THE MEASUREMENT OF QUALITY
IN
THE FUR OF MINK (MUSTELA VISON)

By
PATRICIA ELLIOTT EENTZ

A THESIS

Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan
State College of Agriculture and Applied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Department of Zoology

1950

THESIS;

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The continued assistance of many people was necessary
to this study. The Michigan Fur Breeders Association was
instrumental in establishing the need for research on fur
quality and has cooperated throughout. Mr. Thomas Tiley,
the secretary of the Association, was very generous in pro-
viding contacts and information. The author is particularly
indebted to the breeders‘Who allowed their mink to be
clipped and gave statements regarding their quality; these
men also contributed a great deal of time and general
information that has been helpful. Breeders from whose
mink samples were taken are: Mr. John M. Wozniak, Mr. R. W.
Menzle, Mr. J. L. Sherlock, Mr. Hitchcock, Mr. L. C. Ramp,
Mr. Perry Slack, Mr. Karl Kromer, Mr. Floyd Taylor, and the
Savage Brothers. Mr. A. J. Steukerjuergen donated a pelt.
Mr. Frank Gothier, who Judged at the 1949 International
Fox and Mink Show, and Mr. David Loffman, of the Great
Lakes Mink Association, were gracious with time and effort
in Judging pelts or animals and-in discussing the components
of fur quality.

Dr. H. R. Hunt, head of the Zoology Department of
Michigan State College, has had the vision to perceive the
importance of any assistance that can be given the fur
industry. He has contributed invaluable assistance and
criticism from his vast knowledge and experience, and so

is directly responsible for any value in this study.

244595

Mrs. Dale Henderson (Miss Mac) of the Zoology Depart;
ment has been of constant help throughout with "ways and
means." The author also wishes to express gratitude to
her husband for his patience, suggestions, and assistance,

particularly with the measurements of color.

CONTENTS
Page

I. IntrOduCtionOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO l

[‘0

The Fur Coat of the Mink.................
>Quality in Mink Fur.. ....... . .......... ..

KO

II. Techniques.......... ..... ..................... 14
Sampling................................. 14

Methods and Measurements Used............ 20

III. Results....................................... 25
IV. Coefficient of Density........................ 32
V. Discussion.................................... 37
Density.................................. 37
Texture.................................. 39
Depth.................................... 40

Length Ratio and Coverage................ 41
Color.................................... 42

Application of Quality Measurements to
Genetic Research......................... 45

VI. COIICluSionSOOOOOOO000......OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 49

VII. References...0......00......OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 50

I.
II.

III.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Pelt seetiOnSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 52

Arrangement of Fibers and Hairs in the
F0111CIeSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0. 53

Range of Underfur Colors in Dark Mink......... 54

I.
II.
III.
IV.

XI.

XII.
XIII.
XIV.

LIST OF TABLES

Source of Samples...............

Variations Over the Pelt.....................

Average weights.....0.0.....O.....0.0... .....

Relationship of Sex and Age to Average

weights Of Table III.....O.............0.0...

Fiber Length Averages..............

Diameters of Underfur and Guard Hair.........

Weights of Analyzed Samples.......

Underfur Color Analysis.

0.0.0.....

.0...‘.....

Coefficients of Density......................

Relationship of Age, Sex, Color, and Breeder

to Measurements of Analyzed Samples..........

Comparison of Breeders' Comments with
Measures of Density..................

Underfur TeXtureOOOO0.0.0............O.....O.

Breeders' Judgments and Length Measurements..

Breeders' Statements and Underfur Color......

Coefficients of Correlation......

figs
55
56
57

58
59
6O
61
62
63

64

65
66

68
69

I. INTRODUCTION

The fur pelt is a marketable product of economic
importance because of its beauty, warmth, and wearability.
The concept of fur quality is based on these values, in all
of which the good mink fur excels. Selection for quality
has been based on visual comparisons among furs relative
to the Judge's standard of perfection.

The extensive ranching of mink and fox developed in
the past twenty-five years has created a definite economic
need for a knowledge of the inheritance of quality. Some
idea of the extent of the fur industry in the United States
can be gained from the fact that, according to National Fur
Board figures (Tiley, 1950), the value of the 1948 crop
of fox and mink in the United States was thirty-six million
dollars. The estimated size of the 1949 crop is sixty- ,
eight thousand fox and over two million mink. The buyer
pays a premium for quality; a price variation of fifty to
sixty percent depends directly on quality. Hitherto the
best wild mink and the fur pieces made from them have
received the highest prices as a result both of reputation
and of actual good quality. Mink trapped in eastern
Quebec are particularly noted for their dense and blue
underfur.

Ranchers have not been able to accomplish a great
deal in the way of breeding for improved quality in their

stock. As will be seen later, there are a number of factors

involved in fur quality, and a balance among these is
desired in the marketed pelt. Different Judges have dif-
ferent emphases. Furthermore, when memory and visual com-
parison must be used to make fine discriminations, error
and variation in ability are always present. Even the
standard of fur perfection itself has varied somewhat over
a period of years. And, most important, the general state-
ments of the Judge mean no more from a breeding standpoint
than to say merely that a certain cow has "good" milk
production or "good" conformation without knowing the
quantitative factors involved in the concept of "good."

In order to study the genetic factors involved in fur
quality variations, it is necessary to have direct methods
of rating each animal for each of the various factors .
involved, because the inheritance of each factor must be
studied separately. The purpose of this study has been to
develop quantitative means for the measurement of fur
quality as a foundation for future genetic research. The
long range purpose, of course, is to improve the breeders'
selection for quality. Standard fur measures should also
be useful in determining the economic effects of following
certain feeding or management practices over a specified

unit of time.

The Fur Coat of the Mink

 

Before discussing quality in more detail, it is neces-

sary to describe the mink fur. The natural habitat of the

3.

mink is near water, and in common with other mammals who

live similarly exposed, the mink has a dense, fine insulating
underfur protected by longer, stiffer guard hairs (figure 1).
The number of underfur fibers and the dead air Spaces
between them make the fur a good insulation against cold.

An increased density is found if the mink is from a cold
climate. The guard hairs shed water and protect the under-
fur from abrasion. Kits have a short, soft coat of under-
fur during their first summer; their best quality pelt is
produced the first winter.

It is thought that the wool of domestic sheep is an ex-
tensive deve10pment of the original underfur, and that the
undesired hair or kemp that sometimes occurs represents
the remnants of guard hair (Duerden, 1927). As with wool,
there are a number of differences in the fur in the various
regions of the body - the densest, longest, and "best"
quality being in the most exposed areas, that is dorsally.

The fur fiber is composed of keratin deposits and
pigment granules in dried cells. Keratin is an inactive
protein composed of very long peptide chains (Conant and
Blatt, 1947). Therefore, fur is very difficult to study
from a chemical standpoint. For this reason, and because
quality seems to be largely dependent on physical factors,
no chemical study of the fur was attempted.

Hairs develop from undifferentiated matrix cells that
cover the connective tissue papilla at the base of the hair

follicle. These cells move toward the surface of the skin,

4.

assuming their characteristic form as the substance of the
hair and becoming keratinized at about one-third of the

way outward (Maximow and Bloom, 1948). The hair shaft as

it finally emerges above the surface of the skin consists
of three layers: cuticle, cortex, and medulla (Shackleford,
1948, and Maximow and Bloom, 1948). The central shaft, or
medulla, contains irregular cells that alternate with ex-
tensive air spaces; however Russell (1946) reports a
definite arrangement of the medullary cells in the mouse.
In the fur bearers, at least, the medulla is discontinuous
throughout the underfur fiber. It is absent distally and
at the base of the guard hairs. The cells of the middle
layer, the cortex, are longitudinally directed and com-
prise most of the volume of the hair. The cortex is

covered by the thin, transparent cells of the cuticle which
are arranged as overlapping scales with the free end

toward the tip of the hair. Shackleford found cross-sections
of mink hairs to be oval; cross-sections of the base and
tip were circular.

The fine, slightly curved tip of the guard hair
extends for about one millimeter beyond the main shaft of
the hair. Adjacent to the tip the hair widens to its
maximum diameter with varying abruptness. At the upper
level of the underfur staple, the guard hair begins to
decrease in diameter again, so that the proximal, narrow
part of the guard hair has a uniform diameter from here

down to the follicle. Hardy and Hardy (1942) describe two

types of guard hairs in mink and fox pelts with inter-
grades between them: the regular guard hairs which emerge
from a follicle with some underfur fibers are usually bent
below the widest part of the hair. The other type, the
single guard hairs, are longer, straighter, and stiffer,
and come singly from a hair follicle. However, this
distinction was not found to be valid in the four mink
pelts available for study. Using the binocular microscOpe
with 10.5X magnification, observations clearly revealed
individual follicles, so that study and dissection of them
could be made (see figure 2). Representative follicles
were carved out of the pelt using a very sharp scalpel.
The follicles appear to be arranged in a definite series
of parallel rows in the pelt. According to Hardy and
Hardy (1942), Toldt described "single" guard hairs as
being the first to appear in the fox embryo and to be in
rows. However, there appears to be a definite arrangement
of all of the follicles in the mink into parallel rows
which form acute angles with the midline - that is, the
rows follow the course of the external oblique muscle.
Most follicles contained from fifteen to twenty-five
underfur fibers accompanied by an intermediate type of
fiber. Underfur fibers are crimped with four to six
waves. From their origin to near the tip, they are constant
in diameter displaying well-developed scales at lOOX mag-
nification. At the most distal wave the fiber widens to

.016 mm. or more, appears darker, and loses its scaly

6.

appearance - the scales become flatter and smaller. The
fiber then narrows rapidly to the tip.

