Neurophysiological correlates of stereotypic behaviour in a model carnivore species
Stereotypic behaviour (SB) is common in animals housed in farm, zoo or laboratory conditions, including captive Carnivora (e.g. wild ursids and felids). Neurobiological data on housing-induced SBs come from four species (macaques, two rodent species, and horses), and suggest basal ganglia (BG) dysfunction. We investigated whether similar patterns occur in Carnivora via a model, American […]
The representativeness of a semi-random sampling method for animal welfare assessments on mink farms
In this study we present a semi-random sampling method developed for the sampling of mink (Neovison vison) for on-farm welfare assessments according to the WelFur-Mink system. The only information required for implementation of this method is the number of cages in use in each shed on the farm. The representativeness of samples selected with this […]
Mustela vison
Temperament, stereotypies and anticipatory behaviour as measures of welfare in mink
A farm mink population of 290 1-year-old wild-coloured females was scanned for stereotyped behaviour in October 2003. At the same time the temperament of the individuals was established with a stick test. Some of the females performed no stereotypies in 54 scans and this fraction of the population, 73 individuals, included significantly more fearful animals […]
Selection against stereotypic behaviour may have contradictory consequences for the welfare of farm mink (Mustela vison)
The present study aimed to examine if divergent selection for stereotypic behaviour in mink influences the welfare of the animals. Two breeding lines were used, a high stereotyping line (HSL, N = 139) and a low stereotyping line (LSL, N = 132). Their welfare was assessed on the basis of adrenocortical activity (faecal cortisol metabolites, FCM), confident versus fearful […]
Animal husbandry: Assessing the welfare state
Animals kept for human use should surely have conditions that are as conducive to their welfare as possible. A study of captive mink illustrates how animal welfare can be assessed.
Female American mink, Mustela vison, mate multiply in a free-choice environment
Like most solitary carnivores, the home ranges of male American mink overlap with those of several females, but each female typically shares its range with only a single male. Nevertheless, female mink produce multiply sired litters. Unusually among mammals, the physiological characteristics of female American mink make them highly suited to multiple paternity, suggesting that […]
Is out of sight out of mind? The effects of resource cues on motivation in mink, Mustela vison
Measuring strength of preference is a powerful tool in welfare research. However, animals’ preferences in so-called demand experiments may be influenced by stimuli from the test resources (e.g. olfactory or visual cues), leading to motivations different from those of the `applied’ animals who are not so exposed. Resource cues could act as eliciting stimuli, enhancing […]
Generalization of fear in farm mink, Mustela vison, genetically selected for behaviour towards humans
Mink offspring from two genetic lines, selected over 10 generations for confident (C) or fearful (F) reaction towards humans, were exposed to six different tests. The aim was to investigate whether this behavioural selection in mink has affected their reaction in other potentially fear-eliciting situations. A total of 192 naïve mink, males and females, were […]
Running in a running wheel substitutes for stereotypies in mink (Mustela vison) but does it improve their welfare?
This experiment investigated whether access to a running wheel affects the development of stereotypies during restricted feeding and whether selection for high or low levels of stereotypy affects the use of the running wheel. Sixty-two female mink kept in standard cages and selected for high or low levels of stereotypy were used. Thirty of these […]