Several small initiatives, each separately shown to improve welfare, were implemented

on one half of a private farm in order to examine if the initiatives could be implemented in

practice, without harming productivity and with a good effect on the welfare. The other

half of the farm served as control, and were managed in a more conventional way. The

implemented initiatives were: selection for confident animals, additional feeding during

winter-time, placement of mated females in every second cage, later weaning and later

placement of kits in male-female pairs, and fitting out cages with shelves and detached

occupational objects. The results showed that reproduction and pelt parameters were at

least not impaired by the implemented initiatives, and that the welfare was improved.

Welfare was measured on the basis of behaviour, temperament and pelt gnawing. The

welfare improvement was considerable, and much bigger than usually seen in

experiments involving more radical changes such as access to swimming water, group

housing, and larger cages. These bigger changes may even impair welfare. On that

basis. it is recommended that the starting point for welfare improvements for mink is the

existing, well-functioning cage-system, and that changes are implemented only to the

extent that measurable improvements for the mink are documented. The initiatives that

were tried out here were practicable and beneficial.Jeppesen, L.L. 2006. Welfare in mink - small changes matter. Annual Report 2005, 17-

Welfare in mink - small changes matter. Annual Report 2005, 17-

24. Danish Fur Breeders Research Center, Holstebro, Denmark.