Livestock

Farmed Mink Welfare and Fur Farming

Mink farming is banned in many countries due to serious welfare concerns about highly territorial animals in cages.

Key Facts

Mink farming is banned in UK, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Austria, and other countries
Mink in cages cannot swim, dig, or maintain territories
Stereotypic behaviours are present in up to 85% of cage-reared mink
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated mink farm closures in many countries

Welfare Considerations

Mink are semi-aquatic carnivores with strong motivations for swimming, burrowing, and maintaining large territories. Cage farming denies all of these fundamental behavioural drives. The high prevalence of stereotypies — circling, head-weaving, and self-mutilation — documents the chronic psychological suffering of caged mink. The evidence for welfare harm in mink farming is among the strongest for any farmed species.

What You Can Do

Avoid products containing mink fur or mink oil
Support campaigns for a global ban on mink farming
Donate to anti-fur campaigns and welfare organisations
Advocate for fur farming bans in your country if not already in place