Mink are semi-aquatic carnivores with complex behavioural needs that cannot be met in standard fur farm wire cage systems, driving widespread welfare concerns.
Mink welfare in cage systems is severely compromised. The inability to swim, forage, or maintain territories causes profound frustration and chronic stress. Stereotypies reflect irreversible neurological damage from early deprivation. The evidence base for poor welfare is among the strongest for any farmed species, underpinning widespread phase-out legislation.