Implementing housing refinements in a rhesus macaque colony (2005)

Reinhardt, V.

Abstract

Keeping rhesus macaques alone in barren cages and applying forced restraint during blood collection is a distressing experience for the animals. Refinement techniques were, therefore, developed and an attempt made to implement them in a biomedical research facility with 728 caged rhesus macaques. It was first shown that transferring the monkeys to compatible pair-housing arrangements, furnishing their cages with an elevated refuge area [perch] and training them to cooperate during blood collection were practicable refinement options that did not jeopardize the animals safety, did not interfere with common research protocols but enhanced the behavioral health of the animals and helped them avoid distress. After these pilot studies, 92% of the rhesus macaques were transferred from single-caging to permanent compatible pair-housing in double cages that were equipped with permanent perches, and 11% of the adult animals were successfully trained to cooperate during blood collection in their familiar home cages.