Wisconsin has a long rich tradition in the fur industry and when it comes to Mink production Wisconsin tops the nation. Although the number of mink “ranches” though out the state has significantly diminished the tradition and quality that the Badger state has been known for continues.
Mike Mclay along with his wife Marion own and operate Autumn River Farms a mink ranch with their partner Ryan Thoma in Juneau. The ranch currently has about 2000 to 2500 breeding females in production. McClay says that Mink are the best cared for farm animals around because they have finicky digestive systems and require the highest quality feedstuffs and you must keep the animals immaculately clean because at the end of the day, hides are being harvested and they are paid on their quality.
Mink pelts are very sought after for the production in the high end fashion industry. Full length “car” coats can cost excess of $10,000. McClay tells us that Asia, particularly China has become the largest market for their mink pelts as more of their population is becoming interested in high end fashion. It wasn’t long ago that Russia was the largest consumers of American pelts but with their economic down turn in the past few years they have more or less dropped out of the market place.
Wisconsin’s climate and availability of high quality protein foodstuffs make it an ideal place to produce mink; in fact years ago farmers caught wild mink and sent them all over because Wisconsin Mink carried the highest quality pelts. Through selective breeding today’s mink grow significantly larger then years ago and now come in many colors.
The industry has been under attack from animal rights activists in the recent past, Mike made it pretty clear that those allegations of animal cruelty are “dead wrong”. “We love our animals and we care for their health” said McClay.
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