ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CONFORMATION TRAITS IN BLUE FOX (ALOPEX LAGOPUS L.)

The present work aims at the analysis of the factors that influence animal size and fur quality in blue fox (Alopex lagopus L). The data proceeds from a breeding farm situated in central Poland and concerns three years. The analysis of variance indicates statistically significant effect of the year of birth on animal size, fur quality and colour purity. The birth term had no statistical influence on the analysed traits. Animal sex had significant influence on the following traits: animal size, fur quality and total score. The interactions between year and animal sex, year and date of birth, as well as animal sex and the date of birth did not have statistically significant effect on the measured traits. Estimated phenotypic correlations in the analysed herd ranged from negative to positive. The highest correlations occurred between fur quality and total score (0.800), while the lowest between animal size and fur quality (-0.600). The foxes from the analysed breeding farm were characterised by good parameters of fur and are good breeding material.