Fur farms & manufacturers
Fur farming or fur factory is the practice of breeding or raising certain types of animals for their fur
Fur used from wild caught animals is not farmed, and is instead known as 'free range fur' due to the fact the animals have lived their lives free and natural in the wild.
Most of the world's farmed fur is produced by European farmers. There are 6,000 fur farms in the EU. The EU accounts for 67% of global mink production and 70% of fox production. Denmark is the leading mink-producing country, accounting for nearly 40% of world production. Other major producers included the Netherlands, Russia, Finland, China, Sweden, and Canada.
Finland is the largest United States supplier of fox pelts. The United States is a major exporter of furskins. Major export markets include Canada, the EU, and Asia. Exports to Asia as a share of total exports grew from 22% in 1998 to 47% in 2002.
China is the largest importer of fur pelts in the world, therefore making it the largest re-exporter of finished fur products.
Fur farming is banned in Austria, Croatia (started on January 1, 2007, with a 10 year phase out period), and the United Kingdom. In Switzerland, the regulations for fur farming are very strict, with the result that there are no fur farms. Some other countries have a ban on fur farming of certain types of animals.
Demand fell in the late 1980s and 1990s because of a number of factors, including the failure of designers to come up with exciting new lines, and also the efforts of animal rights campaigners.
Since the turn of the millennium, however, sales worldwide have soared to record highs, fuelled by radically new techniques for working with fur, and a sharp rise in disposable income in China and Russia.
This growing demand has led to the development of extensive fur farming operations in countries such as China, where activist groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have raised concerns about inhumane treatment of animals and the nature of some slaughterhouse practices.
Most of the world's farmed fur is produced by European farmers. There are 6,000 fur farms in the EU. The EU accounts for 67% of global mink production and 70% of fox production. Denmark is the leading mink-producing country, accounting for nearly 40% of world production. Other major producers included the Netherlands, Russia, Finland, China, Sweden, and Canada.
Finland is the largest United States supplier of fox pelts. The United States is a major exporter of furskins. Major export markets include Canada, the EU, and Asia. Exports to Asia as a share of total exports grew from 22% in 1998 to 47% in 2002.
China is the largest importer of fur pelts in the world, therefore making it the largest re-exporter of finished fur products.
Fur farming is banned in Austria, Croatia (started on January 1, 2007, with a 10 year phase out period), and the United Kingdom. In Switzerland, the regulations for fur farming are very strict, with the result that there are no fur farms. Some other countries have a ban on fur farming of certain types of animals.
Demand fell in the late 1980s and 1990s because of a number of factors, including the failure of designers to come up with exciting new lines, and also the efforts of animal rights campaigners.
Since the turn of the millennium, however, sales worldwide have soared to record highs, fuelled by radically new techniques for working with fur, and a sharp rise in disposable income in China and Russia.
This growing demand has led to the development of extensive fur farming operations in countries such as China, where activist groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have raised concerns about inhumane treatment of animals and the nature of some slaughterhouse practices.
Mink
Minks have been farmed for fur in the United States for 130 years.
In 2005, the U.S. ranked fourth in production behind Denmark, China and the Netherlands. Mink typically breed in March, and give birth to their litters in May. Farmers vaccinate the young kits for botulism, distemper, enteritis, and, if needed, pneumonia.
They are harvested in late November and December. Methods for killing animals on fur farms, as on all farms, are detailed in the American Veterinary Medical Association's Report on Euthanasia which is used as a voluntary guideline for state departments of agriculture which have jurisdiction over all farms raising domesticated livestock, including mink.
Mink are bred once a year, the average litter is three or four kits. The best animals are kept for breeding stock for the next year and the remainder are killed for their pelts. The white mink, a northern European breed, was introduced into Canada in 1968.
In 2005, the U.S. ranked fourth in production behind Denmark, China and the Netherlands. Mink typically breed in March, and give birth to their litters in May. Farmers vaccinate the young kits for botulism, distemper, enteritis, and, if needed, pneumonia.