The intermediate hair mentioned above is apparently
what Hardy and Hardy have labeled the "regular" guard
hair. There are several different types of these hairs:
they all are bent posteriorly at or near the upper level
of the guard hair and suggest that they may be a factor
in determining the posterior slant of the free ends of the
fur. Skin tension has been stated to contribute to this
slant. The shorter ones of these intermediate hairs are
only slightly longer than the underfur. They are most
strongly bent; in fact, many are bent so much as to lie
along the t0p of the underfur. These shorter intermediate
hairs are crimped much like the underfur fibers. Hairs
can be found that are difficult to label as underfur or
guard hair. Hardy and Hardy also describe intergrades with
underfur fibers. Duerden (1927) reports atypical fibers
in sheep wool which are medullated and kempy distally but
wool-like proximally. On the other hand, these bent hairs
grade into the straight, coarse guard hairs. Longer inter—
mediate guard hairs are straight from the follicle to the
bend, the bend in them is not so great, and they may be
from five to six millimeters longer than the underfur
staple. Distally they approach the straight guard hair
in width. These bent hairs are accompanied by fewer
underfur fibers than the shorter, finer ones. A few tufts

of underfur have no hair that can be called a guard hair.

Many straight guard hairs were observed. Some were
found that did come singly from a hair follicle, and so
fitted Hardy and Hardy's name of "single" guard‘hairs.
But, on close observation, most were accompanied by from
two to not more than eight underfur fibers originating in
the same follicle. I believe these guard hairs should be
called the "straight" or "maJor" guard hairs in contrast
to the "bent" or "minor" guard hairs described above.
Gross observation shows the coverage of the mink fur to
consist of the straight guard hairs and the longer type of
the bent hairs. They are the hairs that the fur industry
calls the guard hairs (figure 1). Therefore I have con-
fined the guard hair measurements in this study to them.
It is not to be disregarded that the short bent hairs may
have effects of their own on quality.

Fur bearers shed twice yearly over a short period of
time in spring and fall. When all of the new hair has
fully grown, the skin appears white or cream-colored. The
fur is then said to be "prime." The hair roots themselves
become keratinized, stepping growth and holding the hair
firmly so that when handled it shows "life" and "spring"

- that is, the fibers spring back to their original posi-
tion after being moved. The fur is lustrous from the oily
secretions of the sebaceous glands (Maximow and Bloom,
1948). Prime pelts have firm, thick skin. The summer coat,
being short, Sparse, and not well-covered, is not of value

even when prime. The winter coat becomes prime in late

November or early December in the area of Michigan and
Wisconsin. It is at this time that ranchers do their cul-
ling and pelting, and the fur shows are held.

A detailed discussion of color mutations is beyond
the scope of this paper, but their role in the fur industry
and their relation to quality needs some clarification.

The wild mink is brown or dark brown with the underfur
varying from shades of brown to blue-gray. A half-inch
wide dorsal line has darker guard hair. The darker shades
of guard hair with the grayer underfur have been preferred
on the ranches, so that ranch-bred natural dark mink with
the wild coat pattern are considerably darker than wild
mink. Minor genes seem to be involved.

Since the earliest days of commercial ranching other
colors have appeared sporadically and been bred until now
at least eleven definite color mutations are known. These
mutation mink have made a tremendous impression on the
industry. Their high market value is due to their scarcity.
Breeding them is a financial speculation since there is
no way of knowing how a newly discovered color mutation
will be received by the market until it can be presented
in some quantity. While the mutation is still scarce,
poor quality is tolerated. Too often the method of breed-
ing has been to use all available homozygotes and hetero-
zygotes, a practice involving continued close (brother-
sister and parent-offspring) inbreeding without correspond-

ingly strong selection. As a result, quality in animals

showing color mutations is not considered to be good in
general, and other traits such as extreme nervousness and
low productivity have become established in certain strains.

The prices paid for dark pelts may not reach the
ninety and one hundred dollar per pelt high prices accorded
the mutations still scarce and desired, but they are con-
sistent. Overproduction has decreased the price of the
first marketed color mutation, the dilute Silverblu, to
below the cost of production for all but the very best
qualities among them. However, anyone fortunate enough to
produce some pelts of the double recessive, Sapphire, within
the next few years will certainly realize a profit. Breed-
ing stock of good Sapphires are selling for approximately
$1,000 at the present time (Tiley, 1950).

The mutation mink are of great glamour value, adver-
tising value, and general economic value to the industry.
Furthermore, they have made mink breeders more conscious
of genetics than is any other group of livestock men. The
genetics of the color mutations are fairly well understood.
Most breeders are somewhat familiar with the terms employed

and know how to use this information in their business.
Quality in Mink Fur

Let us now discuss the components of quality in some
detail. In the following account, it must be understood
that the pelt is prime and that homogeneity over the entire
pelt with reSpect to these factors is desired.

10.

Density. The underfur should be dense. An
underfur with many hairs per unit area will stand
more erect, is warmer, and looks and wears better.

Depth of Underfur. A medium long underfur is

 

desired, between a staple too short to wear well
and one so long as to look shaggy or stringy.
The extreme length of the fox fur has been un-
fashionable for several years.

Length of guard hair. The guard hairs should be

 

from one and one-third to one and one-half times
as long as the underfur. This length is considered
sufficient to protect or "veil" the underfur with-
out making the fur appear stiff and hairy.
Coverage. The coverage of the underfur by the
guard hair is a term that includes the general
appearance of the guard hair and its ability to
furnish adequate protection to the underfur. It
includes prOportionate length and numbers of guard
hairs, and balance with the density and depth of
underfur. Good coverage increases durability in
the garment, luster, richness, and ability to

shed water.

Texture. The diameters of both the underfur and

the guard hair should be fine within Specified
limits. The standard of texture is an example of
a change made by the entire industry. A few years

ago as small a diameter as possible was sought

11.

until it was found that such excessively fine-
textured furs would crush too easily.

6. 92123, The shade of the underfur should approach
slate gray rather than muddy brown. The gray
shade is often referred to as a "clear" or "bright"
or "blue" color. This distinction is easier to
demonstrate than to describe. The reason for
desiring a clear, grayish color is that such a
shade has richness and a clean, fresh Sparkle,
or reflective power, that diaplays to advantage
both the fur and the wearer of the garment. The
color is at its best as soon as the fur is prime
and seems to become duller thereafter. Some
breeders say that there is a "second primeness"
early in January when the color is again at its
peak. A white, rather than yellowish, gill (patch
of white on the underJaw) is said to be an indica-
tion of good underfur color.

7. Luster. Luster is also called sheen, or polish.
It results from the oily secretions of the sebaceous
glands and is important for the same reason that
a shining head of human hair is noticed and ad-
mired. Luster is normal in healthy, prime furs.

Because quality is the main determinant of pelt price,

it is of important economic consideration. Pelt prices are

dependent on the following factors: (1) Primeness. Prime-

 

ness is basic. The unprime pelt lacks in all of the factors

12.

of quality; it will not wear well or look well and is
likely to shed. The practice of selling unprime pelts,

no matter what the cause of death of the mink, is a detri-
ment to the mink business.

(2) Color mutations. The possession of a particular
color mutation may sometimes be very important in determin-
ing price. The market does not desire certain mutations
(as the albino or the blufrost). Some mutations have
been greatly oversupplied in poor quality fur (as the
silverblu). For some there is a small but steady demand
(as the dominant white). Some are in great demand at
present (for example, the Sapphire or the Breath-of-Spring
combinations)..

(3) General Size and condition of the pelt. The male
pelt, being somewhat larger, sells for a higher price,
although females are considered to possess a finer tex-
tured underfur. Singeing of guard hair tips, producing
reddish, rusty appearing tips by expose to light and
weather, is much penalized. Singed and scarred pelts are
common from wild mink. Most breeders keep their pelting
cages covered in the fall while the mink are priming.
Careless skinning and handling of the pelt of course
reduces the price.

(4) Quality. The components of quality are the main
factors in pelt price. The variation in price for the grades
of quality and the reasons for such variation have been

discussed.

13.

As much, or more, emphasis is placed on quality in
the selection of breeding stock. A particular color muta-
tion may sometimes, in the breeder's Judgment, eliminate
a mink or require its use. Breeding stock must also be
selected with some reference to its physical condition
(size, vigor, general health, and such "keeping" abilities
as temperament and food consumption), near relatives, and
reproductive ability (if older than one year). But these
factors are all secondary to the various factors influenc-
ing the quality of the fur. Since at the shows the mink
are divided into classes by sex and color mutation, show
Judging is based entirely on quality.

The problem, then, is to obtain quantitative measure-

ments for each of these components of quality.

14.

II. TECHNIQUES

Sampling

To develop a method of sampling fur was the first
problem and, as it turned out, the most difficult one to
solve. Several things had to be considered in the col-
lection of material. Sampling had to be accurate if the
results of individual measurements were to be valid. 0n
the other hand, the sampling and analysis could not involve
methods so time-consuming, or materials so unavailable, as
to eliminate their use on a large scale. Hence, the con-
trol of limits of error was considered more important than
absolute accuracy.

The cost of obtaining the number of pelts that would
have been required made that source of samples unavailable.
Furthermore, genetic research will involve the sampling of
living mink anyway; so samples taken from living mink were
used in the analysis. The sources and number of samples
are detailed in Table I. Those samples obtained in the
early Spring of 1949 were considered by breeders to be of
Just as good quality as those taken when the animal was
first prime, except for color.

In addition, three tanned pelts, which had been analyzed
by a Judge, and a raw pelt were used to make various explor-
atory measurements.

Several methods of sampling fur were tried. Methods
using either the calipers, a template, or clippers proved

satisfactory for sampling pelts.

