Preferences of farmed silver foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) for four different floor types

Harri, Mikko; Mononen, Jaakko; Sepponen, Juhani

doi:10.4141/a98-059

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Second, they might dig because species-specific digging performance per se is rewarding, i.e., sensory feedback from feet and muscles (c.f. Hughes and Duncan 1988;Harri et al 1999). These two explanations may not necessarily be mutually exclusive, however.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In-cage sandbox as a ground substitute for farmed blue foxes (Alopex lagopus): Effects on digging activity and welfare

Korhonen¹,

Jauhiainen²,

Rekilä³

2003

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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Korhonen, H. T., Jauhiainen, L. and Rekilä, T. 2003. In-cage sandbox as a ground substitute for farmed blue foxes (Alopex lagopus): Effect on digging activity and welfare. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 83: [703][704][705][706][707][708][709][710][711][712]. A study on the behavioural and welfare effects of in-cage sandboxes was carried out on juvenile farm-bred blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) with special reference to digging behaviours and time spent on sand substrate. Twelve juvenile male blue foxes were used in each of two experimental groups: (1) a test group and (2) a control group. Animals were raised singly in cages measuring 120 cm long × 105 cm wide × 70 cm high, from weaning in July to pelting in December. All experimental animals were housed conventionally but cages of the test group contained in-cage sandboxes (80 cm long × 40 cm wide × 14 cm high). Various physiological, behavioural, health and productionrelated variables were measured during the study. Final body weights of test animals were significantly (P = 0.05) lower than controls. Occurrence of endoparasites (Toxascaris leonina, Isospora sp.) did not substantially differ between groups. Open field activity was greater (P = 0.02) and latency to touch novel objects shorter (P = 0.02) in the test group compared with the control. Cortisol-creatinine ratio, incidence of stereotypes, size of adrenals or other organs, blood screen and fur quality parameters were not significantly different. Sandbox hygiene deteriorated rapidly during the experimental period. Fur coats of test animals were dirtier than those of controls at pelting. Claw length of test animals was significantly shorter (front foot; P < 0.005, back foot, P < 0.001) than in controls only in October. Altogether nine different sandbox behaviours were observed in the test foxes. Digging was the fifth most common behavior, comprising 5.8% of total sandbox use. Amount of time spent in the sandbox peaked in July, averaging 117 min/24 h, and declined towards winter. The most common sandbox behaviours observed were walking (24.3% of total time), sitting (22.0%) and resting (17.5%). Results indicated low motivation to use in-cage sandboxes as a digging substrate. On the other hand, the presence of in-cage sandboxes may provide opportunities for foxes to engage in other species-specific activities and/or seek sensory comfort through contact with the sand. The effects of in-cage sandboxes on animal welfare need further study. (2) un groupe témoin. Les animaux ont été élevés séparément dans des cages de 120 cm de longueur par 105 cm de largeur et 70 cm de hauteur du sevrage, en juillet, à la récolte des peaux en décembre. Les sujets du groupe expérimental disposaient de cages ordinaires, mais celles de l'autre groupe contenaient un carré de sable (80 cm de longueur par 40 cm de largeur et 14 cm de profondeur). Durant l'étude, les auteurs ont mesuré plusieurs variables associées à la physiologie, au comportement, à la santé et à la production des animaux. Les sujets expérimentaux étaient sensiblement plus maigres...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In-cage sandbox as a ground substitute for farmed blue foxes (Alopex lagopus): Effects on digging activity and welfare

Korhonen¹,

Jauhiainen²,

Rekilä³

2003

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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“…One can, therefore, expect that replacement of wire-mesh floors by earthen floors would be a better alternative. This assumption has not yet been substantiated, either by preference tests (Pedersen 1993;Skovgaard et al , 1998Harri et al 1999) or by long-term housing experiments (Pyykönen et al1997;Korhonen et al 2000b). Earth has also been considered a suitable floor material for foxes because it permits species-specific behaviour like digging (European Convention 1999).…”

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confidence: 98%

Effect of space and floor material on the behaviour of farmed blue foxes

Korhonen¹,

Niemelä²,

Jauhiainen³

2001

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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Korhonen, H. T., Niemelä, P. and Jauhiainen, L. 2001. Effect of space and floor material on the behaviour of farmed blue foxes. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 81: [189][190][191][192][193][194][195][196][197]. Effects of space and floor material on the behaviour of blue foxes were evaluated in the following groups: (1) small wire-mesh cages (50 cm long × 105 wide cm × 70 cm high; W50); (2) medium wire-mesh cages (120 cm long × 105 cm wide × 70 cm high; W120); (3) wire-mesh floored pens (5 m long × 3m wide × 1.8 m high:W500); and (4) earthen floored pens (5 m long × 3 m wide × 1.8 m high; E500). Activity and locomotion were lowest in W50 foxes and tended to increase with increasing cage size. Floor material had only a slight effect on activity and stereotypies. Locomotion was higher in E500 than in W500 foxes. Locomotor stereotypy increased with increasing cage size, and was higher in W500 than in E500 foxes. Significant periodic changes were found in several behavioural variables. Activity was concentrated most and least frequently between 8 and 16 h and 0 and 8 h, respectively. The same tendency was found for sitting, standing, locomotion and activity. Digging was noted only in E500 foxes, averaging 15 min/24 h, and being most common between 16 and 24 h.

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“…The range of the long-range component was longest in resting, but even so it was shorter than 70 min. The duration of the average bout found in the literature (Harri et al 1999;Das 2001) has been shorter than the range of the long-range component found now. However, animals can repeat the same behaviour pattern several times during a short period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…In the same study, 56, 31, and 17% of the inter-bout phases for loafing, resting, and sleeping, respectively, lasted no longer than 10 min. In a study on farmed silver foxes, Harri et al (1999) noted that the average resting bout lasted for 17-66 min (SD 22-68 min), depending on the floor type. Owing to the high standard deviations, there must have been many short resting bouts and some long bouts in previous studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal behaviour sampling and autocorrelation curve: modelling data of farmed foxes

Jauhiainen

Korhonen²

2005

acta ethol

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Behavioural investigations frequently make use of video recordings. In a typical study, behaviour is recorded during a 24-h period using instantaneous sampling, a method whereby consecutive samples taken from the same animal are autocorrelated. This study sought to model the autocorrelation function and to evaluate the optimal sampling interval for recording periods of different length in farmed blue foxes. The data were based on video recordings. The autocorrelation was found to have two components: short-range and long-range. The range of the short-range component was from 2 to 4 min, implying that an animal continues the same operation without interruption for several minutes. The duration of the long-range component was from 20 to 75 min and was affected by the animal's mental state. The optimal sampling interval was not the same for all the behaviours studied and, moreover, depended on the length of the recording period. If the recording period lasted for 3 to 5 days, the optimal sampling interval was from 10 to 15 min; if, however, there was only one recording day, the optimal sampling interval was from 4 to 6 min.

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Preferences of farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) for four different floor types

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

In-cage sandbox as a ground substitute for farmed blue foxes (Alopex lagopus): Effects on digging activity and welfare

In-cage sandbox as a ground substitute for farmed blue foxes (Alopex lagopus): Effects on digging activity and welfare

Effect of space and floor material on the behaviour of farmed blue foxes

Optimal behaviour sampling and autocorrelation curve: modelling data of farmed foxes

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