They are harvested in late November and December. Methods for killing animals on fur farms, as on all farms, are detailed in the American Veterinary Medical Association's Report on Euthanasia which is used as a voluntary guideline for state departments of agriculture which have jurisdiction over all farms raising domesticated livestock, including mink.
Mink are bred once a year, the average litter is three or four kits. The best animals are kept for breeding stock for the next year and the remainder are killed for their pelts. The white mink, a northern European breed, was introduced into Canada in 1968.
Chinchilla
The international trade in chinchilla fur goes back to the 16th century and the animal (whose name literally means "Little Chincha") is named after the Chincha people of the Andes, who wore its soft and dense fur. By the end of the 19th century, chinchillas had become quite rare.
In 1923, Mathias F. Chapman brought the eleven wild chinchillas he had captured to the U.S. for breeding. Only three of these were female.
Empress Chinchilla is the breeders association for the chinchilla farmers, many of whom are based in the United States, including California. Empress Chinchilla runs a certification program for farmers.
In 1923, Mathias F. Chapman brought the eleven wild chinchillas he had captured to the U.S. for breeding. Only three of these were female.
Empress Chinchilla is the breeders association for the chinchilla farmers, many of whom are based in the United States, including California. Empress Chinchilla runs a certification program for farmers.
Fox
Finland is the world's leading producer of fox pelts.
In the USA, fox production is about 10,000 pelts, produced in about 10 states. Wisconsin and Utah have the most mink farms in the USA.
Canada produces ten to fifteen times as many fox furs as the USA.
In the USA, fox production is about 10,000 pelts, produced in about 10 states. Wisconsin and Utah have the most mink farms in the USA.
Canada produces ten to fifteen times as many fox furs as the USA.
Dog and cat
The USA banned the import, export and sale of products made from dog and cat fur in 2000.
Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Belgium and Australia ban the import of cat and dog fur but the sale is still legal, and novelty items made from feral cat fur can sometimes be found in Australian gift shops, especially island areas.
The European Union ban on imports took affect as of the January 1, 2009. However, some products made with dog or cat fur may be mislabeled, on purpose or accidentally.
Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Belgium and Australia ban the import of cat and dog fur but the sale is still legal, and novelty items made from feral cat fur can sometimes be found in Australian gift shops, especially island areas.
The European Union ban on imports took affect as of the January 1, 2009. However, some products made with dog or cat fur may be mislabeled, on purpose or accidentally.
Rabbit
The main breed in the rabbit fur farming industry, is the Rex (Castor Rex and Chinchilla Rex).
Breeding animals are kept for up to 3 years, and usually give birth twice a year. The kindle are taken from their mothers at 4 weeks old to be put in a nursery with other kindle. After this the mothers are kept separated from their kits, and they get put together only for feeding. When the kits are 7 to 8 weeks old, they are put in solitary cages, where they are kept for about 6–7 months, and are harvested after they have shed their winter fur.
The rabbits are kept in bare wire mesh cages. A cage for one rabbit have the floor space of about two shoe boxes. The mortality rate for caged Rex is 10 – 15%, mostly from respiratory disease.
Another breed of rabbit, is the Orylag, which is farmed only in France. The Orylag is bred for fur and meat. They are slaughtered at about 20 weeks. It was bred by the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA). The mortality rate for caged Orylag is 25 – 30%, mostly from respiratory disease. Broken bones and traumatic lesions are common when rabbits are transported to the slaughter. A small percent is also dead on arrival, often due to the rabbits being tightly packed in, with poor ventilation.
Breeding animals are kept for up to 3 years, and usually give birth twice a year. The kindle are taken from their mothers at 4 weeks old to be put in a nursery with other kindle. After this the mothers are kept separated from their kits, and they get put together only for feeding. When the kits are 7 to 8 weeks old, they are put in solitary cages, where they are kept for about 6–7 months, and are harvested after they have shed their winter fur.
