The aim of this study was to determine the effect of time and number of matings on the percentage of barren females and a selection of the optimal timing and mating system. During the experiment, we analyzed 1736 effectively mated females at the age of one year, the percentage of those who did not litter. For the analysis, four colour varieties of mink were used: Scanbrown, Sapphire, Pearl and Scanblack. Mink in the various colour varieties were divided into mating groups according to the date of mating. The following mating systems were used: single mating, double mating according to the model 1 + 8, and triple mating according to the model 1 + 8 + 9. In the experiment, the effect of time and mating system on the percentage of sterile females was studied. Mating in the first and second date (from 1 to 10 March) can be considered as the most optimal, since the lowest percentage of sterile females was observed in this date. The last of the analyzed mating dates (March 21) was the worst one, since on that date over 60% of females were barren. Triple mating reduced the percentage of females that failed to litter, while single mating increased it significantly. The Scanblack mink was characterised by the highest percentage of barren females, while the Scanblack variety – the lowest.

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