15.

Calipers. The prongs of the calipers were set a known

 

distance apart (for example, five millimeters), and, using
them, the fur was parted at the skin, proceeding dorso-
laterally. The isolated fur section was held between two
glass Slides while the calipers were used to part it at a
right angle to the first part. A disSecting needle was
used to eliminate from the slides the fur outside the
points of the calipers. This procedure isolated a square
sample between the two slides. Dissecting scissors were
used to cut the sample as close as possible to the pelt.
Examination of the cut area showed it to be a good square.

Template. The second method of pelt sampling involves

 

a little more time. A template was constructed by cutting

a central Opening five millimeters square in a thin copper
plate. The c0pper plate was then mounted in a heavier
(brass) frame. A dorso-lateral part was made in the fur

at the level of the skin, and the Opening in the template
placed so that its anterior edge was on the part. Fur
originating from follicles within the area of the Opening
was drawn through the Opening by means of a pair of dissecting
needles. When as perfect a square stand of hair as possible
was isolated, the fibers could be clipped as before. The
objection to this method is that it is hard to avoid draw-
ing up hairs originating outside the area of the square;

it is sometimes difficult to Judge whether or not this

has been done.

16.

One advantage of either of the above methods is that
small enough samples are taken so that such detailed meas-
ures as counting guard hairs are possible.

Hair clippers. The third method employed involved

 

the use of ordinary hand hair clippers. A fine-toothed
comb, slightly dampened, was used to straighten the fur

in the area from which it was desired to take the sample.
The other end of the comb had been carbed to a point, and
this point was slipped crosswise next to the skin to give
a straight part. The hair clippers were laid on the part,
'and the sample was cut by proceeding anteriorly so that
the fur rode up on the clippers as it was cut and could be
placed directly in an envelOpe. The clippers left a
length of about one millimeter of fur with the Skin. Care
was taken to hold the clippers at an angle so they cut
uniformly close to the skin. After the clipping was made,
a short celluloid rule was used to measure the length of
the clipped area at both sides. The average of these two
measurements multiplied by the standard width of the clip-
pers (thirty-two millimeters in this case) gave the area
of the skin from which the hair sample was taken.

A g (wl + w2)/2 x 32 when wl and W2 are the two measured
lengths.

The use gf_the hair clippers was the only method found

 

to bg_feasible for living mink. Mink can not be held still

 

enough to use either the caliper or the template sampling

method. Furthermore, due to the small area sampled, by

17.

these methods there is too great a chance for inaccuracy.
When the hair clipper method is used on living mink, the
animal must be held firmly and stretched to a normal length
while the samples are clipped and the length of skin area
measured. The significance of the skin contractions that

a mink makes Just as he feels the rule touch the freshly
clipped area was not realized until too late. A measure-
ment taken at this time is considerably less than it should
be, resulting in a weight per unit area that is much too
great. More contraction seems to be possible on the side
than over the hip. Because of probable skin tension, the
weights of samples 4 side, 10 hip, 11 side, and 21 were
discarded.

It is perhaps not necessary to mention that drafts
and quick movements must be avoided, since they cause loss
of parts of an otherwise good sample. Loss of small por-
tions by drag from the surrounding fur must also be checked
by combing or close inSpection. Possible loss of fibers
was noted at the time of sampling; four samples were affec-
ted: 1 hip, 2 side, 3 hip, and 30 side.

Two samples were taken from each animal in what are
considered to be the choicest parts of the pelt - one sam—
ple on the side of the back to the right or left of the
mid-line (the side is usually checked in Judging living
mink), and one farther back over the hip (an area observed
when pelts are Judged). Breeders reported that the clipper
method of sampling did not disturb the subsequent behavior

18.

of the mink at all even though some of the samples were
taken when it was very cold weather and some during the
mating season. Clipped areas varied from 176 to 1136
square millimeters, the extremes being in the first group
of samples taken. It is felt that the sampling procedure
accounts for most of the errors in the analysis of an
animal. The main sources of error - Skin contractions and
small losses - could be nearly eliminated by care and
deliberateness in the sampling Operation.

Samples were put into individual envelOpes as they
were taken, and identification, color, sex, and age were
recorded on the envelope. The show Judge and the breeders
gave me statements about the quality of many of the animals.
While these statements are not as detailed as desired nor
extensively comparable from man to man, they will serve to
make comparisons and to check the validity of the measure-
ments.

The accuracy of an expert's grading for quality has
been demonstrated in wool studies. Grades of wool quality
are based mainly on fiber diameter, but the actual Spinning
prOperties include length, strength, elasticity, and lustre
as well (Duerden, 1927). Duerden (1927a) writes, "0n the
whole, woolmen are shown to be capable of closely conforming
to a standard diameter for each of the recognized qualities."
He goes on to show that the wool Judge can detect a differ-
ence of one micron in width, an amount that would account

for five percent of the width of a twenty micron wool fiber.

19.

W001 density is of much importance, and, according to
Spencer, Hardy, and Brandon (1928), "Specific tests have
proved that Judges who were thoroughly trained and exper-
ienced in the Judging of the density of fleeces were able
to render independent Judgments that agreed or correlated
to a relatively high degree." Hultz (1927) also agreed
that a Judge could tell the density of wool with accuracy.
There is no reason why the fur Judge should not be
equally competent in Judging the relative densities and
textures of furs. Furthermore, the value of a fur is as
much aesthetic as practical. Fur quality standards include
such things as balance, color, luster, and proportionate
length that are matters of appeal to the eye. The most
subtle differences may require an expert or detailed meas-
urements to detect, but the visual and tactile superiority
of the quality standards must be evident to be valid. To
breed for an underfur that measured somewhat bluer on a
SpectrOphotometer would be useless if that underfur did not
also appear bluer. That is to say, the measurements used
for research must correlate with what is desired by the
buyer. They must also render a Specific, accurate account
of exact fur quality variations in such a way that genetic
research can make quantitative studies using them to de-

termine gene action.

20.

Methods and Measurements Used

 

A number of measurements might be made on the fur.
S. G. Barker (1931) suggests physical, chemical, and geo-
metrical measures for use in wool studies. Fur quality
variations are mostly of a physical nature, so this study
was confined to geometrical measurements. Each component
of quality may be defined from a geometrical standpoint:

Density is the number of underfur fibers per unit
area. The relative influence of the number of guard hairs
should be considered.

Qgppp is the length of the underfur staple. Deep
crimps will shorten a longer fiber.

Texture is the diameter of the hairs, eSpecially of
the underfur fibers. Proximal guard hair width may also
be a factor.

"Length" is the ratio of the length of the guard hair
to the length of the underfur.

Coverage is somewhat indefinite; it appears to be a

 

result of the length of the guard hair beyond the underfur
staple, the number of guard hairs, the distal width of the
guard hairs, and even the relative density of the underfur.
9212£_1S the underfur shade, the grayer colors being
preferred to the brown, as previously discussed.
Luster is the reflection of light from the surface
of both underfur fibers and guard hair.
Such definitions indicated the selection of the fol-

lowing measurements:

21.

a. Weights of guard hair, underfur, and'total sample
weight as an indication of density. Actual count-
ing of hairs would not be practical or hardly
possible considering the large size of the samples.
Density, length, width, and mass per unit volume
of the hairs are the factors in determining weight.

b. Length of underfur as a gauge of depth, and pro-
portionate length.

0. Length of guard hairs to indicate the propor-
tionate length and coverage.

d. Width of underfur fibers as a measure of texture.

e. Width of guard hairs, both proximally and distally,
to determine their relation to texture and coverage.

f. Color of underfur.

The methods of analysis for each measurement are discussed
in detail in the following paragraphs. The length of time
required to analyze the average sample was about two hours.
Weights. Shackleford (1948) found that fat and dirt
constitute up to twelve percent of the weight of the hair.
He used a commercial detergent and an ether bath to clean
his samples. Hardy and Plitt (1940) used carbon tetra-
chloride. In this study each sample was given an individual
ether bath in a small glass container. While in the bath,
the fur was agitated with a pair of forceps - briskly, but
not enough to disarrange the sample. The sample was lifted

onto a glazed paper square to dry under a lamp.

22.

Fur samples were weighed on a chain balance to .001
gram. After the total sample weight had been recorded,
the guard hairs were separated from the underfur by using
two pairs of forceps, one to hold succeeding tufts of
underfur and the other to pull out the guard hairs. The
separate underfur and guard hair weights for each sample
were then taken. The weight was then calculated for the
standard area of one square centimeter, using the known
area of the sample, and the measured weight.

The operation of removing the guard hairs is laborious
(from fifteen to forty-five minutes per sample being re-
quired) and must be done carefully. Even at best some of
the bent guard hairs were left with the underfur, and some
underfur fibers clung to the guard hairs being removed.
This error is approximately constant in the samples. It
is felt that a better method would be to remove the guard
hairs before the ether bath, for their extraction would be
easier, quicker, and, probably, more accurate. Since the
guard hairs have less coherence, a little more care would
have to be taken in giving them the ether bath.

Lengths. Since the clippers leave a depth of approxi-
mately one millimeter of fur on the mink, all lengths listed
in the tables are that much less than if the sample could
have been cut at the skin. Plucking stretches or breaks
the hairs.

The length of twenty straight guard hairs from each

sample were measured with a steel rule using a white back-

ground and good light.

23.

The underfur length was obtained by measuring small
staples pulled from the sample with a pair of forceps.
Extraction must be done with a gentle, steady pull.

Widths. The diameters were measured with an ocular
micrometer at lOOX magnification. One unit of the ocular
micrometer measured .00091 mm. Since the units are standard
for all of the width measurements made in this study, they
were not changed to millimeters, but are presented in
ocular units.

