Abstract
Farmed blue foxes (Vulpes lagopus) are traditionally housed on mesh floors where they are unable to perform certain species-specific behaviours, such as digging, which may compromise the animals' welfare. This study describes how a possibility to use in-cage sand floor affects welfare-related variables like growth of the claws, adrenal cortex function, and fur properties in juvenile blue foxes. The foxes (N=32) were housed in male-female sibling pairs in an outdoor fur animal shed in cage systems consisting of two traditional fox cages. For the eight male-female sibling pairs of the Control group, there was a mesh floor in both cages of each cage system, whereas for the eight pairs of the Sand group there was a mesh floor in one cage and a 30–40 cm deep earth floor in the other cage. The results show that sand floor is beneficial for the wearing of the claws of foxes. Furthermore, an early experience of sand floor may have positive effects on the foxes' fur development. The results, however, also suggest that there might appear welfare problems observed as disturbed claw growth and increased adrenal cortex activation if foxes that are once provided with clean and unfrozen sand floor are not allowed to enjoy this floor all the time.
Highlights
According to the nature-based approach to animal welfare, the welfare of production animals can be improved by providing the animals with natural housing conditions that enable them to behave species
With respect to farmed blue foxes (Vulpes lagopus, formerly Alopex lagopus), one of these important key features is the floor material used in their housing systems
The present study that is a part of the study of Koistinen et al [14] continued to assess welfare effects of continuous access to sand floor under normal farming conditions in farmed blue foxes
Summary
According to the nature-based approach to animal welfare (see [1]), the welfare of production animals can be improved by providing the animals with natural housing conditions that enable them to behave species-. The present study that is a part of the study of Koistinen et al [14] continued to assess welfare effects of continuous access to sand floor under normal farming conditions in farmed blue foxes. Our hypothesis was that if sand floor was important for the welfare of farmed blue foxes (i.e., as suggested by the feelings-based results of the study [14]), the lack of sand floor or the deprivation of a once-experienced sand floor would increase the activity of the adrenal cortex (e.g., [18]) and reallocate animals’ biological resources from growth and fur development to coping with the stress [19]. Possible welfare-related effects were assessed by measuring the claw growth, adrenal cortex function, growth and fur characteristics in the juvenile blue foxes with access either to only a mesh floor or to both a mesh and sand floors. The results will be discussed in the light of the foxes’ behaviour during the present study [14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
