Mink farming in the UK

THE LAW & BRITISH FARMED MINK

Produced by the British Fur Council, June 1999

For further information: Tel: +44 (0)171 281 2487; Fax:+44 (0)171 281 1374; info@britishfurcouncil.com. Copies of the national legislation referred to in this briefing can be obtained from HMSO.

As with other livestock farming in the UK, the health and welfare of farmed mink is safeguarded by the provisions of the "European Convention for the Protection of animals kept for farming purposes" (also known as the Council of Europe Recommendation on fur [farmed] animals), the "European Directive on Farm Animal Welfare", and national legislation.

European Convention for the Protection of animals kept for farming purposes, Recommendation concerning fur animals 1999
The Convention contains welfare rules for supervision, housing, management, breeding and slaughter. New scientific evidence when adopted by the Council of Europe is enshrined in Recommendations on minimum standards. It can then be applied in member countries if it is considered to further improve existing animal welfare standards. The UK government is one of 40 European countries represented in the Council of Europe.

European Union Directive on farm animal welfare 1998
The Directive lays down general provisions on the welfare of all farmed animals and harmonises standards for EU countries based on the "European Convention for the Protection of animals kept for farming purposes". The definition of farmed animals applies to "any animal kept for the production of food, wool, skin or fur."

Mink Keeping Order 1997
The Order enables the keeping of farmed mink in the UK under licence.

The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995
The welfare regulations set out the three permitted methods for slaughtering farmed mink – by lethal injection of a drug with anaesthetic properties, or inhalation methods using carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. This is the UK legislation implementing EU Directive 93/119/EC on the handling of mink at the time of slaughter.

Mink Keeping Regulations 1975 and the Mink Keeping (Amendment) Regulations 1997
The Regulations deal with the physical environment in which mink are farmed in the UK and the necessary precautions to prevent their escape.

The Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968
The Act and its subordinate legislation make it an offence to cause or allow livestock on UK farms any unnecessary pain or distress. The definition of livestock applies to animals being kept for the production of food, wool, skin or fur on farms.

ANIMAL WELFARE & BRITISH FARMED MINK

Under the "European Convention for the Protection of animals kept for farming purposes", "The Recommendation concerning fur animals" contains welfare rules for nourishment, housing, daily supervision and slaughter. The Recommendation is regularly revised as part of the normal review process.

Nourishment – Food & Water
Mink are fed a wet feed made from fish and poultry by-products. Feed is prepared on site. Based on research, mink feed contains high nutrient content, which is adjusted to complement the production cycle of the animals. Feeding plans are typically changed five times a year. The animals have access to water at all times by means of a drinking valve in the cage.

Housing – Shelter, Pens & Nesting Boxes
Mink cages provide sufficient area for the mink to perform natural physical movement and allow for comfort activities such as rest, sleep, grooming, defecation and, in the case of breeding pens, the rearing of young.

Nesting boxes are provided for breeding purposes so that the mink can rest and sleep comfortably. The nest boxes are bedded with straw or shavings.

Shelter and housing for mink comprise open-sided sheds with roofing panels and cages with nesting boxes. Sheds are fitted with wide overhead light panels. A protective fence is placed around the farm to ensure that mink do not escape into the surrounding environment and to protect the animals from predators or disease-carrying wildlife.

Supervision – Daily Inspection & Record Keeping
Farmers supervise the animals on a daily basis. Inspections are made even more frequently during the lead up to birth and the suckling period. Farmers have regular contact with veterinary surgeons so that necessary measures can be taken quickly in the event of disease. Scientists describe the state of health among farmed mink as excellent and major outbreaks of disease are rarely seen. Young mink (kits) are vaccinated against diseases such as botulism and distemper. Veterinary officials from the State Veterinary Service carry out regular inspections.

Slaughter – Regulated Methods
Mink are humanely killed on the farm, thus avoiding the stress of transportation to slaughterhouses. Farmers follow the provisions of The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 on the handling of animals at the time of slaughter. Inhalation procedures using carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide are used on British farms.

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