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Water absorption and the drying and cooling rates in mink (Mustela vison) following simulated diving

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

H. T. Korhonen  and
P. Niemelä
H. T. Korhonen*
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Animal Production Research, Fur Animals, FIN-69100 Kannus, Finland
P. Niemelä
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Animal Production Research, Fur Animals, FIN-69100 Kannus, Finland
*
E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate water absorbing capacity and the drying and cooling rates of fur in farmbred male mink (Mustela vison) following 10 s of simulated diving. Comparisons were made between adult animals with summer and winter fur. The water loss from a swimming pool following diving in summer amounted to 146 (s.e. 14) g and 152 (s.e. 9) g in dry and wet mink, respectively (P > 0·05). During winter the corresponding values averaged 148 (s.e. 9) and 125 (s.e. 7) g, respectively (not significant: P > 0·05). No significant differences between summer and winter were found for dry mink. In wet-coated mink, on the other hand, water loss from the swimming pool was significantly greater (P 0·05) in summer than in winter. Drying of the fur was slow and significantly (P 0·05) affected by season so that half of the 100 g water absorbed by fur evaporated within 20 min during winter (at –2°C) whereas in summer (at +18°C) it took 60 min. A slower drying rate in summer could be benefical as it allows long-term body cooling in warm environment. Cooling constants of winter-coated dry mink (0·01955 (s.e. 0·00183) per min) were not significantly different (P > 0·05) from those of winter-coated wet mink (0·02091 (s.e. 0·00144) per min) indicating that energy costs of wet fur after diving are not critical for the survivial of the mink during winter.

Keywords

animal welfareenergy cost of activitiesfurminkswimmingthermoregulation
Type
Non-ruminant nutrition, behaviour and production
Information
Animal Science , Volume 74 , Issue 2 , April 2002 , pp. 277 - 283
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2002

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