Killing at the time of pelting

Killing mink

When pelting is carried out, most of the farm’s stock is killed and only animals to be used for breeding are saved. Pelting takes place when the young mink are seven to eight months old. The most common killing method for pelting in Sweden involves connecting a cylinder of carbon dioxide gas to a large box. This box accommodates several mink at the same time. Another model which is becoming less and less common involves a rotor where the mink are killed one at a time.

The animal protection clause in the previous paragraph states that it must be possible to inspect the animals visually during killing. To achieve good animal welfare, it is important for the arrangement on the killing box which is provided to allow the animals to be inspected visually can be covered over. The aim of this is to prevent stress among the animals by keeping their environment dark.

Killing with a box

There are three options when killing with a box: (1) The box is filled with gas and the mink are then placed one at a time into the box. (2) The mink are placed one at a time into the box and the box is taken to the gas, which is then used to fill the box. (3) The mink are caught using a trap or placed in a transport cage and then driven on a trolley to the killing box and transferred to it. The first alternative is most commonly preferred, and it is also the alternative which Svensk pälsdjursuppfödares riksförbund, the Swedish Fur Breeders Association, advocates to its members.

Killing with a gas-filled box

This method requires the trolley on which the killing box is placed to be able to accommodate the gas cylinders as well. Transporting the cylinders with the box means that extra gas can be added just before the first mink is placed in the box, and then extra gas can be added as necessary until the last mink has been placed in the box. The aim of this is to not run the risk of the carbon dioxide concentration falling below 80% in the box while killing is in progress. Killing must be monitored carefully to ensure that the mink are rendered unconscious within the time specified.

The carbon dioxide concentration may fall while killing is in progress due to the mink having air in their lungs when they were placed in the box, for example, and due to turbulence causing gas to leak out even though carbon dioxide is a heavy gas. This method means that the mink are rendered unconscious and die as they are placed in the box. It is appropriate to wait from 20 to 30 seconds before placing the next link in the box so that the previous mink has had time to be rendered unconscious. It is very important to keep the box dark so that the mink remain calm and are not subjected to unnecessary.

The mink are placed in the box before the gas is pumped in.

The killing box is driven out onto the farm and the mink are placed one at a time into the box. When the box has been filled with the number of mink to be killed or the maximum number of mink in the box has been reached, the box is transported to the gas cylinders. The box is then filled with gas. It is very important to keep the box dark so that the mink remain calm and do not confront one another. It is also important for the box to be transported to the gas cylinders and for the gas to be pumped in without delay. This method means that the mink are kept together in an enclosed space and are fully conscious for several minutes. This could involve a risk of the mink injuring one another, but this method is tried and tested on Swedish mink farms. The new situation together with the sudden change in light conditions seems to counteract the occurrence of injuries. This method also means that it takes a while for the gas to reach 80% and it takes longer for unconsciousness to occur than if the mink had been placed in an entirely gas-filled box. Hence this method is not recommended; instead, it is advocated that the killing box should be filled with gas before the mink are placed in it.

Transport to the killing box

The mink are caught with a trap or with gloves and are then placed in a transport cage. The mink are then transported, stacked on a trolley, to the killing box, which is filled with gas before the mink are placed in one at a time, according to the description of alternative one. The disadvantage of this method is that the mink are subjected to stress when they are placed in the traps or transport cages. Although this transport is brief, some of the advantage of mink killing is eliminated in that they are not able to remain in their home environment until seconds before they die. These cages restrict the freedom of movement of the mink, and as the cages are open the mink can see what is happening around them. Note that these transport cages are the ones used to transport the mink around the farm. Special cages are used for transporting breeding animals from farm to farm, and these are more comfortable than the transport cages used around the farm.

Photo not available at the moment!

The pictures show a mink placed in the killing box through the tube which leads down into the box using a trap. Photograph: SLU.

At the time of, all animals in a building or row of cages are frequently killed and only a small number of individuals are saved for breeding. The animals are killed in batches of several at a time, after one another. This may cause them to influence one another by making noises and running round in the cage. Odours excreted by a frightened animal may also affect animals nearby.

When several animals are killed one after the other, they are affected by the odours, sounds and movements from one another. Changing the glove – which is important when killing sick and injured animals – is of less significance in this case.

Mink of the Hedlund White colour type are deaf and cannot hear other mink making noises or the increase in noise levels caused by movements.

However, their other senses such as touch and smell may be heightened. This may mean that they are affected just as much as mink of the other colour types during handling at the time of pelting.

Killing box for mink, used for pelting. Photograph: SLU

Killing injured and sick animals

Remember that an injured or sick animal will be more readily stressed, and that it has an impaired ability to deal with stress due to the disease or injury. If possible, it is a good idea to take the killing equipment to the injured or sick animal’s cage so as to reduce the stress involved in having to move it. If this is not possible, the animal must be moved in a transport cage or trap to the killing equipment in order to reduce the risk of suffering should the animal escape. Feeling that it is sitting on a firm floor may also make the animal calmer, along with the fact that this enables it to get further away from the farmer; this can make it calmer if it is not used to being handled.

If the animal is kept in a cage with other individuals and there is a risk of these individuals causing harm or suffering to the animal, it is important to move the animal as soon as possible and then kill it immediately. Ideally, use a clean glove when handling injured or sick animals as older gloves may carry odours from animals handled previously, which may cause fear in the animals. Given the fact that odours from previously handled individuals might frighten the sick or injured animal, it is good idea to capture the animal using a trap in which the animal can be transported. However, this assumes that the animal is in a condition which will allow it to be caught easily with the trap. If the animal is so sick or injured that there is a risk of causing the animals stress or suffering by catching it with a trap, a glove must be used to catch the animal.