Fur Farming Is a Future Business

As people we need the nature and the nature needs us. The well-being of the nature is our aim. This aim is possible to reach by maintaining and developing the present sources of livelyhood. Entrepreneurship is an essential part of the life on the countryside and the changes in landscape that the entrepreneurship has brought are also a part of the nature. Countryside and its own sources of livelyhood can be seen as a natural development in the circulation between the man and the nature.

Fur animals are happy in the northern climate

Fur farming is found in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia and North America. In Finland fur animals have been breeded for over 90 years. Finnish pelts are of good quality and respected all over the world.

Fur farming as an employment

In Ostrobothnia fur farming is an important employer. In Himanka fur farming employs directly over 80 persons and in Lohtaja about 45 persons. The indirect influence is over 70 jobs.

Research for animal welfare and good production

Fur animals have been researched by fur farmers for over 70 years. Nowadays the research is mainly done by Agrifood Research Finland. At Kannus Fur Farming Research Station they study the welfare of the fur animals, their behavior, growth, fertility and pelt quality. The aspiration of the research is to increase the well-being of the animals as well as to make their living conditions and the quality of the pelt better.

Environmental conservation

At the Research Stations in Kannus they also search sustainable and environmentally favourable solutions, for example methods for collecting, storing and developing the use of the droppings. The goal is to reduce the amount of waste caused to the water system. The Department of Environment has taken an interest in developing the use of fur animal leavings.

16 farms will be moved

There is a project in Himanka and Lohtaja to reduce the damages caused to the environment, to protect the nature and to develop the fur farming. The 16 biggest fur farms will be moved from the groundwater area to a more environmentally favourable location by the end of the year 2005. The relocation plan is based on EU legislation and the costs of it will be 12.000 euros. The moving plan will utilize the latest research results within the field and will be done according to the demands of the environment and animal protection of the near future.

Environmental impact

During the planning stage of the project a wide investigation of the environmental impact was carried out. The settlement consists of community economical, social and cultural influences. The documents concerning the plan can be found at: www.uudet-turkistarhat.com.

New farm area

A very important part of the relocation plan is to establish a new model area for fur farming. Besides consisting of the old, relocated farms, there is also a possibility for new farmers to establish their farms there. This new area is safe regarding groundwater and traffic. In addition it is situated near the composting plant.

Farmers are ready for all reformations, which are proven to clearly make the animals’ living conditions better and increase their welfare and can reasonably be carried out.

Well-being of the animals is the basis for all animal husbandry. On Finnish fur farms animals are taken good and professional care of.

The farmers have researched the living conditions of the fur animals, their behavior, welfare and the consistency of their food for over 70 years.

Further, in order to make sure the living conditions for fur animals are appropriate, also the needs of free space and impulses are researched and continuously developed.

Breeders on Finnish farms 2002

Mink approx. 520 000 animals

Blue fox 490 000

Silver fox 23 000

Raccoon dog 15 000

Polecat 250

Value of the pelt sale 2001/(1000 euro)

Whole Finland 227 231

Ostrobothnia 75 361

Kalajoki 14 549

Kaustinen 14 223

Himanka 6 922

Lohtaja 5 734

Kannus 5 161

Pelt production 2001

Mink Fox

Whole Finland 1 497 859 1 862 643

Himanka 103 061 43 266

Lohtaja 51 626 46 222

More information:

The Municipality of Himanka / The Development Company of Himanka Municipality

Raumankarintie 2, 68100 Himanka Tel: 358-(0)6- 8789 207

The Municipality of Lohtaja

Lokaniituntie 1, 68230 Lohtaja Tel: 358-(0)6-8812 200

Agrifood Research Finland

The Fur Farming Research Station of Kannus

Turkistie 8, 69100 Kannus Tel: 358-(096-8743 500

North Finnish Fur Breeders Association

Uunilanrantatie 2, 68100 Himanka Tel: 358-(0)6-875 405