The work aimed at the comparative analysis of animal size and fur quality traits in chinchillas (Chinchilla veligera Mol.) of standard, black velvet and beige colour types. The research included two breeding-farms located in southern Poland. In the period 2001-2002 – 454 animals were estimated. The analysis of variance proved that colour type had statistically significant influence on all the traits except colour purity. Breeding-farm significantly influenced animal size, fur quality, colour purity, fur’s paunch part and total number of scores. The year of licence affected statistically animal size, fur purity, colour type and colour purity. Arithmetic means of fur traits were as following: animal size (in points) – from 3,06 (beige type) to 3.60 (standard); colour type from 1.71 (beige) to 3.47 (standard); colour purity – from 6.57 (black velvet) to 6.76 (beige); fur quality – from 5.00 (beige) to 6.93 (black velvet); fur’s paunch part – from 2.75 (standard) to 2.89 (black velvet); total number of scores – from 19.41 (beige) to 23.25 (standard). Variability coefficients ranged from about 6 to 60%. The highest values were estimated for colour type and animal size and the lowest for total number of scores. Total evaluation reached lower variability due to the fact that the animals of lower values for certain traits balanced it with higher values for other traits. The chinchillas in analysed farms were characterized by high quality of conformation traits. Lower values were obtained by beige type, which proves that improvement of fur quality of this type should aim of intensified breeding work.

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