Two measurements of diameter were made on each guard
hair - one proximally Just above where the hair clippers
had cut the sample (that is, the narrow part of the guard
hair), and one distally in the widest part of the hair.
Twenty hairs were selected at random to be measured and
were placed dry between two glass slides. The slides were
carefully pressed together to roll the guard hairs so that
their greatest diameter was measured.

Since the tip of the underfur fiber is variable in
diameter, the bases and tips of the fibers were clipped
off before placing them on the slide. The fibers were
covered with a cover slip. Twenty or more width measure-
ments per sample were made. The widths were taken on a
curving portion of the fiber where scaliness was well-
develOped.

92122, The underfur colors of the dark mink were
matched against the standards of Ridgway (1912). This

method is qualitative; it involves human appraisal. The

24.

G-E- Research Laboratory in Schenectady, New York, finds
that colors in the red—yellow end of the spectrum are
hardest to grade closely by eye. Their spectrophotometric
studies also Show that a person's Judgment of a certain
color varies from time to time. For this reason the color
measurements were done in as short a time as possible.

The results were checked by a second person as they were
made. Rechecking later confirmed the grading. Color
classification Should be done in bright outdoor light

but not in direct sunlight.

25.

III. RESULTS

An intensive study was made of two pelts (A and B)
to determine differences between different areas of the
same pelt. The caliper and template methods of sampling
were used. The results are shown in Table II. Some dif-
ferences were found between the two pelts. Pelt A, consid-
ered by the Judge to have better density and coverage
than pelt B, had greater numbers and weights of guard hair,
and greater weight of underfur for each area, with the ex-
ception of the underfur weights in the center shoulder and
center back regions. The underfur weight of pelt A de-
creased in every direction from the side of the back where
it was the greatest. The underfur weight on the side of
the hip and shoulder was deficient in pelt B also. The
weights and numbers of the guard hairs were the least on
the side of the hip in both pelts, the most in the center
of the shoulder region, except for greater weight in the
center back of the B pelt. Both numbers and weights of
the guard hairs were greater in the midline samples on both
pelts than in samples taken at the side of the midline in
corresponding locations. Both underfur and guard hair
weights were deficient, as would be expected, in the
posterior belly region.

Although the weights themselves cannot be compared,
the average hip and Side weights from the living mink
samples in Tables III and VII show the same deficiency for

26.

both underfur and guard hair weights from the hip region.

7 The differences are significant.

 

Weight in Grams/Sq.Cm. X 10,000

 

 

 

 

 

Weight of Underfur Guard Hair

Hip Side Hip Side
€X§§a§2mg§::) 16329.4 170212.? 6717.5 7315.7
Agggaggmgggggion 169312 . 4 178 a 9.8 691:4 . 3 80:5 .7
Total average 165t10.6 l73tll.7 6836.5 75:5.6

 

A , l
aXZ§§§gd Bamp es 162.5 175.8 64.4 73.1

 

 

 

 

 

Table III presents the average weights by breeders
for 180 samples from 90 animals. The overall average
weights are .0169:.OOl3 g. for the underfur, .0072310009 g.
for the guard hair, and .02411.0022 g. for the total, in
grams per square centimeter. Breeder A, whose mink have a
reputation for good density, has one Of the two highest
averages; Breeder G, with the other high average, donated
the samples from two mink that placed in the first ten
females at the fall Show. Various coefficients of correla-
tion were computed on the basis of Table III as a check on

variation in the sampling. The correlations are not high

but they are consistent.

27.

Correlation coefficients - Various weights per sq. cm. -
From Table III

 

Correlation between:

Underfur hip and guard hair hip = +.7l7
Underfur side and guard hair side . +.607
Underfur hip and underfur side a +.83O
Guard hair hip and guard hair side a +.7l6
Underfur average and guard hair average - +.570
Underfur average and total average - +.936
Guard hair average and total average a +.826

The relationship of sex and age to weight is shown
in Table IV. The underfur weights of the males of Breeder
D averaged .0014 gms./Sq.cm. more than the females, but no
sex difference was found with Breeder B's animals. These
were the only two breeders where the number and sex of the
animals were sufficiently evenly distributed to be checked.
Age did not appear to be a factor in the weights except
in the case of four four-five year old females from Breeder
D but the number of animals is too small to have any
significance.

Tables V, VI, and VII present the measurements obtained
for the hip and side samples of each animal completely
analyzed, together with such data as hip, side, and total
averages, standard deviations, range, and correlations of
underfur-guard hair and hip-side measurements. The average
of the underfur staple lengths, as computed from Table V is
12.9 t 1.00 mm. Hip samples average 12.6 1 1.24 mm. and

28.

side samples, slightly longer, average 13.2 i 1.07 mm.

The range was from 10 to 15 mm. Adding the l millimeter
left with the mink to these lengths gives a total underfur
depth average of 13.9 mm. on these mink, 14.2 mm. on the
side, 13.6 mm. on the hip. The average guard hair length
is 23.29‘t 2.202 mm. ranging from 15.5 to 30 mm. Hip and
side lengths were about the same. The ratio of the guard
hair to underfur length is listed in the table for each
sample and for the average, since this ratio is more im-
portant than the absolute guard hair length. The average
ratio of 1.80 seems high when it is remembered that a
ratio of 1.3 to 1.5 is desired by the Judge. However, com-
puting the ratio on the basis of the length as it would be
on the mink (that is, adding 1 millimeter to the lengths
in the table) gives a ratio of 1.74 and subtracting the

l millimeter guard hair tip that does not seem to be Ob-
served gives an average ratio of 1.68.

The average of the underfur diameters from Table VI
is 13.08 units 1 .38, or .0119 mm. with a range Of the
sample averages from 12 to 15 units. The proximal guard
hair width is approximately four times as great, being
55.04 i 3.42 units or .0501 mm. and ranging from 47 to 63
units. The distal, greatest guard hair width average of
143.15 I 6.02 has a range of 128.5 to 156 units and is
equivalent to .1303 mm. The differences in the diameters

between hip and side samples were negligable.

29.

The weights per square centimeter (equal to the known
weight X 100 and divided by the measured area in square
millimeters) for the analyzed samples are listed in Table
VII. The average underfur weight is .0167 t .0023 gms./Sq.cm.
Underfur weights range from .0113 (a hip sample) to .0223
(a side sample); guard hair weights vary from .0035 (a
hip sample) to .0098 (a side sample).

Table X relates these various measurements to the
age, sex, color, and breeder of the individual mink. The
guard hairs of the fourteen two-three year old mink samples
averaged 1.6 mm. longer than those of the thirty-two one
year old samples. Various breeders had mentioned that they
thought this would prove to be the case. Weights averaged
greater in the older mink also.

When the forty-six male samples were compared with
the twenty—two female samples, the male samples were found
to average .9 mm. longer underfur with a length ratio (length
Of guard hairs : underfur staple length) of 1.83. Female
samples were not as long, but the length ratio was better -
an average of 1.69. Male underfur and proximal guard hair
width was, as expected, coarser - 13.13 units as compared
with 12.98 units and 56.15 units as compared with 52.73
units respectively. Male sample weights were greater.

Comparing the stocks of breeders A, B, and C, we find
Breeder C's mink to have the longest average guard hair,
coarsest underfur and guard hair, and greatest guard hair

weight. The superior underfur weight of the samples from

30.

Breeder A was mentioned previously; these samples did not
have as wide a guard hair either proximally or distally as
the others. The wild mink was rather outstanding; he had
a good underfur length but the length ratio was 1.96.

Both his underfur and guard hair were very coarse in com-
parison with the other samples.

The samples secured at the fall show averaged 1.4
mm. shorter in both underfur depth and guard hair length.
Some were probably not completely prime, so that the hair
was still growing. Neither the underfur nor the guard
hairs were as wide as the average of the samples taken on
the ranches the previous Spring. The weights per square
centimeter were .0174 gm. for the underfur of the spring-
taken samples compared to an average Of .0156 gm. for the
fall samples.

The length ratio of the color mutation samples was
1.91; the diameters were somewhat less than the total
average diameters for all the samples.

Table XV records the coefficients of correlation
between various measurements for the completely analyzed
mink. The higher correlations were between underfur and
guard hair length - .733, underfur width and length - .607,
underfur length and weight of underfur - .602, guard hair
weight and proximal width - .779, and guard hair weight and
average width - .631.

Table VIII needs some explanation. The ten colors

it presents represent the range of the underfur colors

31.

among dark mink. Only those colors matching underfur
samples are listed. The prOportions of neutral gray,
black, and red compared to yellow are taken from Ridgway's
text explanation (1912) and are based on his color mixtures
and color wheel analyses for each color shade. Ridgway
started with a series of pure colors representing the var-
iations from red to orange, orange to yellow, and so on.
These he shaded with three different amounts of black and
tinted with three different amounts of white to obtain the
shades and tints of the pure colors. What he termed
"broken" colors were these pure colors and their shades

and tints dulled by the admixture of five different amounts
Of a neutral gray. NO "pure" colors, tints, or "broken"
colors with 32% gray added to the "pure" color were found
among the mink underfur colors; none were found with 100%
neutral gray - at least among the dark mink. Samples
matching colors with the smaller proportions of neutral
gray had darker shades. For example, shades in the 77%
gray, orange—yellow orange column with less than 70.5%
black are much too bright and brown to be within the range
of possible underfur colors. The proportion of red to
yellow in each color was listed in the table by considering
Ridgway's orange to be 50% red and 50% yellow. The two
columns under 77% gray and the three under 90% gray repre-

sent adJacent columns in Ridgway's charts.

