Publications

Introducing non-aversive mouse handling with ‘squnnels’ in a mouse breeding facility

Based on queries received during our 2021 LASA 3Rs' presentation, we describe operational highlights and concerns that came up during the rollout of nonaversive handling as standard of care at our mouse breeding facility. We describe the development of the...

Year Published: 2022Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Reynolds, P. S. 2022. Introducing non-aversive mouse handling with ‘squnnels' in a mouse breeding facility. Animal Technology and Welfare 21(1), 42-45.

Taking blood from a Göttingen minipig while placed in a sling

Traditionally Göttingen minipigs are restrained in dorsal recumbency to have access to the blood vessels in the neck. Minipigs, like any other animal do not particularly like to be restrained and being turned on their backs with their belly exposed....

Year Published: 2022Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Zeltner, A., Cristofferson, C. 2022. Taking blood from a Göttingen minipig while placed in a sling. Animal Technology and Welfare 21(1), 58-61.

Welfare of encaged rodents: Species specific behavioral reaction of voles to new enrichment items

The enrichment of the environment of captive animals is one of the methods applied to reduce stress of the animals and to assure their proper welfare. However, placing objects in a limited space of a cage does not always have...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Kapusta, J., Kruczek, M., Pochroń, E. et al. 2022. Welfare of encaged rodents: Species specific behavioral reaction of voles to new enrichment items. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 246, 105522.

Titrating the preferences of altered lighting against temperature in female CD-1 laboratory mice, Mus musculus

Aspects of the laboratory are aversive to mice, such as being housed under bright lights and at temperatures below their thermal comfort, causing stress and poor welfare. While murine thermal preferences are well understood, light preferences in mice are under...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Davis, H. J., Barabas, A. J., Gaskill, B. N. 2022. Titrating the preferences of altered lighting against temperature in female CD-1 laboratory mice, Mus musculus. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 246, 105541.

Thinking outside the lab: Can studies of pet rats inform pet and laboratory rat welfare?

Surveys provide a low-cost means to obtain large amounts of data that are ideal for conducting exploratory research, and they are becoming an increasingly valuable tool in a veterinary context. We investigated whether surveys of pet rat owners might provide...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Handling, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Neville, V., Mounty, J., Benato, L., Hunter, K. et al. 2022. Thinking outside the lab: Can studies of pet rats inform pet and laboratory rat welfare? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 246, 105507.

Why does lifelong conventional housing reduce the sociability of female mice?

Compared to peers raised in well-resourced, 'enriched' environments (‘EE'), female laboratory mice from conventional barren cages are more aggressive to their cage-mates, and less sociable with familiar non-cage-mates (especially if these too are from conventional housing, ‘CH'). But how do...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kitchenham, L., Nazal, B., Adcock, A. et al. 2022. Why does lifelong conventional housing reduce the sociability of female mice? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 246, 105532.

Automatic brushes induce positive emotions and foster positive social interactions in group-housed horses

In mammals, positive tactile contact is recognized as an effective tool for triggering positive affective states. In this study, we investigated the benefits of providing automatic rotative brushes for group-housed horses. Our three aims were: i. to determine whether horses...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Lansade, L., Lemarchand, J., Reigner, F. et al. 2022. Automatic brushes induce positive emotions and foster positive social interactions in group-housed horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 246, 105538.

Frog in the well: A review of the scientific literature for evidence of amphibian sentience

Millions of amphibians are traded annually around the world for the exotic pet industry. Their experience during both trade, and in captivity as pets, leads to numerous animal welfare issues. The poor welfare of many pet amphibians is due in...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad, Salamander

Citation: Lambert, H., Elwin, A., D'Cruze, N. 2022. Frog in the well: A review of the scientific literature for evidence of amphibian sentience. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 247, 105559.

Effects of environmental enrichment on recognition memory in zebrafish larvae

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) constitute a useful model for studying memory function and impairment in vertebrates and are now widely used in translational research. On the one hand, the adoption of simple, fast and reliable tests such as novel object recognition...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Gatto, E., Bruzzone, M., Dal Maschio, M. et al. 2022. Effects of environmental enrichment on recognition memory in zebrafish larvae. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 247, 105552.

Relationships between owner and household characteristics and enrichment and cat behaviour

Owners may enhance their cats' welfare by social enrichment (e.g. positive human-animal interactions), and physical enrichment (e.g. play objects). The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between owner characteristics (e.g. attitudes, attachment), household characteristics (the keeping of one...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Windschnurer, I., Häusler, A., Waiblinger, S. et al. 2022. Relationships between owner and household characteristics and enrichment and cat behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 247, 105562.