The rabbits are kept in bare wire mesh cages. A cage for one rabbit have the floor space of about two shoe boxes. The mortality rate for caged Rex is 10 – 15%, mostly from respiratory disease.
Another breed of rabbit, is the Orylag, which is farmed only in France. The Orylag is bred for fur and meat. They are slaughtered at about 20 weeks. It was bred by the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA). The mortality rate for caged Orylag is 25 – 30%, mostly from respiratory disease. Broken bones and traumatic lesions are common when rabbits are transported to the slaughter. A small percent is also dead on arrival, often due to the rabbits being tightly packed in, with poor ventilation.
By-Products
The meat from most fur-bearers is not usually eaten by humans. Therefore the animals carcasses will go on to become various products like animal feed, pet food, organic compost, fertilizer, paint and even tires. Carcasses will sometimes go to zoos and aquariums to feed animals, and some end up as crab bait. Mink faeces make crop fertiliser and their fat is turned into oil to manufacture soap, face oils, cosmetics and leather preservative.
Source: Wikipedia
Source: Wikipedia
Foxes are killed by anal electrocution
Matt Rossell shot this undercover footage of an Illinois fur farm. Animals used for fur live miserable lives until they are finally killed. Because there are no laws protecting them, fur animals are often killed by breaking their necks, anal electrocution, or by being skinned alive.
Asia's trade in dog & cat furs
*Warning* the following video contains upsetting and distressing acts of unnecessary animal abuse and cruelty and should be viewed with caution.
"I hate this business!" "I hate being in this business!" ...Words from the beautiful soul in this video who has clearly been affected by the acts of undue animal abuse and cruelty, committed towards the innocent cats and dogs in his time as an HSUS undercover investigator.
The barbaric killing of animals for their furs or pelts in the fur trade, in one simple word is just 'evil' and is unnecessary for any average human being. So why do we do it?
There is absolutely no need to cruelly kill innocent cats and dogs for a fur coat that you can wear at a dinner party; and is a completely unnecessary, barbaric, shocking, and unforgivable way to treat the world's most popular and #1 animal's, cats and dogs. (or any animal for that matter).
The unfortunate German Shepherd at the start of this video is still wagging his tail before a shocking act of animal cruelty takes place. Still wagging his tail, because he thinks the heartless human who is about to cruelly kill him may be doing something else (or someone maybe coming to help)
The cats and dogs in this video are no different then the ones you play with, hug and hold, and walk everyday; and do not deserve to be treated quite frankly like 'shit' in order to feed the incredibly selfish, immoral, and evil whims of the fur trade.
Please don't ever the support the evil acts of the fur trade by purchasing real animal furs which are often mis-labeled as 'fake' or even sold without a label at all! as in order to disguise where it originally came from.
Because if the unfortunate animals in this video could speak; they would no doubt agree with the below statement :)
"We have enslaved the rest of animal creation and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form."
- William Ralph Inge , British Author -
Truer words have never been spoken.
"I hate this business!" "I hate being in this business!" ...Words from the beautiful soul in this video who has clearly been affected by the acts of undue animal abuse and cruelty, committed towards the innocent cats and dogs in his time as an HSUS undercover investigator.
The barbaric killing of animals for their furs or pelts in the fur trade, in one simple word is just 'evil' and is unnecessary for any average human being. So why do we do it?
There is absolutely no need to cruelly kill innocent cats and dogs for a fur coat that you can wear at a dinner party; and is a completely unnecessary, barbaric, shocking, and unforgivable way to treat the world's most popular and #1 animal's, cats and dogs. (or any animal for that matter).
The unfortunate German Shepherd at the start of this video is still wagging his tail before a shocking act of animal cruelty takes place. Still wagging his tail, because he thinks the heartless human who is about to cruelly kill him may be doing something else (or someone maybe coming to help)
The cats and dogs in this video are no different then the ones you play with, hug and hold, and walk everyday; and do not deserve to be treated quite frankly like 'shit' in order to feed the incredibly selfish, immoral, and evil whims of the fur trade.
