More than numbers matter: The effect of social factors on behaviour and welfare of laboratory rodents and non-human primates (2006)

Olsson, I. A. S., Westlund, K.

Abstract

In the present paper, we are eviewing existing literature on how social factors influence laboratory rodents and non-human primates. Studies of deprivation, of preference and of demand indicate that both rodents and primates are highly motivated to interact with conspecifics. Altogether, the most commonly used laboratory rodents and primates belong to social species, and their behaviour and welfare are strongly affected by previous and present social environment. Factors such as group composition and stability, rank and previous social experience therefore need to be taken into account both when designing housing systems and when planning experiments and interpreting results.