How do larger enriched cages and larger group size affect juvenile mink behaviour?
The aim of this study was to evaluate if behaviour of juvenile mink was different when being kept in pairs or groups of three or four in larger enriched cages compared to being kept in pairs in traditional cages. Farmed mink of the colour type "demi buff" (n=165) and "silver blue" (n=165) were housed after weaning at 10 weeks in traditional cages (2 550 cm2) where ¾ had a top cage added (1 700 cm2). All cages had a netting shelf, plastic cylinder and nest box with straw, and top cages had a netting shelf. Each group consisted of half females and half males except for groups of three where two were females. Behaviour was recorded with scan sampling 6 times per individual and observation period over 5 days, two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset, which was repeated in six periods. Statistical analysis used Generalized Linear Models (GLIMMIX, SAS). Mink in larger cages had a higher number of recordings being inactive outside the nest box (p<0.0001), however there were no differences for the other behaviours. Larger groups had a higher number of recordings being active (p<0.01), a lower number of recordings in the nest box (p<0.0001) and fewer recordings interacting with shelves and cylinders (p<0.05). Stereotyped behaviour was very low, and was not affected by cage type or group size. Compared with males, females performed more stereotypies (p<0.0001), were more active (p<0.0001), spent more recordings in the nest box (p<0.01) and were less inactive outside the nest box (p<0.0001), but did not differ in the number of interactions with the shelves and cylinders (n.s.). It is concluded that larger groups of juvenile mink were more active and used enrichments less, whereas pairs of juvenile mink only were resting outside the nest box more in a larger cage.