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Abnormal behaviour in farm mink
375
A b n o r m a l B e h a v i o u r in F a r m M i n k
G. DE JONGE 1 and K. CARLSTEAD2
~Het Spelderhelt, Beekbergen (The Netherlands) 2Agricultural University, Wageningen (The Netherlands)
ABSTRACT
Five Dutch mink farms were observed in order to establish the state of well-being of farmed mink. Housing and daily caretaking accommodate most of the needs of mink. The open sheds are satisfactory because mink are able to resist wind and cold, and the various types of nest boxes in use give sufficient protection. Protection against heat deserves attention, and further study is needed concerning provision of nesting material in different seasons. Mink are not very sensitive to disturbances and the present situation gives the anlrnsl~ sufficient rest. The lack of water for bathing could be a deficiency for these animals, but the consequences of this deprivation are not clear. Although the general health and hygiene status seems adequate and mortality in young is low, mortality in adults seems higher than it need be. Attention could be given to restricting risk of disease transmission by visitors, guaranteeing freshness of food, and precluding interruption of water supply by freezing in winter. Two types of abnormal behaviour occur frequently, tail-biting and stereotypies. Before the spring moult, 17.9% of the females and 10.2% of the males had a damaged tail. In 70% of these cases, the d~rnage was no more than a bare tail tip. Genetics probably play a role in the development of tailbiting;, further research is needed to make recommendations that will lead to the limitation of this d A m ~ . Stereotyped behaviour is performed by about 70% of the adult females, half of them for more than 1 h per day. The behaviour occurs mainly during the hours preceeding feeding, and is seen quite often during pairing confrontations if the animals wish to flee. Hence, stereotypies seem to occur when the mink cannot control their situation. The amount of stereotyped behaviour during the summer does not differ from that during winter. Walking around, however, strongly increases during the winter. The most severe type of abnormal behaviour, apathic behaviour, does not occur on the mink ranch. Overall signs of impaired welfare are relatively few considering the impoverished surroundings of the animAl~
A b n o r m a l B e h a v i o u r in F a r m M i n k
G. DE JONGE 1 and K. CARLSTEAD2
~Het Spelderhelt, Beekbergen (The Netherlands) 2Agricultural University, Wageningen (The Netherlands)
ABSTRACT
Five Dutch mink farms were observed in order to establish the state of well-being of farmed mink. Housing and daily caretaking accommodate most of the needs of mink. The open sheds are satisfactory because mink are able to resist wind and cold, and the various types of nest boxes in use give sufficient protection. Protection against heat deserves attention, and further study is needed concerning provision of nesting material in different seasons. Mink are not very sensitive to disturbances and the present situation gives the anlrnsl~ sufficient rest. The lack of water for bathing could be a deficiency for these animals, but the consequences of this deprivation are not clear. Although the general health and hygiene status seems adequate and mortality in young is low, mortality in adults seems higher than it need be. Attention could be given to restricting risk of disease transmission by visitors, guaranteeing freshness of food, and precluding interruption of water supply by freezing in winter. Two types of abnormal behaviour occur frequently, tail-biting and stereotypies. Before the spring moult, 17.9% of the females and 10.2% of the males had a damaged tail. In 70% of these cases, the d~rnage was no more than a bare tail tip. Genetics probably play a role in the development of tailbiting;, further research is needed to make recommendations that will lead to the limitation of this d A m ~ . Stereotyped behaviour is performed by about 70% of the adult females, half of them for more than 1 h per day. The behaviour occurs mainly during the hours preceeding feeding, and is seen quite often during pairing confrontations if the animals wish to flee. Hence, stereotypies seem to occur when the mink cannot control their situation. The amount of stereotyped behaviour during the summer does not differ from that during winter. Walking around, however, strongly increases during the winter. The most severe type of abnormal behaviour, apathic behaviour, does not occur on the mink ranch. Overall signs of impaired welfare are relatively few considering the impoverished surroundings of the animAl~