Direct scan sampling reliably reflects video recorded differences in stereotypy in selected lines of mink

The present study aimed to investigate whether different observation methods reveal uniform inter- individual and inter-group differences of stereotypic behaviour in mink. The mink came from two breeding lines (F3), a high stereotyping line (HSL; N=140) and a low stereotyping line (LSL; N=132). Direct scanning observations were performed from 06:00 to 18:00 h and divided into morning, midday and afternoon observations. Based on the direct observations, 12 high stereotyping animals (HSA) and 12 low stereotyping animals (LSA) were selected for 24 h video recording. Generally, there was a positive correlation between direct observations performed during morning, midday, and afternoon. The 24 h video observations also reliably reflected the individual differences and the group differences, and for the HSA they resulted in the same daytime level of stereotypy as the direct scanning. The only incongruity between the results of the two observation methods was that the LSA level of stereotypy was slightly underestimated by the direct scanning method.