Publications

Evaluation of score parameters for severity assessment of surgery and liver cirrhosis in rats

Severity assessment in animals is an ongoing field of research. In particular, the question of objectifiable and meaningful parameters of score-sheets, as well as their best combination, arise. This retrospective analysis investigates the suitability of a score-sheet for assessing severity...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Krueger, J. C., Habigt, M. A., Helmedag, M. J. et al. 2023. Evaluation of score parameters for severity assessment of surgery and liver cirrhosis in rats. Animal Welfare 32, e29.

The benefit of study plans to facility management

The introduction of the study plans has been a great positive for research at KCL by ensuring compliance and helping to promote the principles of the 3Rs. They have helped prevent non-compliance and given the animal facility staff easy access...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Laniyan, F., Pearce, C., Hammonds, J. et al. 2023. The benefit of study plans to facility management. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 244–245.

Cooped up: Refinement of a Gallus gallus domesticus environment

Providing an enriched species specific environment, coupled with the principles of the 3Rs (Refinement, Reduction and Replacement) is at the heart of the poulty team team at The Pirbright Institute. Periodically reviwed custom made cage designs (Raised Floor Pens) have...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Matthews, B., New, R., Kanse, Y. M. et al. 2023. Cooped up: Refinement of a Gallus gallus domesticus environment. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 228–230.

A survey of handling and transportation of UK farmed deer

Studies on the transport of deer (Cervidae), in the UK, were published > 15 years ago. A more recent study of deer transport is required to allow for assessments and improvements to the transport of farmed deer. Sixteen deer farmers...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Pearce, S. J., Foster, A. P., Knowles, T. G. et al. 2023. A survey of handling and transportation of UK farmed deer. Animal Welfare 32, e30.

Tamoxifen exacerbates morbidity and mortality in male mice receiving medetomidine anaesthesia

Tamoxifen-induced CreER-LoxP recombination is often used to induce spatiotemporally controlled gene deletion in genetically modified mice. Prior work has shown that tamoxifen and tamoxifen-induced CreER activation can have off-target effects that should be controlled. However, it has not yet been...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Rashbrook, V. S., Denti, L., Ruhrberg, C. 2023. Tamoxifen exacerbates morbidity and mortality in male mice receiving medetomidine anaesthesia. Animal Welfare 32, e78.

The role of review and regulatory approvals processes for animal research in supporting implementation of the 3Rs

The NC3Rs commissioned this work towards the end of 2021, based on a concern that advances in the 3Rs often take a long time to come into routine use. Most research in the academic sector using animals is reviewed three...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Rawle, F. 2023. The role of review and regulatory approvals processes for animal research in supporting implementation of the 3Rs. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 175–188.

An effective environmental enrichment framework for the continual improvement of production animal welfare

Substrates and objects are provided to farm animals on the assumption that they improve animal welfare by enriching the environment, but these often fail to consider the extent to which an environmental enrichment (EE) improves animal welfare, if at all....

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Taylor, P. S., Schrobback, P., Verdon, M. et al. 2023. An effective environmental enrichment framework for the continual improvement of production animal welfare. Animal Welfare 32, e14.

Refining the welfare of immunocompromised mice receiving carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) to induce liver fibrosis

Our method provides evidence that we can alter CCI4 dosing and implement recovery techniques to enhance Animal Welfare, whilst maintaining sufficient levels of fibrosis in the liver.

Year Published: 2023Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Walczak-Gillies, Matthews, O., Fyfe, A. et al. 2023. Refining the welfare of immunocompromised mice receiving carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) to induce liver fibrosis. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 237–239.

Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats

With recent increased focus on positive welfare in animal welfare science, there is demand for objective positive welfare indicators. It is unclear whether changes in body surface temperature can be used to non-invasively identify and quantify positive states in mammals....

Year Published: 2023Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wongsaengchan, C., McCafferty, D. J., Lennox, K. et al. 2023. Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats. Animal Welfare 32, e66.

A UV lamp for birds

For birds, access to direct sunlight (without the use of glass) is very important. If that cannot be achieved in captivity, then at the very least ensure provision of the right UV lamp. Appropriate UV lighting is not only important...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken, Finch, Fowl, Other Bird, Parrot

Citation: van Es, J., Zandleven, A. 2023. A UV lamp for birds. RATEL (Journal of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers) 50(3-4), 4-7.