COMPARISON OF PRODUCTION RESULTS BETWEEN BLUE FOXES HOUSED WITH AND WITHOUT PLATFORMS

The production results of farmed blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) housed in cages with and without resting platforms were compared. No difference s in weight gain or reproductive performance were found between the gr oups. However, locomotor activity prior to the breeding season tended to be slightly lower in animals provided with platforms. Platform use during the period of winter fur development (Oct-Nov) varied for the d ifferent platform constructions, being highest in wooden U-type platfo rms placed 30 cm from the cage roof (54.1% of observations on platform s) and lowest in the corner platform type (12.6%, p<0.001). Use of pla tforms made of wire mesh (45.2%) did not differ significantly from tha t of the wooden U-types. Ceiling and construction material affected pl atform dirtiness. The proportion of clean platforms was lowest (35.7%) when the platform was 30 cm from the roof. Net platforms remained ver y clean throughout the study. The time required for cleaning was great est in August, ranging from 82 seconds/platform/week for the U-30 type to 2 seconds for the net type. Fur quality (p<0.001) and clarity (p<0 .001) had a significant, but negative, correlation with platform dirti ness. The condition of almost all the wooden platforms deteriorated ov er time due to chewing. Wire mesh platforms were not chewed on. From t he farmer's point of view, wire mesh seems to be preferable to wood as a platform material.