Abstract:
Our overview of the global practice of breeding chinchillas systematizes information about performance and reproduction conditions that determine the profitability of fur farms. Captive chinchillas are polygamous and polyestrous. Seasonal differences in the organosomatic indexes, the number of spermatozoids in males, and the duration of the sexual cycle of females predetermine preservation of the seasonal habit of reproduction. Chinchillas retain their reproductive ability for 15 years. To save offspring, it is important to avoid premature mating of females younger than 6 months. Although 10–16 follicles ripen in the ovary of a chinchilla female, their average annual fecundity is 2.2–4 puppies per year. In accordance with the natural annual rhythm, a female chinchilla typically produces two litters, being able to have 1-3 litters annually. The interval between whelpings depends on photoperiod, illumination, and age of females. Too frequent whelpings exhaust the female organism and reduce its period of reproduction. Litter size is affected by the genotype and conformation of animals, as well as by paratypic factors acting during pregnancy and whelping. Proper selection of females and males is essential for fecundity improvement. To improve the fecundity of chinchillas, use of reproductive technologies is recommended, including electroejaculation, sperm cryopreservation, estrus induction, hormonal stimulation of ovulation, and others. The profitability of commercial breeding of chinchillas is dependent largely on the improvement of both qualitative (color) and quantitative (fecundity) traits, which is important for Russian fur farming.
About The Authors:
M. V. Novikov. Skryabin State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia, Russian Federation
References:
1. Adaro L., Orustegui C., Olivares R., Villanueva S. Morphometric variations in male reproductor system in chinchilla in captivity (Chinchilla l.g.). Avan. Prod. An. 1999;24(1/2):91-95.
2. Aleandri F. Crí
3. Barabash B. The domestication of shinchilla (Chinchilla laniger). Informacionnyj vestnik VOGiS — The Herald of Vavilov Society for Geneticists and Breeding Scientists 2007;11(1):115-121.
4. Barabasz B. Szynszyle: hodowla i uzytkowanie. Chinchillas: breeding and management. PWRiL, 2001.
5. Berdux C., Berdux V. The Berdux method of chinchilla raising. Fur Trade J. Canada, 1969.
6. Busso J., Ponzio M., Cuneo M., Ruiz R. Reproduction in chinchilla (Chinchilla l.): Current status of environmental control of gonadal activity and advances in reproductive techniques. Theriogenology. 2012;78(1):1-11.
7. Celiberti S., Gloria A., Contri A., Carluccio A., Peric T., Melillo A., Robbe D. Sexual hormone fluctuation in Chinchillas. Vet. Clin. N. Amer. 2013;16(1):197-209.
8. Dominchin M., Ponzio M., Cuneo M., Ruiz R., Busso J. Seasonal evaluations of urinary androgen metabolites and semen quality in domestic long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla l.) under natural photoperiod. Ann. Reprod. Sci. 2014;145(1/2):99-104.
9. Dzierzanowska-Goryn D., Goral K., Glogowski R. The analysis of chinchilla females reproduction (Chinchilla l. M.), on the example of Polish breeding farm. An. Wars. Univ. Life Sci. SGGW/ An. Sci. 2011;49:21-26.
10. Felska L., Brzozowski M., Rzewuska E. Wyniki rozrodu szynszyli w zależności od poziomu ustawienia klatek i nateżenia światła. Zesz. Nauk. Prz. Hod. 2002;(64):97-102.
11. Felska-Błaszczyk L., Brzozowski M. Effect of light intensity on reproduction of Polish, Swedish and Danish chinchillas. Arch. Tierz. 2005;48(5):494-504.
12. Felska-Błaszczyk L., Kaczmarek J. Effect of age and breed on some reproduction performance traits in chinchillas (Chinchilla l. M.). Acta Sci. Pol. Zoot. 2006;5(2):27-37.
13. Felska-Błaszczyk L., Sulik M. Effect of age and genetic group of chinchilla (Chinchilla l. M.) on the conception rate during postpartum oestrus. Folia Univ. Agr. Stet., Agr., Alim., Pisc. Zootec. 2007;255(2):43-50.
14. Felska-Błaszczyk L., Sulik M., Semik A., Seremak B. Polish vs. Danish chinchillas (Chinchilla l. M.). An analysis of body conformation and reproduction performance in two populations. IX Intern. Sci. Congr. in Fur Animal Production. Ed. B. Benkel et al. Halifax, Canada: IFASA, 2008;42-46.
15. Galton M. Chinchilla sex ratio. J. Reprod. Fert. 1968;16(2):211-216.
16. Gorbunov V.V. Shinshilla ot A do Ya [Chinchilla from A to Z]. Moscow, AST, 2011.
17. Healey P., Weir B. A technique for electro-ejaculation in chinchillas. J. Reprod. Fert. 1967;13(3):585-588.
18. Healey P., Weir B. Changes in the ultrastructure of chinchilla spermatozoa in different diluents. J. Reprod. Fert. 1970;21(1):191-193.
19. Hillemann H.H. Reproductive biology in chinchilla. National Chinchilla Breeders of America, 1959.
20. Jarosz S. The sexual cycle in chinchilla. Zool. Pol. 1973;23(1/2): 119-128.
21. Jarosz S., Rżewska E. Szynszyle: Chów i hodowla. W.: PWRiL, 1996.
22. Jezewska G., Rozempolska-Rucinska I., Zieba G., Nowak M. Genetic conditions of the selected reproduction traits of chinchilla. Zesz. Nauk. Prz. Hod. 2003;68:35-41.
23. Kersten A.M.P. Gedrag en welzijn van chinchillas in de bedrijfsmatige houderij: een voorstudie Vakgroep Veehouderij, sectie Ethologie. Wageningen: Landbouwuniversiteit. 1996.
