Inclusion of substantial levels of raw-frozen Pacific hake
(Merluccius productus) in diets of ranch-raised mink (Mustela vison)
causes a large percentage of animals to develop an abnormal condition
termed "cotton fur" (CF), characterized by depressed body
weight, microcytic-hypochromic anemia and a failure of under-fur
pigmentation. Observations by several groups of...
The "cotton fur" (CF) condition in mink has been shown through
investigations at Oregon State University to have three basic causes,
viz.: 1) Feeding diets of fish comprising certain species of the cod
family, including: Pacific hake, Atlantic whiting and Alaskan pollock;
2) Inclusion of rancid fats in the diet;...