Mink farming has been banned in over 20 countries following welfare and disease concerns - the transition away from fur and the economic alternatives for former farmers.
Mink farming represents one of the clearest cases of irreconcilable animal welfare problems in commercial farming. Mink are semi-aquatic mustelid predators with large natural range requirements - keeping them in small wire cages causes chronic welfare harm including severe stereotypic behaviours, self-mutilation, and impaired psychological wellbeing. The expanding ban movement reflects scientific consensus on the welfare impossibility of humane commercial mink farming. Supporting the transition of affected farmers to alternative livelihoods is an important part of the reform agenda.