Scorpion is one of the most valuable fur animals in the world, known for its omnivorous diet and ease of availability. A single female can give birth to 6 to 14 offspring per litter, and with extended artificial breeding and domestication, the population can grow year by year. This necessitates careful selection and breeding practices to ensure a high-quality population.
First, weight selection is crucial. When choosing crickets, it's best to select those bred before May. Avoid purchasing older breeders, as they may have been retired from production due to various issues, such as being injected with melatonin or suffering from health problems. To identify whether a breeder is young or old, check their body weight, the shape of their fingers, age-related growth patterns, and skin tightness. Young crickets (bred ones) typically weigh around 3.5 to 4.8 kg in August and September, while in November, males may reach 6 to 9 kg and females 5 to 8 kg. If the weight is too low, the animal may not be suitable for breeding. Additionally, observe the behavior, eating habits, and waste to detect signs of previous vaccinations or diseases like biting disease. It’s important to combine all these factors when deciding on introduction or retention.
When selecting cubs born in a given year, three stages are recommended:
1. **Primary Selection Stage**: In May and June, during the weaning period, select based on weight, coat color, litter size, and growth rate.
2. **Re-selection Stage**: In late August and September, increase the number of selected individuals by about 20–25% to eliminate excess during box selection. Keep only the best for further evaluation.
3. **Final Selection Stage**: Around mid-November, before shedding, select males and females at a ratio of 1:3 or 1:4. If the population is small, some public funds should be reserved to prevent conflicts among females during breeding. This ensures a smooth breeding cycle for the year.
Second, coat color is an essential factor. The selected seedlings should have dense fur, complete undercoat, bright and uniform color, with consistent dorsal and ventral hair. The needle hair should be black, white, or curled, and not used for breeding if it’s uneven or poorly developed. The finest gray and the best color are ideal. The highest quality plush comes from the national variety, and third-grade quality should be excluded. Female fur quality should not fall below second grade.
Third, body shape and physical features matter. Choose healthy, lively young scorpions with clean eyes and moist noses. Males should have large bodies, thick hind legs, long tails, and fluffy coats. Females should have slender bodies and tall limbs. Short and fat females are generally not suitable for breeding. Both males and females must be free of obvious defects, such as missing eyes, one testicle, or insufficient teats.
Fourth, after the first year of breeding, the farm will have data on the breeding performance of males, estrus cycles of females, birthing rates, and milk production. Since the highest yield occurs between the second and fourth years, before the first skinning, all males and females should be carefully selected based on records. Those that show frequent vomiting, shaking, or unusual urination habits should not be retained. Favorable traits include high litter size, good milk production, strong maternal instincts, gentle temperament, dense and fine fur, and quick recovery after weaning. Retain 70% of the best individuals as a core population, ensuring no inbreeding across three generations. Male and female scorpions from the same year should be paired for breeding. Continue pure-bred efforts for future generations and strictly remove unsuitable offspring. This process ensures continuous improvement in the quality of the core population.
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