HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-07-23, Page 49Profiles
Mink ranching is
a fulltime occupation
A mink is an animal which could be termed as nervous and tempermental - and they bite.
Here, Jeff Chuter handles one of the mahogany colored mink with a pais of thick leather
gloves to protect him from their sharp front teeth. (Man Rivett photo)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Stanley
Township
Best Wishes to all
residents of Stanley
on your
150 BIRTHDAY
I hope your Homecoming Weekend is
as successful as all the events of the
past six months.
As a former resident I'm looking
forward to spending a memorable
weekend in Stanley renewing old
friendships and making new ones.
QUALITY FOODS & FRIIJNDLY SERVICE
Proprietor: Janet Buchanan
482-3478 11 Albert St., Clinton
Page 3
By Alan Rivett
It's a seven clays a week job for Eric
Chuter, much like other agriculturally bas-
ed vocations. But you won't see any pigs,
cows or chickens on this farm. This par-
ticular farming operation caters to minks
and minks only.
And it's not a way of life which this Varna
area farmer came upon acdidentally. Mink
raising has been in his family since his
father, Wilfred, started with. two minks in
1939: Eric took over the operation in 1970
with his son Jeff is now learning the ropes,of
the farm to one day take over the business.
Mink ranching, says Mr. Chuter, is not
what you would term as a popular form of
agriculture - there are only approximately
650 mink ranchers in all of Canada. He says
this is because the profitable raising of mink
requires a lot of knowledge and experience.
"It's a seven day a week job. It's
„something you just can't get into without
any . experience. It takes a • lot of ex-
perience," said Mr. Chuter.
On his farm, Mr. Chuter raises 1,200
female minks and 220 male minks in four,
large steel barns on the site. In the fall, he
and his son will have pelted approxigiately
4,500 minks. The pelts will be sold td Cana-
dian furriers, the North American Fur Ex-
change and the Hudson Bay Company for
the making of the fashionable and luxurious
coats.
Weasel Family
The mink, a member of the weasel family,
is described by Mr. Chuter as a nervous,
tempermental animal. On a tour of the
Chuter farm, the minks, which are housed in
individual wire mesh cages, constantly cir-
cle around the cages,sometimes sticking
their muzzel through the top of the cage to `
eat from a meat patty. • '
He says, if you're not careful, the minks
can give a hard bite with their razor sharp
front teeth. That's why whenever they are
handled by him or his son, thick leather
gloves are usedto prevent bites.
Suffice it to say, the minks are not a
friendly animal and therefore cannot be
tamed as a house pet. Mr. Chuter says his
son Jeff tried once; but it never quite worked
out.
I
I
"They are a wild animal. There's not very
many that can be trained," says Mr. Chuter
of the mink.
They may not be friendly, but the minks'
glossy, hign-pticed fur more than makes up
for their poor temperment. Mr. Chuter says
for a short jacket It may take 22 female
mink pelts or 15 of the larger male pelts. He
couldn't estmate a price of a single pelt
because of the varied market price, the size,
quality and color of the fur.
The nervousnessof the mink is more pro-
nounced during in the breeding season
which occurs in the first week of December.
At this time, the barns are off limits to
everyoneexcept to Mr. Chutes and his son
who handle the, animals as little as possible.
The minks have their litters in the fall with
an average of four per litter, says Mr.
Chuter.
The fur of the minks come in a number of
colors such as black, brown, pastels,
mahogony, demi- buff and violet. Mr,
Chuter says the minks' coat are the shiniest
in thefall, just before pelting season which
is done right on the farm. The pelts are
graded for their silkiness and texture with
special attention paid to its silky quality.
Only the best quality pelts are picked up by
the furriers.
Pelting time takes plate on the farm in the
fall for a two week period. During this time,
the Chuters hire extra help for the task of
readying the pelts for the furriers. After the
tareass has been gutted, the pelts are put in
a tumbling machine whichteats the furs to
remove excess grease. The pelts are then.
boarded and dried for 48 hours.
The minks require a lot of care, which
translates into long hours for the Chuter
family. This especially involves providing
the specialized diet they require. Feeding
time for the minks is once a day at around 4
p.m. They're fed chicken and fish by-
products as well as tripe, cooked eggs, liver
and fortified grain cereals which is fed in
patty form and placed.at the top of the cages
where the minks can eat through the wires.
A firm believer in ranch management,
Mr. Chuter says keeping the barns as clean
Turnto page, 5 •.
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Best Wishes
to Stanley Township
on- your 150th Birthday!
Serving Stanley Township
and surrounding areas
since 1935 with...
❑GRINDING & W(ING
GRAINS
❑COMPLETE LINES OF
FEEDS and
SHUR GAIN
ANIMAL
HEALTH PRODUCTS
VARNA FEED MILL
Varna 482-9219
Walton Feed Mill
A division of the Varna
Feed Mill Ltd.
Walton, Ont.,
887-6023
g;.
Yesterday (1910)
Today (1986)
J.E. Harnwell
VARNA FEED
MILL, VARNA