Effects of group size and early handling on some behavioural and physiological welfare parameters in farmed blue foxes

Abstract

The present study included two procedures, both aimed at improving animal welfare: early handling and changing the social conditions of the animals. Production and welfare related parameters as well as behaviour were assessed in blue fox (Alopex lagopus) cubs who were either handled or not before weaning, and housed after weaning either in pairs or in six-animal groups. The effect of the larger group size was observed in the larger number of bite scars in the female cubs housed in six-animal groups. Furthermore, the group size seemed to affect the performance of foxes most clearly in the late autumn when intra-litter aggression was observed during the feeding test. On the other hand, early handling had only short-term positive effects on the performance of the foxes but later transpired to have a negative impact on the stress profile of these animals.

Faecal Cortisol Metabolites as an Indicator of Adrenocortical Activity in Farmed Blue Foxes

“…The welfare research of blue foxes has covered topics such as housing environment [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], temperament [ 8 ], human–animal relationship [ 9 ], handling [ 10 ], and social housing [ 11 , 12 ]. The physiological welfare measurements have relied strongly on the functioning of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA; see the references above for examples).…”

“…The main glucocorticoid secreted by the HPA axis in almost all mammal species, also in blue foxes, is cortisol [ 13 ]. In the blood, baseline cortisol levels have been measured [ 5 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] and change after ACTH challenge or an acute stressor [ 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 ]. Furthermore, postmortem adrenal mass has been used to reflect adrenocortical activity when alive [ 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…In the blood, baseline cortisol levels have been measured [ 5 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] and change after ACTH challenge or an acute stressor [ 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 ]. Furthermore, postmortem adrenal mass has been used to reflect adrenocortical activity when alive [ 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 12 ]. Blood cortisol has dominated, although the invasiveness of this tool has been acknowledged already for some time.…”

“…From these complementary sampling materials, the least invasive are collecting urine and faeces since animal handling is not necessary or is minimal. For farmed foxes, urinary cortisol has been utilised as a measure of stress to some extent [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 ], but the sampling of urine requires special equipment, such as trays, bottles, and gauzes [ 6 ]. Instead, faeces can be easily collected from cloths mounted under the cages.…”