24. Kiris I.B. Biologiya dlinnokhvostoy shinshilly. Diss. kand. biol. nauk. [Long-tailed chinchilla biology. Cand. biol. sci. diss.] Kirov, 1973.
25. Mischi G. Il cincilla ed il suo allevamento. Edagricole, 1962.
26. Morales M., Ibarra M., Visas L., Biones A. Fertility in male chinchillas (Chinchilla l.g.) of commercial flocks. Avan. Cien. Vet. 2000;15(1/2):9-12.
27. Nistal A., Masso R. Reproductive seasonality in captive Chinchilla l. XXXIX Jornadas de Estudio, XIII Jornadas sobre Producciun Animal/Zaragoza: Asociaciun Interprofesional para el Desarrollo Agrario, 2009;669-671.
28. Nistal A., Zapata M., Bianchi F., Miranda J., Frana E., Masso R. Dynamic growth pattern of chinchilla (Chinchilla l.) kits during lactation. Anal. Vet. 2013;33(1):5-9.
29. Nordholm J. Studies on the period from first mating to parturition in young chinchilla females. Vara Palsdjur. 1992;63(3):91-92.
30. Novikov M.V. Razrabotka metodov otsenki kachestva shkurok shinshill i sovershenstvovanie protsessov ikh proizvodstva. Diss. kand. tesh. nauk. [Development of methods for assessing the quality of skins of chinchillas and improved processes for production. Cand. tesh. sci. diss.] Moscow, 2010.
31. OTsP Razvitie kletochnogo pushnogo zverovodstva v RF na 2013-20 gg. [Industry-specific Special-purpose Program “The development of fur farming in Russia in 2013-20”] approved by Order N 450 of 04.12.2013 from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.
32. Pavlova N.R. Stroenie i izmenchivost kozhnogo i volosyanogo pokrova shinshilly (Chinchilla l. M.). Diss. kand. biol. nauk. [Structure and variability of skin and hair chinchilla (Chinchilla l. M.). Cand. biol. sci. diss.] Moscow, 1971.
33. Polasik D. GHR gene polymorphism in breeding stocks of Chinchillas. Electron. J. Polish Agric. Universities. 2013;16(4). art 2. available at http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume16/issue4/abs-02.html Ponzio M., Monfort S., Busso J., Dabbene V., Ruiz R., Cuneo M. A non-invasive method for assessing adrenal activity in the chinchilla (Chinchilla l.). J. Exp. Zool.: Comp. Exp. Biol. 2004;301A(3): 218-227.
34. Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare «The welfare of animals kept for fur production». EC: HCPDG, 2001.
35. Romanov-Ilinskii S.V. Shinshilla [Chinchilla]. Moscow, Lesnaya promyshlennost, 1982.
36. Rzewski W. Poligamia, monogamia oraz aktualne problemy chowu szynszyli. Hod. Drobn. Inwent. 1988;10:13-14.
37. Sanotra G. Chinchilla. Copenhagen, Inst. Agr. Sci. Kbh.: Statens Husdyrbrugsforsøg,
38.
39. Seremak B. Selected aspects of chinchilla (Chinchilla l.M.) reproduction under farm management. Wydaw. Akad. Roln. 2007.
40. Seremak B., Sulik M., Felska-Blaszczyk L., Lasota B. Optimization of hormonal stimulation of ovulation in the chinchilla. IX International Scientific Congress in Fur Animal Production. Ed. B. Benkel et al. Halifax, Canada: IFASA, 2008.
41. Ślaska B., Rozempolska-Rucińska I. Value of reproductive traits of Chinchillas in relation to animal conformation. J. Appl. An. Res. 2010a;38(1):17-21.
42. Ślaska B., Rozempolska-Rucińska I. The level of chinchilla reproductive traits in relation to the behaviour of females. An. Univ. M.C.Skodowska: Sec. Zoot. Versita, 2010b;28(1):9-16.
43. Socha S., Wrona A. The analysis of the seasonal character of the chinchilla (Chinchilla v.M.) reproduction. Scientifur. 2000;24(4):49-52.
44. Socha S., Kasjaiuk M. The analysis of factors which infuence fertility of chinchillas of various colour type. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootec. 2003;2(2):113-124.
45. Socha S., Wujcik D., Koodziejczyk D., Gontarz A. Analysis of conformation characters in chinchillas of standard and Polish beige strains in the breeding farm «Raba» in Myślenice. Lucr. Stiin. Zooteh. Biotehn. 2010;43(2):272-275.
46. Sokolov V.E.. Zhizn zhivotnykh. T. 7. Mlekopitayushchie. [Animal life. V. 7. Mammals.] Moscow, Prosveshchenie, 1989.
47. Sulik M. Age at the first parturition of the Polish and Danish chinchilla females. Zesz. Nauk. Prz. Hod. 1994;15:185-191.
48. Sulik M., Barabasz B. Porównanie systemów utrzymania rozpłodowego na przykładzie wybranych ferm. Zesz. Nauk. AR Krakow. 1995;297:159-165.
49. Sulik M., Seremak B. Seasonal sexual activity of chinchilla females exemplified by the selected farms. Zesz. Nauk. Prz. Hod. 2002;64: 89-96.
50. Sulik M., Seremak B. Course and quality of reproductive career of selected chinchilla females as behavior indication of organism reaction. Zesz. Nauk. Prz. Hod. 2003;68:151-159.
51. Vanderlip S. The Chinchilla Handbook. N.Y.: Barron’s Ed. 2006.
52. Weir B. Aspects of reproduction in chinchilla. J. Reprod. Fert. 1966; 12:410-411.
53. Weir B. The induction of ovulation and oestrus in the chinchilla. J. Reprod. Fert. 1973;33(1):61-68.
