Mink farming for fur involves the captive keeping of highly active, semi-aquatic predators in small wire cages, with an extensive welfare science literature documenting chronic suffering.
The welfare science on mink farming is among the most comprehensive for any farmed animal, and its conclusions are stark. Mink in standard farm conditions exhibit chronic stress, stereotypic behaviour indicative of poor welfare, and physiological markers of fear and frustration. The animals are semi-aquatic - denying them water for swimming causes significant welfare harm. Natural ranging behaviour cannot be expressed in cages that constrain even basic movement. The mink farming industry has responded with 'enriched' cages providing minimal improvements, but the fundamental incompatibility of mink psychology with intensive confinement is not addressed by minor enrichment additions.