A.L. <strong>Hovland</strong> <strong>et</strong> <strong>al</strong>. / Applied Anim<strong>al</strong> Behaviour Science 135 (2011) 110–120 11940% <strong>of</strong> the time vixens spent tog<strong>et</strong>her was used for synchronousresting). Furthermore, the strength <strong>of</strong> soci<strong>al</strong>motivation was positively related to this synchronous restingbehaviour. Thus the strongest motives for seekingcontact may be related to a need to feel secure during periods<strong>of</strong> increased vulnerability, like, e.g. during sleep. Soci<strong>al</strong>resting in close physic<strong>al</strong> contact was <strong>al</strong>so observed in th<strong>et</strong>wo pairs that paid the highest relative prices for contact;this behaviour may indicate the greatest soci<strong>al</strong> tolerance(Van Loo <strong>et</strong> <strong>al</strong>., 2004).4.4. Concluding remarksIn summary, adult silver fox vixens were motivated forsoci<strong>al</strong> contact with a same-aged vixen, and soci<strong>al</strong> interactionswere largely amicable. However, their maximumprice paid for contact was far lower than their motivationfor food. Furthermore, the motives for seeking contactvaried b<strong>et</strong>ween subjects, and related to aggression, aswell as to soci<strong>al</strong> resting. Due to some subjects’ aggressiveintentions for seeking soci<strong>al</strong> contact soci<strong>al</strong> environmentsfor adult vixens should ide<strong>al</strong>ly include opportunities forr<strong>et</strong>reat in case <strong>of</strong> aggression; an arrangement which maybe difficult to achieve under commerci<strong>al</strong> conditions. Alternatively,soci<strong>al</strong> caging could be preceded by robust tests forsoci<strong>al</strong> compatibility; som<strong>et</strong>hing our food comp<strong>et</strong>ition testssuggest is possible.Future studies <strong>of</strong> soci<strong>al</strong>ity and soci<strong>al</strong> housing in farmedfoxes should replicate this work on a larger sc<strong>al</strong>e, to buildup a fuller picture <strong>of</strong> the prev<strong>al</strong>ence <strong>of</strong> aggressive versusaffiliative relationships across multiple pairs. In particular,it would be interesting to replicate our two Food Tests toassess how the order or season <strong>of</strong> the test affects its abilityto provide reliable predictive information on stable aspects<strong>of</strong> vixen–vixen relationships. They could <strong>al</strong>so replicate thesoci<strong>al</strong> operant tri<strong>al</strong>s at different times <strong>of</strong> year, to investigatewh<strong>et</strong>her soci<strong>al</strong>ity changes with hormon<strong>al</strong> status; andinclude longitudin<strong>al</strong> studies <strong>of</strong> pairs <strong>of</strong> fem<strong>al</strong>es that areraised tog<strong>et</strong>her from cub-hood, to study how vixen soci<strong>al</strong>itychanges with age and soci<strong>al</strong> experience.AcknowledgementsThis study was supported by the Norwegian ResearchCouncil and the Norwegian Fur Breeders’ Association.Thanks to the staff at the university research farm for takinggood care <strong>of</strong> the anim<strong>al</strong>s and for v<strong>al</strong>uable help in monitoringthe experiment.ReferencesAkre, A.K., <strong>Hovland</strong>, A.L., Bakken, M., 2010a. 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