Publications

Early rearing of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) with mild current enrichment modifies fish swimming behavior without altering their growth performance

The implementation of conditions that favor optimum swimming activity (e.g., suitable flow regimes), has been associated with enhanced growth and improved welfare in some farmed fish species. Despite the importance of European seabass in aquaculture, the potential beneficial effects of...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Magnoni, L. J., Cousin, X., Leguen, I. et al. 2025. Early rearing of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) with mild current enrichment modifies fish swimming behavior without altering their growth performance. Physiology & Behavior 289, 114742.

Elevating the welfare of mouse dams: A pilot study on elevated tunnels for breeding mice

Mouse dams and their pups may benefit from more gradual weaning, but this is not possible in standard laboratory cages because dams cannot physically separate from their pups. Allowing mouse dams to control nursing may improve their welfare and encourage...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ratuski, A. S., Makowska, I. J., Weary, D. M., 2024. Elevating the welfare of mouse dams: A pilot study on elevated tunnels for breeding mice. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(5) (September/October), 52–55.

Reducing hay waste from New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by switching to hanging wire feeders from conventional food bowls

Rabbits require daily dietary fiber (hay) to help maintain a healthy digestive tract. As per our standard operating procedure (SOP), we give the rabbits hay and other daily food enrichment in a bowl. Rabbits are intelligent, playful, and curious animals...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Hayes, R. A., Baker, C. L., Birke, L. L. 2024. Reducing hay waste from New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by switching to hanging wire feeders from conventional food bowls. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(3) (May/June), 40–42.

Easy rabbit intubation for all: Ear canal camera as an economical alternative to video laryngoscope

Endotracheal (ET) intubation is challenging in rabbits compared to other species due to their deep, narrow oral cavity, large incisors, and large tongue which hinders laryngoscopic visualization. When rabbit intubation is needed, a blind technique is commonly employed rather than...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & IntubationAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Moffitt, A. D., McDaid, K. 2024. Easy rabbit intubation for all: Ear canal camera as an economical alternative to video laryngoscope. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(4) (July/August), 16–19.

Non-invasive electroencephalography in awake cats: Feasibility and application to sensory processing in chronic pain

Background: Feline osteoarthritis (OA) leads to chronic pain and somatosensory sensitisation. In humans, sensory exposure can modulate chronic pain. Recently, electroencephalography (EEG) revealed a specific brain signature to human OA. However, EEG pain characterisation or its modulation does not exist...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Imaging & Electrophysiological RecordingAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Delsart, A., Castel, A., Dumas, G. et al. 2024. Non-invasive electroencephalography in awake cats: Feasibility and application to sensory processing in chronic pain. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 411, 110254.

Getting to the root of the problem…How to maximize swine environmental enrichment opportunities in the laboratory animal setting

Swine rooting refers to the natural behavior of pigs to root or dig in soil with their snouts in search of food, roots, insects, and other edible items. This behavior is deeply ingrained in the natural instincts of swine and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: De La Garza, F., Long, C. T., Cannon, C. Z. 2024. Getting to the root of the problem…How to maximize swine environmental enrichment opportunities in the laboratory animal setting. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(3) (May/June), 30–35.

The extent and function of ‘food grinding’ in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus)

Many laboratory rodents grind their food into crumbs that are discarded at the bottom of the cage (sometimes called orts). This can have substantial impacts on measures of food intake and assimilation efficiency. We quantified food grinding in two laboratory...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Cameron, K. M., Speakman, J. R. 2010. The extent and function of ‘food grinding' in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus). Laboratory Animals 44(4), 298-304.

Effect of ground transportation on adrenocortical activity in prepuberal female mice from five different genetic backgrounds

Specific experimental protocols necessitate transportation, a potentially stressful event that could confound results. We determined adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs), as a stress marker, in prepuberal (three-week old) female C57BL/6J, C57BL/6NCrl, FVB/NCrl, Crl:CD1(ICR), and BALB/cAnCrl mice. On...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Rumpel, S., Scholl, C., Göbel, A. et al. 2019. Effect of ground transportation on adrenocortical activity in prepuberal female mice from five different genetic backgrounds. Animals 9(5), 239.

Poultry enrichment in a research setting

Poultry, like all purpose bred birds, are one of the handful of animals that are not a covered species by the USDA in a research setting. While there are recommendations for husbandry and care available, there are not many defined...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Scamardo, A., 2024. Poultry enrichment in a research setting. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(6) (November/December), 25-28.

Familiar versus unfamiliar: Revealing the complexity of sociability in pigs

Social behaviours are fundamental to gregarious animals and a dynamic force driving social structures, conflicts and cooperation. As a personality trait, sociability is defined as the individual reaction to the presence or absence of conspecifics and the motivation to associate...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Ambruosi, S., De Angelis, F., Chou, J.-Y. et al. 2024. Familiar versus unfamiliar: Revealing the complexity of sociability in pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 275, 106248.