Feed consumption and food passage time in mink (Mustela vison) and European ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

The amount of feed consumed per day and the rate of food passage was measured in mink and European ferrets. Daily feed consumption averaged 40 and 42 g dry matter per kg body weight for male mink and ferrets and 53 and 49 g dry matter per kg body weight for female mink and ferrets, respectively. Using ferric oxide as a feed marker, no differences were observed in food passage time between mink and ferrets or between males and females within each species. The mean time of food passage was 187 minutes for mink and 182 minutes for European ferrets.