The aim of the study was to determine the effect of melatonin treatment on the general state of health, skins, and fur quality of minks. The research was conducted on a farm consisting of 2500 minks of the basic pack and 12000 young minks. The experimental group contained 300 minks of the basic pack. In the middle of June an implant of synthetic melatonin (6 mg of Melakryl, produced in Russia) was inserted in the scapular bone region in each of those minks. The remainder of the minks of the basic pack represented the control group. Minks were fed with raw fish and poultry offal, cereal groats, meat-and-bone meal or fishmeal, vitamin and mineral supplements and plant oils. The diet guaranteed an average metabolic energy of about 1600 Kcal. The experimental minks were slaughtered in September, but the minks from control group in December. From 10 animals selected at random from each group blood samples were taken for hematology and biochemistry tests. From 5 minks from each group the visceral organs (liver, spleen, kidney) and brain samples were collected for histopathological examination. It was stated that minks with an implant of melatonin gained greater body weight and the fur maturation period was shorter by over two months, but the skins were thicker with sparser hair growth. Laboratory test results proved the favorable effect of melatonin treatment on liver enzymes, urea and creatynine level, as well as on reducing intensity of morphological changes of the liver, kidneys and spleen
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