Research

My research is in the effects of housing systems and management on health, welfare and production of mink (Neovison Vison). Methods for assessment of the impact of production factors, on the health and welfare status of mink, is developed, tested and applied in management procedures on private farms. Management tools are developed in order to support the tactical and operational management of the mink farmer. Planning and control of the mink farm is supported by aggregation of scientific evidence and practical experience, into systematic operation programmes and management solutions for different production periods. At the tactical level, the use of on-farm experiments and of aggregated farm production data is investigated, in order to develop farm specific information on the need for adjustments in management. 

Since 2010, the main focus has been on aggregating the scientific knowledge into a valid, reliable and feasible on-farm welfare assessment protocol for mink. The resulting WelFur Mink protocol has been developed according to the Welfare Quality ® principles but with three seasonal visits to assess welfare in the significant parts of the annual production cycle. WelFur has been implementated on approx. 2500 mink farms in Europe since 2017. The welfare assessment is carried out by independent auditors from a private, independent certification company, trained by WelFur researchers from the AU. WelFur Mink assessment results from the three first years of implementation was analysed and published in 2022, based on more than 6.000 on-farm assessments at 2104 mink farms from 23 European countries. 

Commissioned

This includes written reports in relation to questions/tasks given by the national parliament of Denmark, EU, and comments to drafts of legislation for the keeping of mink. Appointed Danish expert member of the European Union Reference Centre for Animal Welfare For Poultry and other small farmed animals 2020 - . And for Fødevarestyrelsens “Arbejdsgruppe til udarbejdelse af initiativer til øget kontrol af dyresundhed og dyrevelfærd hos pelsdyravlere” 2009 – 2010, leading to the implementation of ”Health advisory Wets” appointet to all mink farms in Denmark. Appointed expert member in the Norwegian ‘Matdepartementets Utvalg for gennemgang av pelsdyrnæringen i Norge’ og medforfatter til Norges Offentlige Utredninger 2014:15 “Norsk pelsdyrhold – bærekraftig utvikling eller styrt avvikling? — Gjennomgang av pelsdyrnæringen”. Invited expert in 2011 meeting and commenting on the Canadian “Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farmed Mink”. Invited expert in 2014 meeting and commenting on the Cinese “Technical Regulations on the Raising, Breeding, and Utilization of Mink, Fox and Raccoon Dog”.

Cooperation and dissemination

Through an international collaboration with 7 universities from 6 European countries, I have been responsible for building a welfare assessment protocol for mink in the form of WelFur Mink.

Since 2013 I have been the Coordinator of fur animal research at Aarhus University.

Since 2000 I have been a board member of, and since 2008 I have been the President of IFASA (International Fur Animal Scientific Association).

Teaching

1999. Ph.D. degree in "Production management" from The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Dissertation: ’Management of mink production’. 

1985. Cand. agro. in animal science from The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen. Project title: ‘Dietary fiber in mink feed’