ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OUTBRED STRAIN (JIC, SUN) IN THE HOUSE MUSK SHREW, SUNCUS-MURINUS

Planned reproduction of the house musk shrew, Suncus murinus was investigated using 3,016 females for mating. The birth rate and the weaning rate attained were 77.2% and 82.3%, respectively. The average litter size was 3.4. The mean value of the productive index (number of weaned individuals/number of females mated) was estimated as 2.2. The highest value of the productive index, 2.6, was recorded when the fourth litter was used for reproduction. No seasonal fluctuation in the reproductive ability was observed through the course of the presen breeding. In the present study, we have maintained the closed colony of the house musk shrew for six years. This colony is established as a outbred strain, and is designated as Jic:SUN.