Please don't ever the support the evil acts of the fur trade by purchasing real animal furs which are often mis-labeled as 'fake' or even sold without a label at all! as in order to disguise where it originally came from.
Because if the unfortunate animals in this video could speak; they would no doubt agree with the below statement :)
"We have enslaved the rest of animal creation and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form."
- William Ralph Inge , British Author -
Truer words have never been spoken.
Bloody Harvest: The Real Cost of Fur
Over seven months, 30 fur farms, seven hours of footage and one and a half thousand photographs, Animal Defenders International investigated a random sample of Finnish fur farms. This investigation exposes the terrible suffering that is part and parcel of the fur industry.
Foxes and mink are wild animals but in fur farms, they cannot cope with the unnatural environment they find themselves in. Worse still, the conditions in these farms are awful: their short, miserable lives are spent in squalid surroundings full of fear and distress, suffering injuries, infection and deformities. All for an unnecessary product for which a variety of alternatives are available.
It is time for designers who use fur, and the people who wear it, to take responsibility for the way that the product they are wearing has been produced.
Foxes and mink are wild animals but in fur farms, they cannot cope with the unnatural environment they find themselves in. Worse still, the conditions in these farms are awful: their short, miserable lives are spent in squalid surroundings full of fear and distress, suffering injuries, infection and deformities. All for an unnecessary product for which a variety of alternatives are available.
It is time for designers who use fur, and the people who wear it, to take responsibility for the way that the product they are wearing has been produced.
Investigation of Norwegian fur farms in 2012
Chinchilla farm investigation
PETA fired off a letter to the USDA demanding that it begin protecting animals raised for the bloody fur trade after PETA investigators on a fur farm in Midland, Michigan, saw chinchillas who were being electrocuted, causing painful seizures to the animals' hearts, and having their necks snapped while fully conscious. Animals killed for their skins currently receive no federal protection from the kinds of abuses that the investigators witnessed.
Fur factory in Russia
Investigation into fur farms in Finland 2011
Finnish animal rights organisation Oikeutta Eläimille has published a new comprehensive investigation into the fur industry in Finland. Material includes 80 fur farms from all over Finland.
Watch all the videos and read more: http://tarhauskielto.fi/investigation-into-fur-farms-in-finland-2011
Watch all the videos and read more: http://tarhauskielto.fi/investigation-into-fur-farms-in-finland-2011
Investigation on Swedish fur farms
Shocking footage from an investigation on Swedish fur farms reveals minks crammed into small wire cages, suffering from open wounds, and resorting to cannibalism.
Kopenhagen Fur
responsible for horrifying animal cruelty
This video is from the danish newspaper Ekstrabladet.
It contains footage of danish production of mink- and foxfur recorded by animalrights activists, Anima, and journalists. It shows the horrible conditions that animals in the fur production in Denmark is living in.
Before these recording were aired on danish television on the 27 of october the danish fur industry, represented by Kopenhagen Fur, tried to stop the footage from being published by appealing for an injunction.
In this video you will see Erik Ugilt Hansen, President of Kopenhagen Fur, and Sander Jacobsen, Press Spokesman of Kopenhagen Fur being confronted by journalists, but they dont want to talk to the camera.
The last footage of suffering animals, you see in this video, is from Erik Ugilt Hansens own farm.
It contains footage of danish production of mink- and foxfur recorded by animalrights activists, Anima, and journalists. It shows the horrible conditions that animals in the fur production in Denmark is living in.
Before these recording were aired on danish television on the 27 of october the danish fur industry, represented by Kopenhagen Fur, tried to stop the footage from being published by appealing for an injunction.
In this video you will see Erik Ugilt Hansen, President of Kopenhagen Fur, and Sander Jacobsen, Press Spokesman of Kopenhagen Fur being confronted by journalists, but they dont want to talk to the camera.
The last footage of suffering animals, you see in this video, is from Erik Ugilt Hansens own farm.
