The Welfare of Farmed Mink (Mustela Vison) in Relation to Behavioural Selection: A Review
- 1 February 2001
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Animal Welfare
- Vol. 10 (1), 41-52
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600023241
Abstract
Animal welfare is a major issue in Europe, and the production of mink,Mustela vison, has also been under debate. One common method of solving animal welfare problems is to adapt the environment to fit the behavioural needs of the animals. In comparison with other forms of husbandry, the mink production environment has remained relatively unchanged over the years and provides for some of the most obvious needs of mink. Whether today's typical housing conditions adequately meet the welfare requirements of mink is currently a topic of discussion. An alternative approach to improving welfare is to modify the animals so that they are better adapted to farming conditions. In large-scale animal production, handling of the individual can be a sporadic event, making an animal's inherent characteristics for temperament and adaptability important factors to consider with respect to its resultant welfare.In this review we present and discuss experiments on behavioural selection for temperament, and against undesirable behaviours, such as fur chewing, in mink. Fur chewing behaviour can be reduced by selection, apparently without any negative effects, whereas only a little is known about the nature and consequences of selecting against stereotypic behaviours. Long-term selection experiments have shown that it is possible to reduce fearfulness in farmed mink. Using a relatively simple test, it is possible for farmers to add behavioural measurements to their normal selection criteria and thereby improve the welfare of farmed mink.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Increasing costs of access to resources cause re-scheduling of behaviour in American mink (Mustela vison): implications for the assessment of behavioural prioritiesApplied Animal Behaviour Science, 2000
- Mating time and litter size in farm mink selected for confident or timid behaviourAnimal Science, 1997
- Feather pecking behaviour in White Leghorns, a genetic studyBritish Poultry Science, 1997
- Influence of breed on reactivity of sheep to humansGenetics Selection Evolution, 1993
- Assessment of fear reactions in domestic sheep, and influence of breed and rearing conditionsApplied Animal Behaviour Science, 1992
- Stereotypies: a critical reviewAnimal Behaviour, 1991
- The tonic immobility reaction of the domestic fowl: a reviewWorld's Poultry Science Journal, 1986
- Fearful behavior by caged hens of two genetic stocksApplied Animal Ethology, 1983
- Genetics of traits which determine the suitability of dogs as guide-dogs for the blindApplied Animal Ethology, 1983
- Development of Hearing in Hereditarily Deaf White Mink (Hedlund) and Normal Mink (Standard) and the Subsequent Deterioration of the Auditory Response in Hedlund MinkActa Oto-Laryngologica, 1979