of the skins are high, the productivity is good. By the number of offspring and weight, this variety is not much different from the standard breed. They even have the same color of fur, but only it is devoid of brown tint. Interestingly, in rodents, the eyes merge with the color of the skin. They have a gray-smoky, and the internal fluff is solid. To preserve the characteristics of the fur, do not cross animals with standard individuals.
Sabia
These are representatives of the recessive group. The advantage of individuals of this breed of nutria in their active reproduction. Females give birth to three babies three times a year. Cubs are hardy and develop rapidly. Although this variety is commonly called beige, brown color prevails in their fur coat. The density of color in them may be different. The tone of the ebb also changes - from beige to gray. The eyes are brown. Nutrievoda is very fond of this species of rodents. Her breeding is done both at home and on an industrial scale.
Among the variety of artificially bred individuals, other breeds are also found. The following nutrients are familiar to domestic nutriders: silver, snow, pearl, cream, pastel. As well as individuals with a white fur coat: Azerbaijani, Italian. Of these, there are large varieties that are also worth considering.
Giant rodents
The largest rodents are white and black. Compared with ordinary individuals from this family, their weight can reach up to 14 kg. There were cases when, with a good content of such indicators, farmers also achieved standard pets. However, meat breeds of nutria are intended to be such. Giants among domestic rodents can be considered Azerbaijani with a white color and some black ones. Growing them for meat, you can have big profits on fur coats. After all, the size of the skin corresponds to the parameters of the animal.
Regardless of the extent to which you intend to conduct your business, it would be good for each newcomer to know all the existing nutria breeds. Breeding, maintenance and care must also be mastered, so that in the process of managing you it was easier to navigate in case of unforeseen difficulties.
Content
The content of rodents begins with the arrangement of the home. It is necessary to organize cages or cages for them. In case of bad weather, animals need to provide reliable shelter. If cellular maintenance is planned, then it is imperative to insulate them to protect them from extreme cold. Comfortable houses are built in aviaries so that nutria can easily climb there. It is impossible that they freeze, the lowest permissible temperature is +15 o C.
It is important to remember that pets cannot live normally without water. Therefore, the main condition for their maintenance is the presence of an artificial reservoir. It needs to be arranged in an aviary so that animals always have access to it.
Regardless of breed, nutria loves cleanliness. It is important to regularly clean the cage or cages, carry away the feed, and timely change the water in the pool. In hot weather, this should be done at intervals of four hours. In winter, snow is placed on the pool site.
Recommendations from experienced breeders
As practice has shown, not only the acquisition of giant rodents allows you to get good profit from the business. The main thing is to choose cubs from a good litter, the female and the babies must be healthy. Therefore, the purchase of individuals must be done in proven farms.
Poor conditions negatively affect the immunity of pets, as a result of which they are exposed to all kinds of infections. Beginner breeders need to know that some rodent diseases are incurable. Therefore, it is better to observe cleanliness in nutria houses, correctly compose a menu and provide them with proper care. It is necessary to regularly disinfect cells and aviaries. Litter at the entrance to the animal’s dwelling should be impregnated with a solution of creolin and periodically wetted.
It was noted that water procedures contribute to muscle building, and this, in turn, affects the weight of pets. If it is not possible to organize a pool, then you can install another tank so that animals can swim regularly.
In well-lit and heated rooms, rodents survive the winter well and the death of the livestock is not observed.
Rodent owners should be aware that animals can bite. Although all the nutria breeds in the photos look pretty funny, you need to be calm with them. In case of aggressive behavior of the animal, care must be taken to hide his hands.
Diet
Regarding the diet, there are no differences between representatives of different breeds of nutria. They enjoy eating green and other feed prepared for sheep and rabbits. The rodent menu includes: roughage, succulent plants, animal feed, fresh grass or hay. It is recommended that you thoroughly rinse any food before feeding your pets so that they do not have to suffer from bloating. Cereals need to be steamed. For this purpose bran, wheat, oats are suitable. Instead of cereals, concentrated feeds in granules can be given.
The summer diet consists of fresh grass, tree branches (birch, poplar, willow). Of vegetables, nutria should be given zucchini, cucumbers and cabbage. In winter, rodents have to be limited to hay, they like dry bushes of millet. Carrot and beetroot are good as vegetable additives.
The daily feeding rate of one adult is: 250 g of root crops and green plants, 35 g of grass meal and hay, 200 g of production feed.
For cubs who are under five months old, the menu is compiled with a low concentration of herbal supplements. During mating, rodents need to increase the rate of grass meal. Its content in the feed should be 23-25%. To make pelts beautiful, pets need wheat bran, barley, linseed meal, and grass meal.
Excessive feeding, like malnutrition, is reflected in the presentation of the fur.
As you can see, there is not much to know about the breeds, breeding and nutrient content. Dealing with them is not at all difficult. You just need to remember which pets cannot be mated with each other so that they do not lose their original characteristics.
Childbirth and care
Pregnant females are separated from the family. This period lasts 4 months. They need a pool and free space for movement. Otherwise, the females will begin to overeat and they will have problems with childbirth. At this time, they need to be given fish oil. Moms cope with the birth process and taking care of the cubs on their own. The nutrient breeder's task is to ensure that the offspring have a clean litter. In the early days it is very important to keep warm.
Small animals are immediately transplanted to the rest of the young animals, so that other females do not reject them. At that time, the nutria-woman in labor should be released into the aviary for half an hour. During this period of time, the kids adapt in the environment of the family. Already in the first days of their lives, they swim, frolic and eat. Food should be vitamin-rich, with protein and minerals. If it is scarce, then the kids will clog each other. It is especially important to add vitamin A.