32.
IV. COEFFICIENT OF DENSITY

The weight per unit of skin area of the sample is not
an absolute indication of its density. As illustrated by
the pelt samples in Table II, the weight does vary directly
with the number of guard hairs present. However, the weight
of a sample is dependent on the mass per unit volume, the
width (or diameter) of both underfur and guard hairs, and
the length of underfur and guard hairs, as well as on the
total number of guard hairs and underfur fibers in the
sample. Therefore, before the weight of the underfur or
guard hair of the sample area can be used as a measure of
the density of the underfur or guard hair of that sample,

a correction must be made for the fiber lengths and widths.
The assumption of equal mass per unit volume, at least

among the dark furs, must hold true if the following results
be valid.

The coefficient of density for an animal is the cor-
rected fur weight per square centimeter X 10,000 for the
sample or samples from that animal. The corrected fur
weights for the underfur, guard hair and total weights of
a sample were calculated from the measured weights per
square centimeter by adJusting them to an arbitrary stand-
ard of 13 mm. for underfur depth, 13 units for underfur
width, 24 mm. for guard hair length, and 100 units for the
average between the proximal and distal guard hair widths.

The develOpment of the correction formula for the underfur

follows:

33.

Let:

d - standard underfur fiber diameter; 13 units or
.0119 mm.

h : standard staple length; 13 mm. clipped

n : average number of underfur fibers/sq.cm. in all
samples
W : average weight of underfur/sq.cm.

m : mass per unit volume of underfur

dl : average underfur fiber diameter in the sample
being corrected
hl : average underfur length in the sample being

corrected

n1 : average number of underfur fibers/Sq.cm. in the
sample being corrected

underfur weight of sample being corrected/sq.cm.

E:
H
II

coefficient of density

>42:
n

The underfur fibers may be represented as a field of
cylinders. The form of a cross-section of an underfur
fiber is not known and may be oval rather than circular.
However, it is a reasonable assumption that if this should
be the case, the lesser diameter varies in prOportion to
the greater diameter, so that the effect of considering
the cross-section of an underfur fiber to be circular means
only a consistent over-correction. Further, the variation
in underfur fiber diameters is not great. There is some
doubt that it would be necessary, under field conditions,
to make a correction for diameter. Therefore the inter-
pretation of a single fiber as representing a cylinder is

not inaccurate.

34.

The aggregate weight of the fibers then is
(1) W': 11~(d/2)2 h m n for the standard, and

(2) W1;«n(dl/2)2 hl m n1 for the sample being corrected.

. w = fl(d/2)2Ah m n or
" ‘Wj 'wle/Q)‘h1 m n1

(3) fl._ denh n
W1. d1 hl n1

If d and h are each made constant, so that dlea : d2,

and hlb : h, then

w _ d2 h n
Wlab - d2 h ml 01"
(4) W. _ E_
Wlab n1
Wlab : Wx by definition, so

(5) W : Wkn/nl
Substituting w from (5) in (3)

(Win)/(Wlnl) ; (d2hn)/(d12hln1), and simplifying,
we have the Coefficient of Density
(6) w: = (Wldgh)/(d12hl)
By substituting the W1, d1, and hi values for a particular
sample and using the standard d and h values which are
constant, Wx may be found for any sample. The Coefficients
of Density for the hip and side samples of each animal are
presented in Table IX. Since the only variable between
the computed Wk '3 for succeeding samples is the number
of fibers, and since this variation is in direct prOportion
to the corrected weights, then Wx, the Coefficient of

Density, is a true measure of density.

to guard

35.

With slight changes we can adapt (6) to be applicable

d

hair densities. Let:

standard guard hair average diameter; 100 units
or .0902 mm.

standard guard hair length; 24 mm. clipped

average number of guard hairs/sq.cm. in all samples
average weight of guard hair/sq.cm.

mass per unit volume of guard hair

(p+d)/2 where p = average proximal guard hair
diameter and d 3 average distal guard hair diameter

for the sample being corrected

average guard hair length for the sample being
corrected

average number of guard hairs/sq.cm. in the sample
being corrected

guard hair weight of the sample being corrected/sq.cm.
Coefficient of Guard Hair Density

Guard hairs are oval in cross-section for most of

their length, it will be remembered, although their bases

and tips are circular. The validity of using formula (6)

for the Coefficient of Guard Hair Density, even though the

hair cross-sections are elliptical, is demonstrated by the

following

(3)

Area

Area

analysis:
of a circle : {Md/2)2

of an ellipse =‘NKd/2)(1/2), where d a greatest
diameter and l : least diameter

: 1P(d/2)(1/2)hmn/17(d1/2)(ll/2)h1mnl
1 d1 > 11

cd 11 : cdl
:’n(d°cd)hmn/T1d1°cd1)hlmn1 . or

W/Wl : d2hn/d12hq. The develOpment of the formula

36.

for the Coefficient of Guard Hair Density now follows that
for the underfur.

By substituting Wy for Wx, the Coefficient of Guard
Hair Density may be computed directly from (6). These
results are also presented in Table IX. The sum Wx-+'Wy
is the total weight coefficient given in columns three,
six, and nine of the table.

The average Coefficient of Underfur Density is
167.0'1 18.2; the range of the averages is from 135 to 213.
The average Coefficient of Underfur Density for the hip
samples is 163.8 1 20.5 and for the side samples is
172.2 1 25.8. The Coefficient of Guard Hair Density
averages 71.6 1 13.3 for the hip and side averages; the
range is from 52 to 106. The average for the hip samples
is 68.32? 14.3 and for the side samples is 77.1‘1 16.2.

As in the study of the pelts (see Table II for a summary)

the number of guard hairs was found to be less in hip samples.

37.

V. DISCUSSION

Density

To determine whether the Coefficient of Density is an
actual measure of underfur fiber number a comparison was
made with the breeders' and Judge's estimates that were
available (Table XI). The material is in two series: one
series consists of the animals from Breeder A, who gave
me statements regarding the comparisons of the seven ani-
mals, and the other is a series of the samples obtained
at the 1949 International Fox and Mink Show, and Judged,
for the most part, by one of the Show Judges, although the
comments for mink numbers 33 and 34 were by their breeder.
These appraisals are compared with the average weight of
underfur and total weight for that mink, with the Coef-
ficient of Density for the hip sample, side sample, higher-
ranking sample, and average sample, and with the coefficient
for the total weight of hip, Side and average sample. The
rank, R, immediately after a measure compares it with
others in its column, 1 being the highest weight or coef-
ficient in each series.

Comparison of the ranks derived from the various
measurements with the ranks (from 1 to 3 only) from the
comments of breeder and Judge shows the average Coefficient
of Density (that is, the average of the hip and side
underfur coefficients) to present the best agreement.

Animals 2, 3, 5, and 7 should rank the highest and, with

38.

the exception of 2, this is the case. The total average
coefficient (average of hip and side total coefficients) is
about as good in this series; the number 2 mink has a coef-
ficient only 6 and 3 points behind the mink (numbers 5 and
6) it should have outranked according to the breeder. In
the second series the Coefficient of Underfur Density for
the hip sample correSponds to the comments of the Judge
with the exception of mink 27, which should rank somewhat
higher, and possibly mink 33, which seems to be rated
too low by the hip sample alone. The average Coefficient
of Underfur Density presents a better agreement, with the
exception of mink 32 which should rate much higher and
would do so if the hip sample alone were considered. In
this series also the total average coefficient (last column)
gives nearly as good agreement with the verbal estimates.
The variation in the Coefficient of Density due to
age or sex is negligible (see Table X), leveling uncor-
rected weight differences due to factors other than density.
However, the relationship of the coefficient for the
underfur to the breeding of the mink and the color muta-
tions follows the expectation. Breeder A's samples and
those from the fall show are the highest, averaging 170.4
and 169.6 respectively. The average coefficient for the
samples from mutation mink is 163. The wild mink had a
poor density coefficient r 149. The more select group of
samples from the fall Show have a higher coefficient of

density.

39.

The Coefficient of Density computed by averaging the
hip and Side underfur coefficients for an animal seems to
provide a reliable indication of density. The variation
with the breeder-Judge statements in Table XI can be ex-
plained on the basis of possible inaccuracies of the com-
ments and on the sampling difficulties encountered, par-
ticularly with the side samples. In most cases the
coefficient agrees with the verbal statements. It is
felt that this measure of density is sufficiently refined
to permit breeding tests employing it. Samples should be
taken with eSpecial care as regards primeness of the fur,
location of the sample, and the measuring of the clipped

area while the skin is relaxed.
Texture

The underfur diameter as measured with the ocular
micrometer agreed very closely with the breeders' state-
ments with regard to the texture of their minks' underfurs.
The comparison is made in Table XII. A rank of 2 - that
is, between 12.75 and 13.25 units - is considered ideal
since neither an over-fine nor a coarse underfur is desired.

Breeds of sheep originating in Britain, which has a
cool, moist climate, have a greater wool diameter than
other breeds. It is probable that wild mink from different
areas have differing textures of underfur and that selec-
tion has already produced ranch mink that vary less with

reSpect to texture than some other traits.

“‘00

The relationship of texture to sex was previously
noted - females being of finer texture. The fall show
samples were also of finer texture than the samples ob-
tained in the spring. The only obvious reason for this is
that a breeder takes only those mink to a show which he
thinks are good enough to win. The coarseness of the wild
mink, number 12, was noted.

Guard hair proximal and average widths were added to
Table XII for comparison; they approximated the results
of the underfur measure, but with Some exceptions. Per-
haps the reason that animal 22 appeared coarse to the
breeder was because of the coarseness of the guard hair
widths, and mink 7 with a coarse underfur appeared finer
because of the fineness of the proximal guard hair width.

