Effect of cage enrichment on the welfare of farmed foxes

• Autorzy: Lapinski S. , Palka S. , Wronska D. , Guja I. , Zon A. , Nidbala P. , Sergina S.N.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The aim of the study was to use behavioural and cortisol tests to determine whether cage enrichment (observation shelves, wooden sticks for gnawing) improves the welfare of farmed foxes (Vulpes vulpes). The paper discusses welfare criteria such as "expression of other behaviours", "good human–animal relationships" and "positive emotional state". The study covered 60 young foxes. After weaning, the animals were placed in standard cages, two individuals per cage. The foxes were divided into three groups. In the control group, no additional cage enrichment was provided. Group I was provided with observation shelves; group II was provided with wooden gnawing sticks. During the experiment the foxes underwent repeated tests: empathic test, feeding test and salivary cortisol test. The data obtained were analysed statistically (ANOVA, Tukey’s test, correlation), taking into account the following variables: the impact of cage enrichment, animal gender, temperament, and colour mutation. The study did not show conclusively that the use of cage enrichment affects animal temperament or the level of cortisol. However, in the group with gnawing sticks, the level of cortisol in the second measurement was significantly lower in comparison with other groups. This indicates that satisfying the need to gnaw objects reduces stress in foxes. The study showed a high correlation between the empathic and the feeding test, both of which are useful for testing the emotional state of foxes and the human–animal relationship.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Medycyna Weterynaryjna
• Rocznik: 2019
• Tom: 75
• Numer: 11
• Opis fizyczny: p.665-668, ref.

Twórcy

autor

Lapinski S.

• Institute of Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Adama Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

autor

Palka S.

• Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Adama Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

autor

Wronska D.

• Department of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Adama Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

autor

Guja I.

• Department of Ichthyobiology and Fisheries, Faculty of Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Prof. Teodora Spiczakowa 6, 30-149 Krakow, Poland

autor

Zon A.

• Experimental Station in Chorzelow, National Research Institute of Animal Production in Balice n. Krakow, 39-331 Chorzelow 771, Poland

autor

Nidbala P.

• Institute of Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Adama Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

autor

Sergina S.N.

• Institute of Biology, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushkinskaya 11, 184910 Petrozavodsk, Russia

Bibliografia

• Fortuńska D., Barabasz B.: Using behavioural tests for temperament assessment in the raccoon dogs. Rocz. Nauk. Zoot. 2003, 30, 303-310.
• Fox M. W.: The Wild Canids: Their Systematics, Behavioural Ecology and Evolution. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York 1975.
• Gacek L.: The proposal of new behavioural test for the polar fox. Empathic test. Scientifur 1999, 23, 201-205.
• Hemmer H.: Domestikation: Verarmung der Merkwelt. Braunschweig/Wiesbaden: Vieweg 1983.
• Keeler C., Mellinger T., Fromm E., Wade L.: Melanin, adrenalin and the legacy of fear. J. Hered. 1970, 61, 81-88.
• Korhonen H., Niemela P.: Temperament and reproductive success in farm-bred silver foxes housed with and without platforms. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 1996, 113, 209-218.
• Mononen J., Harri M., Rekilä T.: Comparisons of preferences of farmed silver and blue foxes for cages with and without a nest box. Acta Agric. Scand. Sect. A. Anim. Sci. 1996, 46, 117-124.
• Mononen J., Korhonen H., Harri M., Kasanen S.: A comparison of the use of resting platforms and nest boxes in growing farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1998, 58, 383-396.
• Mononen J., Møller S. H., Hansen S. W., Hovland A. L., Koistinen T., Lidfors L., Malmkvist J., Vinke C. M., Ahola L.: The development of on-farm welfare assessment protocols for foxes and mink: the WelFur project. Anim. Welfare 2012, 21, 363-371.
• Rekila T.: Behavioural tests in welfare research of foxes. Kuopio University Publications C. Natural Environ. Sci. 1999, 92, 1-52.
• Veissier I., Botreau R., Perny P.: Scoring animal welfare: difficulties and Welfare Quality® solutions, [in:] Keeling L.: An Overview of the Development of the Welfare Quality® Project Assessment Systems. Welfare Quality Reports 2009, 15-32.
• WelFur.: Welfare Assessment protocol for Foxes.: WelFur Consortium, Brussels, Belgium 2014.
• Wilkins A. S., Wrangham R. W., Fitch W. T.: The “Domestication Syndrome” in Mammals: A Unified Explanation Based on Neural Crest Cell Behavior and Genetics. Genetics 2014, 197, 795-808.

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.21521/mw.6242