REPRODUCTION IN SILVER-FOX VIXENS IN BREEDING BOXES WITH AND WITHOUT AN ENTRANCE TUNNEL

On nine farms in a joint fur-farm area, reproduction was studied in 834 silver-fox vixens (Vulpes vulpes L.), half of which were primiparous. Two different breeding boxes with a narrow entrance tunnel and two versions of a traditional box were used. The vixens had access to the box after insemination. No effect of box type was found on two farms with a high reproduction. In the remaining seven farms, vixens in tunnel boxes more often bore offspring and had a lower cub mortality 0-3 weeks postpartum than vixens in traditional boxes. The effects were most pronounced for primiparous vixens. It is concluded that breeding boxes with an entrance tunnel may improve the reproduction and the welfare of both vixens and their offspring.