The use of the underfur diameter to measure texture

seems to be valid.

Depth

The ruler gives a quick and accurate measure of
underfur staple length. The longer staple is more desired.
A clipped staple length of 13.5 mm. or more is considered
very good. The comparison of the staple length with the
breeders' and Judge's statements is made in Table XIII.
Mink 27, 28, 29, and 34 had too short a staple length; the
measurement shows this better than does the Judge's statement.
The samples obtained in the fall, the mutation mink

samples, and the samples from the females, in particular,

L1'1.

were shorter on the average (Table X). The average staple
length for females was 12.3 mm. clipped, while male samples

averaged 13.2 mm.

Length Ratio and Coverage

 

The second half of Table XIII compares the length
ratios with the breeders' and Judge's statements. It will
be recalled that about one millimeter of hair is left on
the skin when the sample is secured, and that the breeder
does not include the very fine tip of the guard hair in
estimating the length ratio, as we have in the measurements.
These ratios agree with the statements of Breeders A and I
and the wild mink 12, but not with Breeder B. It appears
that desirable clipped length ratios are 1.75 or less.
Mink l, 5, and 34 seemed most desirable in this reSpect.
As was previously discussed, the length ratios for the
females averaged much better (1.69) than for the males (1.83).
The undesirable ratio of 1.91 for the mutation mink was
expected on the basis of general comments by various mink
breeders. 0n the whole, the length ratio as calculated in
this paper seems to be a very satisfactory measure.

Results of measurements for coverage are the most
inadequate of any of the measures. In the first place,
coverage is an all-inclusive concept. Since coverage em-
bodies something of length ratios, numbers and, probably,
texture of guard hairs, it is not surprising that the un-

corrected weight means about as much as the Coefficient of

42.

Guard Hair Density. Furthermore, balance with the underfur
density is involved. Length might compensate for lack of
guard hair numbers up to a certain point. There can be

too much coverage. Further work needs to be done to de-
termine what measures for coverage may be employed in the

breeding program.
Color

The use of the color chart to grade underfur colors
appears to be superior to the measurement of an individual
by eye alone unless the possessor of the eye is not only
very expert but is working under very constant conditions.
The color chart gives both an accurate and a precise rating.
The color measurements are listed in Table XIV, together
with any statements about the color of that animal. The
ten colors over which the samples range are described in
Table VIII.

There are probably two pigments that influence mam-
malian hair color (Russell, 1946, and Shackleford, 1948);
one is a yellow-red pigment and the other a brown-black
melanin pigment. Difficulty of extraction (particularly
of the latter pigment) has prevented confirmation of this
theory, but most workers accept it on the basis of gross
Observation, histological studies, work with Dros0phila
and Habrobracon, and bleaching and extraction tests. Greater
concentration of the yellow (phaeomelanin) granules produces
red pigmentation; brown varies to black depending on the

number and arrangement of the brown-black granules.

43.

The variation from yellow to red can be traced directly
with the mink underfur samples. Perhaps a relatively re-
duced number of brown-black melanin granules coupled with
the reflection of light from the underfur cuticle produces
the gray color. Certainly any sample appears grayer in
good light.

The relative prOportions of neutral gray - color,
black, and yellow-red in the matched colors each condition
a separate effect on the underfur color. Shades with the
most gray are the most desired, and within that range,
the Shades with prOportionately more yellow than red are
considered best. Within any single vertical column of
Table VIII, darkness is preferred. Increasing the prOpor-
tion of neutral gray in the underfur of a dark mink de-
creases the much discredited brown-ness. An increased
prOportion of black while providing darkness, also grays
the color somewhat; for example, the fuscous underfur Shade
with 87.5% black is much superior in tone, to the cinnamon
drab with none, though both have the same prOportions of
gray and yellow. The ratio of yellow to red determines
shade and quality; underfur colors with a high proportion

of yellow are preferred.

44.

 

Poor Color

Better Color

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PrOp. Deter-
of mines:
Prop. Color Judged PrOp. Color Judged
brown- 58% VanDyke muddy 90% clove
gray ness gray brown poor, gray brown medium
dark- 45% benzo light 70.5% good
blaCk ness black brown Slate black fuscous(slate)
shade 4 % d
and O dusky past 54.5%
yellow quali- yellow drab prime yellow fuscous good
ty
On this basis we may establish a hierarchy of color
values with a rank of 1 indicating the most desirable

colors, and with colors listed by value within the rank:

 

Mouse gray

Hair brown

Fuscous

 

Benzo brown

 

Cinnamon drab

Dusky drab

 

Bone brown

 

Van Dyke brown

Rood's brown

Clove brown 2

 

)2.

2".

3.

4.

45.

Grading of the underfur even in good light presents
some difficulties when samples must be compared to the
flat tones of colors reproduced on paper, due to the con-
siderable reflection from the scales of the cuticle. View-
ing the underfur by direct light under magnification em-
phasizes this reflection. Also, since the various scales
in Ridgway are separated by a number of pages of other
shades, it was difficult to make close comparisons quickly.
Accordingly, figure 3 was set up to provide a descending
scale Specifically for use with the range of underfur

color shades in the dark mink.

Application of Quality Measurements to Genetic Research

The quantitative measurements of density, texture,
depth, and length ratio, and the qualitative measurement
of color prove to be satisfactory indices of these components
of quality. They provide a Specific and accurace account
of the exact nature of the variations, so that they are
suitable for genetic research.

The measures may be used singly or as part of an index
of quality when some emphasis on balance between traits or
selection for a composite of traits is desired. A possible

index of quality might be:

46.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect
Factor Standard Score
Coefficient of Density above 167; partic- 40
(underfur average) ularly above 177
Depth 13.5 mm. or more, 15
clipped sample
Length Ratio 1.75, clipped, or less 15
Texture 12.75 to 13.25 units 10
(.0116 to .012 mm.)
Color (of underfur - mouse gray, 20
not mutation) hair brown
Total Quality 100

 

It is felt that when sampling is carefully done with

reSpect to location of sample, completeness of sampling,

and measurement of area sampled, and when the measurements

are carefully made, the measures are as accurate as an

expert's grading.

They cannot compete, however, with the

efficiency of the Judge from the standpoint of time involved.

Continued use of the measures will reveal short cuts that

may be made (such as removing the guard hairs before the

ether bath) and perhaps some measures or computations that

may be eliminated (such as the underfur diameter) or done

more rapidly in another manner so they will be more widely

useful.

But, the Specific measures of each component of

quality are necessary to genetic research, even though

somewhat time consuming.

47.

With the use of the measures, uniformity over the
pelt may be studied and any desired emphasis made. Wool
Judges, according to Hultz (1927), depend on density, crimp,
and diameter more than on lengths or uniformity. It appears
that the mink Judge reacts primarily to color, density, and
length ratio. Uniformity, though desired, receives little
attention; it is very important even if the area of the
best fur only is to be viewed or sampled since areas as
close as one or two centimeters can vary significantly
in density and lengths.
. The use of quality measurements in connection with
the breeding program on the mink ranch would make possible
the following: a) more accurate grading than many ranchers
are capable of performing; b) the use of Specific grade
variations to designate an animal; c) exact comparison of
an individual mink or ranch with the quality of fur produc-
tion for the industry as a whole; d) a chance to breed for
a certain trait without confusion with other traits or
to breed for an aggregate of traits; e) proved sires and
dams for extended use; f) use of detailed production records
over a period of years; and g) comparison of hereditary
and environmental effects. Without definite measurements
such things can be done only roughly or not at all.

Various factors suggest themselves for further study
on their relationship to quality and measurements of quality:

1. The effect of the bent guard hairs.

2. The relation of the guard hair tip length to "rusti-

ness" and length ratio.

48.

Determination of the measures that will provide

a satisfactory measure of coverage.

The effect of proximal and distal guard hair
widths.

More detailed knowledge of variations in quality
in different Skin areas of the animal.

The effect of the oil in the coat and of the
cuticle on luster.

Relation of the crimps in the underfur to density.
Causes of the underfur color variations in one
mink at various times and between mink.

Effect of time of sampling on the various measure-

ments of quality.

49.

VI. CONCLUSIONS

Quantitative measurements can be used to Judge mink

fur quality.

Such measurements are necessary to provide indices of
the exact nature of the various components of fur
quality for study of the inheritance of quality.
Samples of fur can be taken from living mink with speed
and accuracy using hair clippers and measuring the

area sampled. The location of the Sample and the pos-
sible contraction of the skin during measurement of

the clipped area must be watched.

The Coefficient of Density presents an accurate measure
of density. The formula for its computation involves
correcting the weight of a sample for width and length
variations. The coefficient obtained by averaging the
hip and side sample underfur coefficients provides the
best measure of density for a particular animal.

Length of staple measures depth.

PrOportionate length ratio can be measured accurately
and quickly.

Underfur fiber diameter, supplemented by consideration
of proximal guard hair width, measures texture.

A scale of ten color grades provides an accurate method

of measuring underfur color.

50.

VII. REFERENCES

Barker, S. G. 1931. Wool Quality. 333 pp. H. M. Station-
ery off. London.

Conant, James, and Blatt, Albert. 1947. The Chemistry of
Organic Compounds. 3rd edition. 665 pp. MacMil-
lan Co., New York.

Duerden, J. E. 1927. Studies of Sheep and Wool. Science
Bull. 59, U. of S. Africa, Dept. of Agri., Pre-
toria.

. 1927a. Standardization of Quality Numbers
of Grease Wools. S. African Jour. of Sci. 25:
303 - 309-

Duerden, J. E., and Bosman, V., 1928. Crimps and Quality
Estimation of Grease Wools. S. African Jour. of
Sci. 25: 310 - 312.

