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Group housing in row cages: an alternative housing system for juvenile mink

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2008

S. Hänninen ,
L. Ahola ,
T. Pyykönen ,
H. T. Korhonen  and
J. Mononen
S. Hänninen*
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland
L. Ahola
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland
T. Pyykönen
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland
H. T. Korhonen
Affiliation:
Agrifood Research Finland, Animal Production Research, PO Box 44, FIN-69101 Kannus, Finland
J. Mononen
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland
*
E-mail: sari.hanninen@uku.fi
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Abstract

We studied a group housing system as an alternative to the traditional pair housing of juvenile mink. The focus was on both the welfare and production of mink. The pairs were housed in standard mink cages, whereas the groups were in row cage systems consisting of three standard mink cages connected to each other. The welfare of the mink was evaluated by behavioural observations (stereotypies and social contacts), evaluation of the incidence of scars assumed to be caused by biting, and adrenal function (serum cortisol level after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) administration and adrenal mass). Feed consumption, pelt length, quality and price were used for comparing the two housing systems from the economic point of view. Although the incidence of scars showed that there might have been more aggressive behaviour among the group-housed than among the pair-housed mink, this was not observed unambiguously in behavioural observations, and, at least, aggression did not cause mortality or serious injuries to the animals as has been observed in some earlier studies. In addition, the housing system did not affect pelt size, and, although the quality of the pelts was slightly lower in the group than in pair-housed mink, there was only a tendency for lower pelt prices. The lower pelt prices in the group-housed mink might even be partially compensated for by the group-housed mink eating 10% to 20% less in the late autumn, due to thermoregulatory benefits, than their pair-housed conspecifics. The results on the frequency of stereotypic behaviour (but not adrenal function) suggest that the group-housed animals were possibly less stressed than the pair-housed animals. Group housing of juvenile farmed mink in a row cage system cannot be recommended before the effects on welfare and production are clarified in further studies.

Keywords

fur farmingfur qualitygroup housingminkwelfare
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 2 , Issue 12 , December 2008 , pp. 1809 - 1817
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

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