Mink

Update initiated Oct 2010 

• Current Code of Practice for the care and handling of Mink (1988) • Factsheet 
• Media Release: Updated Mink Code of Practice in the Works

Code Development Progress

Revisions to the Code of Practice for Mink, using the NFACC Code development process, are slated for completion in fall 2012. For an overview of where the Code is in the development process follow the following links:

• Progress report
• Code timeline

Priority Welfare Issues List

The priority welfare issues are species specific and manageable topics that are considered to be important for animal welfare and will particularly benefit from a review of the available scientific literature.

The Code Development Committee (CDC) and the Scientists’ Committee (SC) each identify their respective lists. Once complete, the committees come together to collectively finalize the priority welfare issues for the species. The SC then reviews the scientific literature for each priority welfare issue and develops a report synthesizing the research results, summarizing the consensus (if any), and identifying any gaps requiring further research.  See full SC Terms of Reference.

The CDC uses the SC report to develop requirements and recommendations around the priority welfare issues in the Code of Practice.

Following is the priority welfare issues list for the Mink Code of Practice update:

• Physical Aspects of Housing
  • Cage size and stocking density
  • Environmental enrichment
  • Nest box requirements
• Animals in the Housing
  • Group/family/juvenile housing (separation strategy)
  • Weaning age
• Nutrition Concerns
  
  • Management to maintain ideal body condition
    • Food deprivation
    • Winter feeding
    • Feed and feeding related diseases
    • Melatonin use
• Euthanasia
  • Methods of humane euthanasia

Note: other welfare topics for the species will be covered by the CDC. The priority welfare issue list is comprised of issues that would particularly benefit from a review of the available scientific literature.

Committees

Mink Code Development Committee members

Participants are defined as per NFACC’s Code of Practice guidelines.

Mink Scientists’ Committee

• Gord Finley (Chair)
• Kirsti Rouvinen-Watt
• Georgia Mason
• Ed Pajor
• Brooke Aitken (Research Writer)

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