1. Selection
To select high-quality silver-black foxes, it is essential to understand and evaluate their coat color, fur quality, and physical characteristics under standard conditions. This includes proper coat coloration, wool texture, body shape, and overall appearance.
Retention and Breeding
1.1 Color Characteristics
1.1.1 The silver hair coverage should be between 75% to 100%, meaning that from the base of the ears to the tip of the tail, there should be at least three-quarters of silver hairs.
1.1.2 The length of the silver white on the guard hairs should ideally be 12-16mm, indicating strong silver wool quality.
1.1.3 The silver ring should be pure white. 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 dark mist, not too light or too heavy, which is referred to as "fog." Black and white tips are not acceptable.
1.1.5 A distinct black band running from the ear root to the tail root, formed by the combination of black and silver hairs along the back ridge, is a desirable trait in silver-black foxes.
1.1.6 The underfur should be soft and dense, with a slate or grayish-gray tone.
1.1.7 The tail should be cylindrical, with a minimum length of 8cm.
1.1.8 The fur should be thick, not matted, smooth, with a length of 5-7cm for the main fur and 2-4cm for the underfur.
1.2 Three-Stage Selection
1.2.1 Primary Selection: Foxes born before February 20th and before April 20th are selected. Large individuals are chosen at a rate of 50%-100% more than planned.
1.2.2 Re-election: During October, large-headed, well-filled, and well-colored foxes are selected, leaving about 25% more than planned.
1.2.3 Final Selection: In November, only those foxes meeting all criteria are kept, while others are removed to ensure the quality of future generations.
1.3 Selection of One-Year-Old Male Silver Foxes
Male foxes must weigh over 7.5kg, with a minimum of 6.5kg. Their coat color must meet standards, and they should be healthy, robust, and free from infectious diseases. They should have a strong genetic background, with mothers producing more than five offspring and good milk supply. Other important traits include large testicles, even in size, no cryptorchidism, a slender body over 65cm, born before April 20th, and a balanced head-to-body ratio. No eye disease, upright ears, no nasal issues, and a muscular build are also essential.
1.4 Selection of One-Year-Old Female Silver Foxes
Females must meet the same color requirements and be born before April 20th. They should weigh over 6kg, measure over 65cm in length, have normal nipples (at least three pairs), and healthy genitalia. They should produce good milk, have a high survival rate for cubs, and show no signs of aggression or poor appetite. Mating should be gentle and effective.
1.5 Two-Year-Old Male Silver Fox Selection Criteria
Males must be disease-free, mate at least 10 times, and produce healthy litters. They should not show aggressive behavior toward females or cubs. Their weight and size should continue to grow over the years. Those with low fertility, weak health, or poor mating performance should not be retained. Typically, males are kept for 2-3 years.
1.6 Two-Year-Old Female Silver Fox Selection Criteria
Females should have more than five cubs, be well-behaved, and have good milk production. They should give birth without complications, recover quickly after delivery, and maintain good health. Their estrus cycle should be regular, and they should not exhibit self-mutilation or reproductive disorders. Their body size should increase each year, and their fur should remain consistent without mutations. Females are typically kept for 2-4 years.
2. Breeding
2.1 Principles
Older foxes (over two years) should be paired with younger ones (one-year-olds). The male should have stronger traits than the female, and both should complement each other. For exceptional traits like large size, superior fur, or high litter numbers, special pairings may be used. The male’s weight should be medium to high, regardless of his age.
2.2 Sex Ratio
The general ratio of males to females is 1:2-3. If fewer than ten females are available, a 1:2 ratio is preferred. Some males may not be suitable for breeding due to behavioral issues. It’s important to keep enough foxes for selection and sale. In some cases, a 1:3 ratio is used for females to allow better selection and utilization.
2.3 Age Ratio
A recommended age ratio for males is 2:1 (young to old), depending on mating ability. Males should not exceed three years of age, as older ones may have reduced fertility. For females, a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio is ideal, with older females often performing better.
3. Long-Term Breeding Plans
While a fox farm can be established in one year, developing a superior breed takes 3-5 years. Even high-quality foxes purchased may not pass on all their traits to offspring. Variations can occur, such as mutations leading to new color types. These should not be discarded but carefully preserved and bred. For example, rare mutations like black-and-white or yellow foxes should be nurtured rather than eliminated. Long-term planning ensures the sustainability and improvement of the population.
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