Body and liver mass changes in marten family representatives (Mustelidae) during domestication

Domestication is a lengthy and complex process that, as a result, has a profound effect on animals, including fur-bearing animals. During the transition from a wild lifestyle to living next to humans, they undergo a number of changes affecting both behavioral aspects and physiology. In this study, we analyzed domestication changes in body and liver mass in three representatives of the marten family at different stages of domestication. The work was carried out in LLC "Mermeriny" of the Tver region and JSC "Saltykovsky Breeding Farm" of the Moscow region on young mink of the American standard breed of dark brown type, sable of the Saltykovskaya 1 breed, ferret of the breed Tverskoy. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the largest increase in live weight occurred in the American mink - 2.4 times in males, 2.0 times in females. The average liver mass increased by 2.3 and 2.1 times, respectively. Ferrets occupy the second place in terms of body weight gain - the average live weight (males and females) increased by 1.8 times, with an increase in liver in females by 1.8, in males by 1.7 times. Sables have slight increase in body weight occurred only in females (1.2 times), while the average liver mass in females increased 2.0 times, in males - 1.3 times.