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Sand Floor for Farmed Blue Foxes : Effects on Claws, Adrenal Cortex Function, Growth and Fur Properties
Joint Authors
Ahola, Leena
Mononen, Jaakko
Koistinen, Tarja
Source
International Journal of Zoology
Issue
Vol. 2009, Issue 2009 (31 Dec. 2009), pp.1-6, 6 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2009-05-18
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
6
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
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.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Ahola, Leena& Koistinen, Tarja& Mononen, Jaakko. 2009. Sand Floor for Farmed Blue Foxes : Effects on Claws, Adrenal Cortex Function, Growth and Fur Properties. International Journal of Zoology،Vol. 2009, no. 2009, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-481037
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Ahola, Leena…[et al.]. Sand Floor for Farmed Blue Foxes : Effects on Claws, Adrenal Cortex Function, Growth and Fur Properties. International Journal of Zoology No. 2009 (2009), pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-481037
American Medical Association (AMA)
Ahola, Leena& Koistinen, Tarja& Mononen, Jaakko. Sand Floor for Farmed Blue Foxes : Effects on Claws, Adrenal Cortex Function, Growth and Fur Properties. International Journal of Zoology. 2009. Vol. 2009, no. 2009, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-481037
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-481037