Publications

Guidance on the transport of laboratory animals

Report of the Transport Working Group established by the Laboratory Animal Science Association (LASA)

Year Published: 2005Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Amphibian, Cat, Dog, Ferret, Frog & Toad, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Salamander

Citation: Swallow, J., Anderson, D., Buckwell, A. C. et al. 2005. Guidance on the transport of laboratory animals. Laboratory Animals 39(1), 1-39.

The impact of light, noise, cage cleaning and in-house transport on welfare and stress of laboratory rats

Human interaction and physical environmental factors are part of the stimuli presented to laboratory animals everyday, influencing their behaviour and physiology and contributing to their welfare. Certain environmental conditions and routine procedures in the animal facility might induce stress responses...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Husbandry & Management, Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Castelhano-Carlos, M. J., Baumans, V. 2009. The impact of light, noise, cage cleaning and in-house transport on welfare and stress of laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 43(4), 311-327.

The impact of transportation on physiological and behavioral parameters in Wistar rats: Implications for acclimatization periods

Transportation of laboratory rodents unavoidably causes stress. Nevertheless, very little is known about the effects of transportation and how long it takes for the animal to recuperate. In the present study, we investigated physiological and behavioral parameters before and after...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Arts, J. W., Kramer, K., Arndt, S. S. et al. 2012. The impact of transportation on physiological and behavioral parameters in Wistar rats: Implications for acclimatization periods. ILAR Journal 53(1), E82-98.

Cage-induced stereotypies in female ICR CD-1 mice do not correlate with recurrent perseveration

Stereotypies are repetitive, unvarying, apparently purposeless behavioural patterns. They develop in animals kept in barren environments and are highly prevalent in laboratory mice (Mus musculus), yet their underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. In humans, stereotypies are associated with several psychiatric...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gross, A. N., Engel, A. K. J., Richter, S. H. et al. 2011. Cage-induced stereotypies in female ICR CD-1 mice do not correlate with recurrent perseveration. Behavioural Brain Research 216(2), 613-620.

Welfare assessment in pigs using the salivary proteome

Identifying the potential presence of stress at the pig farm is fundamental since it affects pig welfare. As a result, a reliable and straightforward tool to monitor stress could record the welfare status of the animals. Although numerous methods to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Prims, S., Van Ginneken, C., Van Ostade, X. et al. 2024. Welfare assessment in pigs using the salivary proteome. Animals 14(11), 1703.

Effects of temporary access to environmental enrichment on measures of laboratory mouse welfare

Laboratory mice are typically housed in “shoebox” cages with limited opportunities to engage in natural behaviour. Temporary access to environments with increased space and complexity (playpens) may improve mouse welfare. Previous work by our group has shown that mice are...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ratuski, A. S., Améndola, L., Makowska, I. J. et al. 2024. Effects of temporary access to environmental enrichment on measures of laboratory mouse welfare. Scientific Reports 14(1), 15143.

Will the white blood cells tell? A potential novel tool to assess broiler chicken welfare

This study assessed qualitative and quantitative leukocyte evaluation as potential broiler chicken welfare indicators, contributing to the limited literature on white blood cell (WBC) morphology as a diagnostic tool for welfare. Broiler chicken welfare within four poultry houses (PH) 1...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Ribeiro, L. R. R., Sans, E. C. de O., Santos, R. M. et al. 2024. Will the white blood cells tell? A potential novel tool to assess broiler chicken welfare. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Rearing pigs with play opportunities: The effects on disease resilience in pigs experimentally inoculated with PRRSV

Positive emotions can reduce disease susceptibility during infectious challenges in humans, and emerging evidence suggests similar effects in farm animals. Because play behaviour may support a positive emotional state in pigs, this study investigates whether rearing pigs with regular intermittent...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Steinerová, K., Harding, J. C., Parker, S. E. et al. 2024. Rearing pigs with play opportunities: The effects on disease resilience in pigs experimentally inoculated with PRRSV. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

A simple and low-cost environmental enrichment program improves the welfare of Calomys callosus, a species that adapts to animal facilities

An environmental enrichment protocol is essential for testing experimental models because it upholds animal welfare, aligns with ethical principles in animal experimentation, and reduces the number of animals needed. Calomys callosus, a South American rodent from the Cricetidae family, is...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Klein, S. G., de Assis, T. S., Pereira, G. S. et al. 2024. A simple and low-cost environmental enrichment program improves the welfare of Calomys callosus, a species that adapts to animal facilities. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Comparing the use of enrichment items by cattle in a high containment facility

Interacting with environmental enrichment can reduce morbidity, agression and stereotypic behaviours improving both animal welfare and scientific data output. High containment facilities are limited on space, do not have natural scenery, the cattle are kept together in small groups and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Smith-Langridge, R. 2024, April. Comparing the use of enrichment items by cattle in a high containment facility. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(1), 41–43.