The Application of a Temperament Test to On-Farm Selection of Mink

Abstract

The welfare of production animals can be improved by adapting the production system to the needs of the animals and/or by selecting those animals best adapted to the production system. As no documented improvements of mink welfare resulting from altered housing are readily available, a temperament test (the stick test) is now being applied for use under commercial farm conditions. The test, categorising the mink as fearful, exploratory or aggressive when a stick is inserted into the cage, has been developed and used for selection under experimental conditions. It has been demonstrated that the temperaments categorised in the stick test are related to reactions in novel object and intruder tests as well as to cortisone response to handling. In order to facilitate the use of the stick test in practice, it has been simplified and implemented on six Danish mink farms. On average, 60% of adult mink females were characterised as exploratory in August, but the percentage differed between farms. After 30 minutes of training, the farmers were able to perform the stick test with 74–100% agreement in results with an experienced tester. In order to improve welfare at farm level, a selection line of 200 exploratory females is established on each farm for the mating season in March 2000. During the first three years of selection, the effects of the behavioural selection on other welfare indicators, such as health, behaviour and production, will be monitored.