Group housing of mink in flat and climbing cages

摘要

In response to continual pressure to improve weliare for farmed mink, a group housing system in enlarged cages was developed in the Netherlands (de Jonge, 1996), which allowed more space for individual mink. 15 years of experience with the new group housing system enables us to finally understand the economic impact, if not the welfare effects. Dutch mink breeders also introduced climbing cages, consisting of two cages above each other lodging four or five mink, on a large scale. Hence we researchedthe impact of this type of housing on pelt quality as compared to traditional pair-housing, then also studied the effects of larger groups, presence of the mother and varying sex ratio.