 

Hardy, T. P., and Hardy, J. 1942. Types of Fur Fibers.
Jour. of Hered. 33: 191 - 199.

Hardy, T. P., and Markley, M. 1944. A MicrOSOOpic Study
of Coat Variations in White New Zealand and
Angora Rabbits. Jour. of Hered. 35: 182 - 192.

Hardy, J., and Plitt, T. 1940. An Improved Method for
Revealing the Surface Structure of Fur Fibers.
Wildlife Cir. 7, U.S.D.I., Washington, D. C.

Hultz. 1927. Wool Studies with Rambouillet Sheep. U. of
. Wyoming Bull. 154, Laramie.

Maximow, A., and Bloom, W. 1948. The Skin: Hairs. In
A Textbook of Histology, 5th edition, pp. 335 -
340. W. B. Saunders Co., Phil. & London.

Ridgway, R. 1912. Color Standards and Color Nomenclature.
A. Hoen & Co.

Russell, E. S. 1946. A Quantitative Histological Study
of the Pigment Found in the Coat Color Mutants of
the House Mouse I Variable Attributes of the
Pigment Granules. Genetics 31: 327 - 346.

Shackleford, R. M. 1948. The Nature of Coat Color Dif-
ferences in Mink and Fox. Genetics 33: 311 -

336.

51.

Spence, D. A., Hardy, J., and Brandon, Mary. 1928. Factors
that Influence Wool Production with Range Ram-
bouillet Sheep. U.S.D.A. Technical Bull. 85,
Washington, D. C.

Tiley, T. 1950. Personal communication.

ID

5 .

llllllLUllllllll

I

41

I

.4

I

2|

j

 

Ullllllllflllllflllll1111111

Whmchnnfl'

 

 

I PELT SECTIONS. 2X. Sections 2mm. X 10mm.

Ratings by Judge: A B C
Texture fine fine fine
Guard hair/Underfur short medium long
Color of Underfur med. slate light slate muddy brown
Coverage fair poor good
Density good fair good

Most of the above differences can be seen, particularly
the variation in density. Note also the division of the

fur into underfur and different types of guard hairs.

 

 

53.

 

 

‘ —.—_— —.— ._ _ V

II ArRANGEMENT OF FIBERS AND HAIRS IN THE FOL‘ICLE

A - K are sections of skin dissected from pelts and each
containing one fol icle with its hairs. A range from the
straight gu rd hair to the crimped underfur fiber may be
seen. Not more than one guard hair is found to a follicle.
A -— straight guard hair, coming singly fr0w its follicle

B,C,D,E -- straight guard hairs with accompanying under-
fur fibers in the same follicle

F -- bent guard hair accompanied by underfur fibers
G,H -- shorter bent guard hairs and underfur fibers

I,J -- very short bent guard hairs accompanied by many
underfur fibers

K -- underfur fibers in a follicle with no guard hair

 

 

 

54.

 

 

 

 

 

RANK OF NAIE CF COLOR SAVPLE
DESIRABILITY (from Ridgway)
Mouse gray I
1', _
1 Hair brown '
Fuscous I
Benzo brown '
2
Cinnamon drab Ill
2- Dusky drab I
Clove -.~rown -
3
Bone brown .
Van Dyke brown ‘II
4

Rood ' s brown -

FIGURE III. RAE-TOE OF UIIDERFUR COLORS IN DARK MIWK

 

 

Fur samples taken from live mink. The rank of
”1” indicates the shades most desired. Samples
are arranged in order of desirability within the

rank. See text and Table VIII.

55.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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TABLE IV

58.

Relationship of Sex and Age to Average Weights of Table III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I. Sex Averages Of
Breeder Number Sex Underfur Guard Hair Total
D 7 male 169 74 243
dark
10 female 155 76 231
average 157 73 230
B
mutation 14 male 182 76 258
11 female 179 76 255
average 180 76 256
11. Age Averages Of
Breeder Number Age Underfur Guard Hair Total
D 6 1 yr 163 74 237
dark
‘7 2-3 yrs 165 75 240
4 4-5 yrs 149 79 228
average 157 73 230
B 12 1 yr 184 73 257
mutation
l3 2 yrs 175 79 254
average 180 76 256
c 14 1 yr 172 71 243
dark
6 2-3 yrs 172 73 245
average 172 71 243

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE V
Fiber Length Averages

\

 

Recorded in millimeters: samples clipped at one millimeter above skin: underfur is

staple length: guard hair length is average of twenty typical, random—selected fibers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hip Samples Side Samples Average - Hip and Side

Animal Underfur Guard Hair . Underfur Guard Hair Underfur Guard Hair
Ratio Ratio . Ratio

Staple Length Staple Length Staple Length
1 14 mm. 24 mm. 1.71 14 mm. 24 mm. 1.71 14 mm. 24 mm. 1.71
2 13 23 1.76 13 22 1.69 13 22.5 1.73
3 12 21 1.75 13 22 1.69 12.5 21.5 1.72
4 13 25 1.92 14 25 1.78 13.5 25 1.85
5 13 22 1.69 14 22 1.57 13.5 22 1.62
6 14 24.5 1.75 14 24.5 1.75 14 24.5 1.75
7 13 24 1.84 13 24 1.84 13 24 1.84
8 13 23 1.76 12 23 1.91 12.5 23 1.84
9 11 24 2.1 13 24 1.84 12 24 2.00
10 13 23 1.76 13 22 1.69 13 22.5 1.73
11 13 20 1.53 13 20 1.53 13 20 1.53
l2 15 27 1.80 14 30 2.14 14.5 28.5 1.96
l3 12 21 1.75 12 20 1.60 12 20.5 1.70
14 12 21 1.75 13 21 1.60 12.5 21 1.68
l5 12 24 2.00 12 24.5 1.88 12.5 24.25 1.94
16 13 22.5 1.73 13 23.5 1.80 13 23 1.76
17 13 23.5 1.80 13 23 1.76 13 23.25 1.78
l8 13 23 1.76 13 24 1.84 13 23.5 1.80
19 14 26 1.85 15 25.5 1.70 14.5 25.75 1.77
__20 13 25 1.92 13 24 1.80 13 24.5 1.88
21 ll 25 2.27 13 26 2.00 12 25.5 2.12
22 13 26.5 2.03 14 26 1.85 13.5 26.25 1.94
23 13 27 2.07 13 24.5 1.88 13 25.75 1.98
24 12 26 2.16 13 22 1.69 '12.5 24 1.92
25 12 22 1.83 13 23 1.76 12.5 22.5 1.80
26 13 23 1.76 14 25 1.78 13.5 24 1.77
27 11 19.5 1.77 11 20 1.81 11 19.75 1.79
28 12 21 1.75 13 21.5 1.65 12.5 21.25 1.70
29 12 20.5 1.70 13 22 1.69 12.5 21.25 1.70
30 13 24 1.84 15 27.5 1.83 14 25.75 1.83
31 13 22.5 1.73 13 24 1.84 13 23.25 1.78
32 12 21 1.75 14 23 1.64 13 22 1.69
33 12 25.5 2.12 15 26 1.73 13.5 25.75 1.90
34 11 20 1.81 10 15.5 1.55 10.5 17.75 1.69
Average 12.6 23.2 13.2 23.3 12.9 23.29 1.80
6 £1.24 t2.43 tl.O7 $2.97 11.00 t2.2O
Range (ll-15) 1(19.5—27) (IO-15) (15 5—30)
Coefficient of correlation between guard hair hip and guard hair Side length: +—.52l
underfur hip and underfur Side staple: 4'.606

 

 

 

 

 

 

-fiw—

 

 

:uV

 

 

TABLE VI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diameters of Underfur and Guard Hair
(in ocular units. 1 unit is equal to .00091 mm.)
Hip Samples Side Samples Average - Hip and Side
Animal 32;- P Guard Hair 33}- Guard Hair g2;_ Guard Hair
fur 1831- Distal Aggg— fur £531" Distal Aggg— fur Efigf’ Distal Aggg-
l 13 63 143 103 13 55 135 95 13 59 139 99
2 13 53 146 100 13.5 59 156 108 13.25 56 151 103.5
3 12 54 140 97 12 53 140 97 12 53.5 140 97
4 13 55.5 128.5 92 l5 51 133 92 14 53.25 130.75 92
5 14 50 145 98 13 58 145 102 13.5 54 145 99.5
6 13 55 139 97 13 56 140 98 13 55.5 139.5 97.5
7 13 49 142 96 14 52 143 98 13.5 50.5 142.5 96.5
8 13 53 136 95 12 50 135 93 12.5 51.5 135.5 93.5
9 13 52 139.5 96 13 47 139.5 93 13 49.5 139.5 94.5
10 12.5 57.5 148 103 13.5 59.5 155 107 13 58.5 151.5 105
11 13 54 151 103 13 50 148 99 13 52 149.5 101
12 14 61 152 107 14 63 155 109 14 62 153.5 108
13 13.5 51.5 138 95 13 49.5 139 94 13.25 50.5 138.5 94.5
14 13.5 57.5 145 101 13 56 140 98 13.25 56.75 142.25 99.5
15 12.5 56 139.5 98 13 58 145 101.5 12.75 57 142.25 99.5
l6 l3 54 140 97 13 56 138 97 13 55 139 97
17 13.5 59.5 142.5 101 13.5 59 144 101.5 13.5 59.25 143.25 101
18 13 58 144 101 13.5 61 150 105.5 13.25 59.5 147 103
19 13.5 62 155 109 13 62.5 156 109 13.25 62.25 155.5 109
20 13 54 7144.5 99 13 54.5 149 102 13 54.25 146.25 100.5
21 13 55 139 97 13.5 54 145.5 100 13.25 54.5 142.25 98.5
22 13 61 149.5 105 13 57 155 106 “13 59 ~ 152.25 105.5
__g3_ 13 60 142 96 12.5 58.5 141 100 12.75 59.25 141.5 100.5
24 13.5 53 137 95 13 52 138 95 13.25 52.5 137.5 95
25 12 54 137 96 13 53 144 99 12.5 53.5 140.5 97
26 13.5 56 133 95 13.5 55 135 95 13.5 55.5 134 95
27 13 56 142 99 13 54 137 96 13 55 139.5 97
28 13.5 48 141 95 13 48 142 95 13.25 48 141.5 95
29 12,5 55 145 100 13 55 145 100 12.75 55 145 100
30 12.5 57 149 103 13 57 150 104 12.75 57 149.5 103
__31 13 53 149 101 13 51 152 102 13 52 150.5 101
_g32 12.5 53 137 95 13.5 57 138 98 13 55 137.5 96
33 13 56 133 95 12.5 53 137 95 12.75 54.5 135 95
34 13 52 150 101 13 50 149 100 13 51 149.5 100
Average 13.03 55.25 142.41 99.54 13.13 54.84 143.94 98.85 13.08 55.04 143.15 99.1
6 $.44 *4.68 :59 353.90 ~1238 £3.42 “36.02 124.04
Range (124) (483) (12555 (1253 (4733 (11563

