Welfare of farmed silver foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) housed in sibling groups in large outdoor enclosures

Ahola, Leena; Harri, Mikko; Mononen, Jaakko; Pyykönen, Teija; Kasanen, Sari

doi:10.4141/a00-107

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…Many studies have investigated the influence of these early experiences in humans, including how they impact adult psychopathologies, such as depression and schizophrenia [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Early experiences also affect adults in many other species, including cats, [ 8 ], pigs [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], foxes [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ], mice [ 19 ], and other farm animals, such as cattle and sheep [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. For example, giving kittens additional socialisation led to owners reporting significantly higher emotional support from their cats later in life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canine Socialisation: A Narrative Systematic Review

McEvoy

Espinosa

Crump

et al. 2022

Animals

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There are over 10 million pet dogs in the UK alone, and they have become a member of modern human families. If not properly socialised as puppies, dogs have a higher risk of problematic behaviours during adulthood, yet socialisation studies are lacking. Much of the experimental research was carried out at least 50 years ago, and the importance of socialisation was demonstrated so clearly that further studies with unsocialised controls would be deemed unethical. In this review, the aim was to evaluate all literature relevant to canine socialisation. This review used PRISMA-P guidelines to identify 29 studies: 14 were questionnaire-based studies (two of which also had a testing element), 15 included some form of experimental manipulation relating to socialisation, and one was a purely observational study. Based on this literature review, we recommend future research into minimum necessary socialisation levels, as well as breed differences in the timing of effective socialisation. Such studies will help owners and breeders produce well-adjusted adult dogs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canine Socialisation: A Narrative Systematic Review

McEvoy

Espinosa

Crump

et al. 2022

Animals

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“…Each housing unit was video-recorded for 24 h in mid-August, at the beginning of October and at the beginning of December, as described in Ahola et al (2001). Dim red bulbs (25 W) and fluorescent lamps (38 W) covered with red plastic film were used to provide dim light for the video-recordings.…”

Section: Measured Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Blood samples were drawn with cardiac puncture. The serum cortisol level (nmol l -1 ), as a maximum response to ACTH administration (Fraser and Broom 1990, Broom and Johnson 1993, Terlouw et al 1997, Ahola et al 2000, 2001, was analysed by a competitive immunoassay technique (Coat-A-Count Cortisol Assay by Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, CA).…”

Section: Ahola L Et Al Effects Of Group Size and Space Allocation mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of group size and space allocation on physiological, behavioural and production-related welfare parameters in farmed silver fox cubs

Ahola

Mononen²,

Pyykönen³

et al. 2002

AFSci

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Traditionally farmed silver fox cubs are raised after weaning either in pairs or singly in a traditional fox cage (1.2 m 2 ). However, this way of housing foxes has been criticised because the foxes may have limited chance to exercise and to show social behaviour. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different social and spatial conditions on the welfare of silver fox cubs. The cubs were housed singly, in pairs or in quartets with space allocation of either 0.6 or 1.2 m 2 per animal. Behavioural, physiological and production-related welfare parameters were assessed. The results revealed that space allocation had only minor effects on the measured welfare related parameters. With regard to social conditions, the results showed that the possibility for social behaviour is important for the welfare of young cubs. However, the welfare of the cubs may be jeopardised if they are kept in quartets beyond their natural dispersal time. Therefore, the welfare of silver fox cubs could be enhanced by allowing the cubs to enjoy of social companionship during the first months of their lives and by separating them into pairs in later autumn.

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“…In silver foxes themselves, it has been suggested that social housing may prove beneficial, especially during the summer, prior to the period of natural sub-adult dispersal . However, potential problems, such as aggression may occur during social housing, both in farmed fox species (Ahola et al, 2000(Ahola et al, , 2001(Ahola et al, , 2005 and many other captive social animals housed in groups (e.g. pigs; Marchant et al, 1995;calves, heifers and cows;Bøe and Faerevik, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The nature and strength of social motivations in young farmed silver fox vixens (Vulpes vulpes)

Hovland

Mason

Kirkden

et al. 2008

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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To investigate the strength of social motivation and the motives underlying social contact in farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes), we housed six young vixens continuously in a closed economy operant apparatus and measured their 'maximum price paid' when required to perform a task to obtain unrestricted social contact or food (a 'yardstick' resource). In the former trials, vixens of the same-age and origin acted as stimulus animals (N = 6), and both test and stimulus foxes could decide their own visit durations to a shared compartment. Their motives for visiting this 'social compartment' were examined by recording their behaviour during social contact. When access was almost free (a baseline fixed ratio schedule of 1) the test vixens visited the stimulus fox 30.3 AE 4.3 times and spent 45% of the time together per 24 h. The stimulus foxes spent on average 80% per 24 h in the shared compartment and visited this cage 40.7 AE 9.6 times per 24 h. When higher costs were imposed, the test vixens proved willing to pay to access the stimulus vixens and the average maximum price paid for contact was 38.3 AE 8.3% of the price paid for food when hungry. During the time spent together, the stimulus foxes made use of their opportunity to leave the cage, on average 1.43 AE 0.20 times per visit. The behaviour recordings showed that during initial encounters the vixens would fight to establish dominance, and in four of the pairs the test subject emerged as the dominant individual. However, during subsequent interactions, no serious aggression was recorded and social behaviour was characterised by higher levels of sniffing and grooming (23.7 AE 4.3 times/h), play signals (10.5 AE 4.1 times/h) and agonistic displays (5.5 AE 2.5 times/h). Not all of the time together was used for social interaction and during the observation period, the vixens allocated 33.1 AE 6.9% of the time to synchronous resting. We conclude that young silver fox vixens were motivated for social contact, and that this contact was beneficial for welfare due to the low level of aggression and the occurrence of grooming and play. #

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Welfare of farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) housed in sibling groups in large outdoor enclosures

Cited by 10 publications

References 16 publications

Canine Socialisation: A Narrative Systematic Review

Canine Socialisation: A Narrative Systematic Review

Effects of group size and space allocation on physiological, behavioural and production-related welfare parameters in farmed silver fox cubs

The nature and strength of social motivations in young farmed silver fox vixens (Vulpes vulpes)

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