EFFECTS OF IMMOBILITY STRESS AND FOOD RESTRICTION ON STEREOTYPIES IN LOW AND HIGH STEREOTYPING FEMALE RANCH MINK

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of repeated immobilisations and food restriction on normal activity and stereotypies in low and high stereotyping female ranch mink. Repeated immobilisations had immediate inhibitory effects on normal activity and stereotypies in both groups, whereas food restriction had the opposite immediate effects. Subsequent to both immobilisations and food restriction, stereotypies were increased, whereas normal activities returned to pre-experimental levels. Repeated immobilisations were followed by increases in cortisol levels in both low and high stereotyping females. High stereotyping females had lower baseline cortisol levels than low stereotypers but tended to show higher cortisol responses to immobilisations. These results indicate that stressful experiences may affect stereotypies, but that the direction of the changes depends on type of stressor as well as the duration of exposure to the stressor. It is moreover suggested that stereotypies can be emancipated.