 

 

Coefficient of

correlation between guard hair hip average and gua

roximal and distal width avera % :

guard hair 5
un

rd hair sid

e
average w idtg:
h

erfur hip and underfur side wi

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60.

 

 

 

TABLE VII
Weights of Analyzed Samples
(recorded in grams per square centimeter X 10,000)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hip Samples Side Samples Average - Hip and Side
Animal Underfur Guard Hair Total Underfur Guard Hair Total Underfur Guard Hair Total
1 146 58 205* 161 62 223 154 60 214
2 182 62 244 174 74 248* 178 68 246
3 132 56 188* 189 71 260 189 64 260
4 145 46 191 # # # 145 46 191
5 177 48 225 217 76 293 197 62 259
6 175 65 240 205 65 270 190 65 255
7 181 81 262 214 68 282 198 75 273
10 # # # 145 55 200 145 55 200
__11 146 51 197 # # # 146 51 197
12 194 75 269 190 91 281 192 83 275
13 150 35 185 178 66 244 164 51 215
14 144 65 209 173 81 254 159 73 232
15 143 55 198 151 68 219 147 62 209
16 213 76 289 212 64 276 213 70 283
17 176 73 249 156 69 225 166 71 237
18 154 72 226 163 71 234 159 72 231
19 206 69 275 198 72 270 202 71 273
20 157 58 215 154 60 214 156 59 215
21 212 68 280 # # # , 212 68 280
22 162 92 255 151 75 226 157 84 241
23 175 92 267 165 98 263 170 95 265
24 151 55 206 223 87 310 187 71 258
25 129 57 186 161 70 231 145 64 209
26 169 61 230 154 59 213 162 60 222
27 143 63 206 161 71 232 152 67 219
28 172 76 248 188 94 282 180 85 265
_*29 186 84 270 186 82 268 186 83 269
__30 166 61 227 * * * 166 61 227
31 113 44 157 195 75 270 154 60 210
32 149 69 218 161 66 227 155 68 223
33 139 64 203 200 94 294 170 79 249
34 150 66 216 117 65 182 134 66 200
Average 162.5 64.4 226.9 175.8 73.1 248.9 167.0 67.3 235.7
6 $23.2 $11.3 $31.9
Range (113213) (35-92) (539$ (1172é3) (55—98) (1%55 (134213) (46-95) (13%;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Not good sample ~ sampling poor or loss.
# Weight not recorded — much too great from skin tension or measurement error.
Coefficient of Correlation between underfur average and guard hair average: 4..462

.19

 

 

 

61.

 

 

   

62.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Coefficients of Density

TABLE IX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hip Samples Side Samples Average - Hip and Side
Animal
Underfur Guard Hair Total Underfur Guard Hair Total Underfur Guard Hair Total
1 136 55 191 150 69 219 143 62 205
2 182_ 65 247 161 71 232 172 68 240
3 168 68 236 222 82 1_ 304 195 74 269
4 145 52 197 # # # 145 52 197
5 153 55 208 202 80 282 178 68 246
6 163 66 229 190 65 255 177 66 243
7 181 88 269 185 71 __ 256 183 80 263
10 # # # 135 52 187 135 52 187
11 146 58 204 # # # 146 58 204
12 145 58 203 152 61 213 149 60 209
13 151 44 195 193 90 283 172 67 239
14 145 73 218 173 96 269 159 85 244
15 ._ 168 57 225 151 65 216 160 61 221
16 213 86 299 212 70 282 213 78 291
17 163 73 236 145 70 215 154 72 226
18 154 74 228 151 64 215 153 69 222
19 177 54 231 172 57 229 175 56 231
20 157 57 214 154 58 212 156 58 214
__22 162 76 238 140 62 202 151 69 220
23 175 89 264 179 96 275 177 93 270
24 152 56 208 223 105 328 188 81 269
25 164 67 231 161 75' 236 163 71 234
26 157 71 228 133 63 196 145 67 212
27 169 79 248 190 92 282 180 86 266
28 173 96 269 188 116 304 181 106 287
29 218 98 316 186 89 275 202 94 296
30 180 57 237 * * * 180 57 237
31 113 46 159 195 72 267 154 59 213
__32 175 87 262 139 72 211 157 80 237
33 151 67 218 187 96 283 169 82 251
34 177 78 255 152 101 253 165 90 255
Average 163.8 68.3 232.1 172.2 77.1 249.3 167.0 71.6 238.6
6 $20.5 r14.3 1:25.8 ‘t16.2' t18.2 -t13.3 :27.7
Range (113218) (44~98) (3785 (139gé3) (52—116) (3285 (135213) (52-106) (18%;

 

 

 

poor or loss when taken.

* Not good sample — sampling

# Weight not recorded ~ much

Coefficient of correlation between underfur big find underfur side corrected weig%%: +-.§§
. z + .
ht: + .

too great from skin tension or measurement error.

guar
underfur average and guard ha

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66.

TABLE XII

Underfur Texture

 

 

Underfur width average units: 13.08 Z .38

 

 

 

Underfur: Width Rank
12 to 12.5 1
12.6 to 13.4 2
13.5 to ---- 3

 

Guard Hair Width Comparison
Proximal Average Units: 55.04 t 3.4
Total average units: 99.10 t 4.04

 

Width Rank
Guard Hair: Proximal - 51.4 to 58.4 2
Total - 95 to 103 2
Above for either 3
Below for either 1

Under- Guard Hair Width

Animal Breeder Comment Rank fur nk rox- '
Width imal Rank Total Rank

ne
ne
e
me um
fine
me um
ne
ne
me um
coarse
no
me um
coarse
ne
0
e

 

67.

TABLE XIII

Breeders' Judgments and Length Measurements

 

Underfur depth
clipped staple length
average - 12.9 mm t 1.0
(Table v)
The longer staple is

Length Ratio - Guard Hair to
Underfur: average - 1.80 (see
text)
ratios approaching 1.5 are
considered more desirable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

more desirable (Table V)
Underfur Depth Length Ratio
Animal 001;;th A
Breeder Eggifie Breeder Ratio gigggge
1 A good 14 short + 1.7 24
2 A good 13 short 1.73 22.5
3 A good 12.5 short 1.72 21.5
‘4 A good 13.5 medium 1.85 25
5 A good 13.5 short 1.62 22
6 A good 14 short + 1.75 24.5
7 A good 13 short 1.84 24
12 B good 14.5 long 1.96 28.5
21 B good 12 short 2.12 25.5
22 B good 13.5 medium 1.94 26.25
23 B good 13 short 1.98 25.75
27 Judge* short 11
28 Judge - not too good 12.5
29 Judge too short 12.5
30 Judge good 14
32 Judge good 13
33 I very deep 13.5 3838 1.90 25.75
34 I medium deep 10.5 right 1.69 17.75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of Judges at fall Michigan show where these samples
were taken.

68.

TABLE XIV

Breeders' Statements and Underfur Color

 

(For composition of colors, see Table VIII)

Dark mink only were measured. A rank of 1 (see figure III)
indicates the better colors.

Statement of Color

Time
Animal
Sampled Verbal Rank

Measurement

ri ood clove brown
0 c ove rown
o scous
a ,
brid cinnamon drab
me um c ove rown c oses
o scous
o scous
o enzo rown

hair brown
0 s rown
one rown

benzo brown
mouse
scous
one rown
us ra
scous
one rown
r 0 mouse
scous

90399939399939)

ex ra r ,
st rime dus drab
ex ra r ,
ood hair brown
me um s
ood hair brown
s enzo ro
an e rown

 

69.

TABLE XV
Coefficients of Correlation

 

of Measurements of the Analyzed Samples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A. Underfur Measurements Correlated Correlation
Fiber width and length +.607
Weight and fiber width +.537
Weight and fiber length +.602
B. Underfur Measurements Correlated Correlation
and
Guard Hair .Underfur length and guard hair
length +.733
Underfur width and guard hair
proximal width +.l71
Underfur weight and guard hair
proximal width +3780
Underfur weight and guard hair
weight +.462
C. Guard Hair Measurements Correlated Correlation
Guard hair length and proximal
width +.54l
Guard hair length and average
width +.335
Guard hair weight and length +.232

Guard hair weight and proximal
width +.779

Guard hair weight and average
width 4.631

 

 

 

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