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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...

The study evaluates the effects of two dietary Ca: P ratios (1·5: 1v. 2·5: 1) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents (17·3 MJ/kg dry matter (DM)v. 19·2 MJ/kg DM) on the development of osteochondrosis, foot bending and performance in juvenile male blue foxes (Alopex lagopus). Four experimental groups (no. = 10 per group) were formed : (1) low energy, lagopus). low Ca: P (LELC); (2) normal energy, low Ca: P (NELC); (3) low energy, normal Ca: P (LENC); and (4) normal energy, normal Ca: P (NENC). The experiment started at weaning in mid July and finished in early October. From mid August onwards, animals on the normal energy diets (NELC, NENC) grew significantly faster (P< 0·001) than animals on the low energy diets (LELC, LENC). The final body weights of the normal energy groups were 1·5 kg higher than those of the low energy groups (P< 0·001). The dietary Ca: P ratio did not affect live-weight gain. Foot bending increased significantly from summer to autumn (P< 0·001). Changes in foot bending between initial and final evaluations showed that bending was significantly greater (P< 0·05) in animals on normal energy (NELC, NENC) than on low energy diets (LELC, LENC). Significant differences were not found in the mean degree of damage in foot and cartilage between the groups. Ulna breaking strength was significantly higher (P< 0·05) in normal energy (NELC, NENC) than in low energy (LELC, LENC) animals. Ulna calcium and phosphorus concentrations of the normal Ca: P (LENC, NENC) groups were significantly higher (P< 0·001,P< 0·05) than those of the lower Ca: P (LELC, NELC) groups. The bone (ulna) calcium and phosphorus concentrations tended to be higher in the normal energy (NELC, NENC) than in the low energy (LELC, LENC) groups (calciumP= 0·07; phosphorusP= 0·06). The bone Ca: P ratio was higher (P< 0·001) in the normal (LENC, NENC) than in the low Ca: P diet (LELC, NELC) animals. The carcass weights of normal energy animals (NELC, NENC) were significantly higher (P< 0·001) than those of low energy (LELC, LENC) animals. The fat : dry matter ratio was higher (P< 0·05) in normal (NELC, NENC) than in low energy (LELC, LENC) carcasses. We conclude that the Ca: P ratio of the diet has no effect on the development of osteochondrosis or bending of the foot. The higher body weight caused by normal as opposed to low metabolizable energy content seems, however, to increase the incidence of foot bending.

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The aim of this study was to provide basic data for the different components of reproductive performance of blue foxes under farm conditions. The foxes were mated naturally and the perinatal mortality of cubs was carefully recorded. This data allowed the evaluation of the effect of females' age and differences between years, and the maternal and paternal components of reproductive success. Generally the results were similar for all four years of the study. Altogether 2047 females (84.8 % of the total) gave birth to 22 941 cubs, of which 5.9% were stillborn and 11.4% died before weaning. Only in a very few cases (1.3%) was it the whole litter that was lost, and more commonly, there were some cub losses in almost one-half of the litters (46.9%). Abnormal birth and abortion of a part of a litter contributed most to reproductive failure of the vixen. Infanticide played a minimal role as a cause of postnatal cub mortality (0.3%). Death of the vixen was extremely rare. One half of all parturitions were dated between May 14 and May 28 and May 8 and May 20, for primiparous and multiparous vixens, respectively. Thus the parturitions peaked 5 days earlier (p < 0.001, median test) for multiparous vixens. The litter size was smaller and cub losses were higher for primiparous vixens than for multiparous ones. With a few exceptions, the age of the father or date of birth did not affect litter size or cub mortality. Postnatal cub mortality (y, %) decreased with age of the cub (x, days) and can be described by a simple equation: y = 15.3 - 11.2 log x, r(2) = 0.933. Fractional cub mortality increased with increasing litter size. Despite being significant, this increase was modest in extent. Low h(2) -values were observed for litter size at birth. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Der Zweck dieser Untersuchung war es, Basisinformation über verschiedene Komponenten der Reproduktion bei farmgezüchteten Blaufüchsen zu gewinnen. Die Fähen wurden naturlich gepaart. Eine besondere Aufmerksamkeit wurde der perinatalen Jungsterblichkeit gewidmet. Im allgemeinen waren die Ergebnisse für alle vier Jahre der Untersuchung gleich. Insgesamt 2 047 Fähen (84.8% von) warfen 22 941 Jungen. Von diesen wurden 5.6% totgeboren, und 11.4% starben später. Nur sehr selten war der ganze Wurf verloren (1.3%), aber Verluste fanden fast in der Hälfte der Würfe (46.9%) statt. Abnormale Geburt und Abort waren die häufigsten Ursachen der Geburtsprobleme der Fähen. Nur sehr selten brachte die Fähe ihre Jungen um (0.3%). Ebenso selten war ein Tod der Fähe. Eine Hälfte der Geburten fanden zwischen 14 und 28 Mai, bei Jungfähen und zwischen 8 und 20 Mai bei älteren statt. Die Jungfähen hatten kleinere Würfe und höhere Jungverluste als die Altfähen, wobei die Rüden fast keinen Einfluß hatten. Die postnatale Jungsterblichkeit (y, %) nahm mit Alter der Jungen (x, Tage) rasch ab, und kann mit einer einfachen Gleichung dargestellt werden: y = 15.3 - 11.2 log x, r(2) = 0.933. Jungsterblichkeit nahm mit der Grösse des Wurfes zu. Diese Wirkung war statistisch significant, zwar klein in Quan...