1. Selection
To select high-quality silver-black foxes, it's essential to understand and evaluate their coat color, fur quality, and physical characteristics under standard conditions. This includes proper coat coloration, good wool texture, and a well-proportioned body.
Retention and Breeding
1.1 Color Characteristics
1.1.1 The percentage of silver hairs should be between 75% and 100%, meaning that from the base of the ears to the tip of the tail, at least three-quarters of the fur should be silver.
1.1.2 The length of silver hairs on the guard hairs should ideally be 12–16 mm, indicating strong silver coloring.
1.1.3 The silver ring should have a pure white color. Shades like chalky, yellowish, or brown are considered undesirable.
1.1.4 The tips of the black hairs on the silver rings should appear as a soft, dark mist. If they are too light or too dark, this is referred to as "fog," which is not ideal.
1.1.5 A distinct black band running along the back from the ear root to the tail root is preferred. This feature enhances the overall appearance of the silver-black fox.
1.1.6 The underfur should be fluffy, with a slate or grayish hue, giving a soft and dense look.
1.1.7 The tail should be cylindrical in shape, with a minimum hair length of 8 cm.
1.1.8 The fur should be thick, dense, and not matted, with a length of 5–7 cm and a thickness of 2–4 cm.
1.2 Three-Stage Selection
1.2.1 Primary Selection: Select silver and black foxes born before February 20th and before April 20th. Choose large individuals, selecting up to 50% to 100% more than planned.
1.2.2 Re-election: During October, choose those with large heads, good body structure, and good color. Keep about 25% more for further evaluation.
1.2.3 Final Selection: During November, select only those male and female silver foxes that meet all criteria, eliminating any that do not, to ensure the quality of future generations.
1.3 Selection of One-Year-Old Male Silver Foxes
A one-year-old male should weigh over 7.5 kg, with a minimum of 6.5 kg. Its coat must meet all color standards, and it should be healthy, free from infectious diseases. It should come from a line with at least five mothers, good milk production, and strong vitality. Genetic factors play a key role. When choosing, prioritize size and fur quality over parent traits. Ensure large testicles, even in both sides, no cryptorchidism, and a body length over 65 cm. Born before April 20th, with a balanced head-to-body ratio, no oversized or undersized features. No eye issues, upright ears, clear nose, and normal mouth. Strong chest, long and wide back, round hips, strong limbs, and good muscle development.
1.4 Selection of One-Year-Old Female Silver Foxes
The female should meet all color requirements, be born before April 20th, weigh over 6 kg, and have a body length over 65 cm. Her nipples should be normal, with at least three pairs, and her genitalia should be free from deformities. She should produce good milk, have a high survival rate of cubs, and avoid being overly aggressive or shy. She should be compatible with males and have fine, soft fur.
1.5 Two-Year-Old Male Silver Fox Selection Criteria
The male should be disease-free, mate at least 10 times, and have offspring that are healthy and numerous. He should not show aggression toward females or other cubs. His weight should increase by 85% in the first year, 10% in the second, and 5% in the third. Those that don’t meet these standards—such as infertile, weak, or sick foxes—should not be kept. A male silver fox typically stays for 2–3 years.
1.6 Two-Year-Old Female Silver Fox Selection
She should give birth to more than five cubs, be well-behaved, have good milk, and avoid aggressive or neglectful behavior. After birth, she should handle the umbilical cord properly, and her cubs should survive well. She should eat normally, recover quickly after giving birth, and remain disease-free. Her fur should shed early, and she should go into estrus before March. No self-mutilation, vaginitis, or endometritis. Normal mating behavior, no hidden estrus, and no difficulty during breeding. Her pregnancy should be normal, without stillbirths or abortions. She should not experience difficult labor, and her body size should continue to grow each year. Coat color and fur quality should remain stable. A female silver fox typically stays for 2–4 years.
2. Mating
2.1 Principles
It’s best to pair older (over two years) males with younger ones (one year), or similar-aged males. The male should have stronger traits than the female, and the combination should enhance desirable features. If you want to breed exceptional foxes—like those with large size, extra plush fur, or high litter numbers—you can use them in special matings. For example, if a male has excellent body weight or a female has very good fur but average size, they can be selected gradually.
2.2 Sex Ratio
The general ratio of males to females is 1:2–3. At least one male should be present. If there are fewer than 10 females, the ratio should be 1:2. Some males may be too strong or unsuitable for breeding. Therefore, many farms keep extra foxes for sale. In silver fox farming, a 1:3 ratio is often used because of better selection opportunities. About 10% of foxes may not mate, 80% will, and 10% may have unusually high mating ability (more than 30 times per season). Regardless of size, medium to upper-weight males are preferable.
2.3 Age Ratio
Determining the right age ratio for breeding foxes is important. The author suggests a 2:1 ratio of young to old males. If strong mating ability is needed, a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio may be used. Males generally shouldn't exceed 3 years of age. Older males may become less fertile or unable to breed. For females, a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio is recommended. Older females tend to have more stress and fewer offspring. Younger females are usually better for breeding.
3. Long-Term Breeding Plans
While a fox farm can be established in one year, developing a high-quality population takes time. Even if the initial stock is good, their offspring may not be. It usually takes 3–5 years to build an excellent breeding population. Variations can occur in breeding selections, and although small, they are significant. For example, silver-black foxes are variants of red foxes, snow foxes of blue foxes, and white foxes of standard foxes. These variations arise from mutations and hybridization. While crossbreeding increases diversity, some lines may not be viable. It’s important not to abandon new strains when they become common. There are rare cases of deuterium variation, such as black-and-white vs. yellow, but owners often fail to recognize and cultivate these mutations, leading to their loss.
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