Publications

Changing priorities about protective shelters: A review of a key method to investigate possible pain in crustaceans

Testing if non-human taxa experience pain is difficult because we need to exclude the possibility that responses are nociceptive reflexes. One approach is to identify an essential, high priority, resource and then ask if the animal will abandon and subsequently...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Crustacean, Invertebrate

Citation: Elwood, R. W. 2025. Changing priorities about protective shelters: A review of a key method to investigate possible pain in crustaceans. Biology Letters 21(9), 20250342.

Relative preference for different pecking blocks offered as pairwise comparisons in White and Brown-feathered laying hens

Different commercially available pecking blocks (PBs) have varying nutrient composition, appearance, and texture. However, the relative preferences of laying hens for different PBs are unknown. We housed 120 Dekalb White and 120 Bovans Brown in twelve (360 cm x 116 cm x...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Ehigbor, T. F., Kiarie, E. G., Harlander, A. et al. 2025. Relative preference for different pecking blocks offered as pairwise comparisons in White and Brown-feathered laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 290, 106708.

Behavior and safety in the use of canopy bridges by howler monkeys in an experimental environment

Urban sprawl advances over forested areas and threatens arboreal species, which often use roads, power lines, and rooftops to move, resulting in roadkill, electrocution, and dog attacks. One measure to mitigate these risks is the installation of canopy bridges, which...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Dias, P., Teixeira, F. Z., Ferrugem, V. H. C. et al. 2025. Behavior and safety in the use of canopy bridges by howler monkeys in an experimental environment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 290, 106696.

How does the previous environment affect pigs’ responses when switching to a barren or enriched environment as assessed by Qualitative Behaviour Assessment?

Intensive pig farming systems are often characterised by barren and monotonous environments, which can impair pig welfare. While enriching the environment enhances pig welfare, less is known about the implications of changes in housing conditions regularly happening on commercial farms....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: De Angelis, F., Ferroni, G., Winckler, C. et al. 2025. How does the previous environment affect pigs’ responses when switching to a barren or enriched environment as assessed by Qualitative Behaviour Assessment? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106756.

Evaluating cervical dislocation methods, without using tension on the tail, for humanely killing adult laboratory mice

Cervical dislocation (CD) is a widely used method worldwide for humanely killing adult laboratory mice in accordance with national legislation, such as the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in the UK. However, concerns have been raised regarding the limitations and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Davidge, A., Bulat, F., Vernet, A. 2025. Evaluating cervical dislocation methods, without using tension on the tail, for humanely killing adult laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals 59(5), 570–577.

Does environmental enrichment impact the behaviour and welfare of bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)?

Environmental enrichment has been shown to be an effective way to improve the welfare of captive animals. Although many studies have investigated the effects of enrichment on mammalian and avian species, there is comparatively little known about this in reptiles....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Crisante, A., Wilkinson, A., Pike, T. W. et al. 2025. Does environmental enrichment impact the behaviour and welfare of bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106751.

Visual lateralization as an indicator of animal welfare

Functional specialization of the brain hemispheres has been observed across the animal kingdom, with the left hemisphere being associated with positive emotions while the right hemisphere is associated with negative emotions. In vertebrates, contralateral eye use is indicative of which...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Crisante, A., Burman, O. H. P., Pike, T. W. et al. 2025. Visual lateralization as an indicator of animal welfare. Biology Letters 21(10), 20250445.

Influence of multiple factors on rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) use of a feeding enrichment device

We studied the effect of different filler items on rhesus macaques’ use of a feeding enrichment device called the ‘browsing bowl.’ We examined use of the device as affected by calories, sugar content, and volume of different fillers as well...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Cowan-Brown, J. M., Clay, A. W., Perlman, J. et al. 2025. Influence of multiple factors on rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) use of a feeding enrichment device. JAALAS 64(4), 674–681.

Single oral dose of gabapentin reduces vigilance and increases play behavior without changing mobility in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

OBJECTIVE To evaluate rabbit behavioral responses and activity after gabapentin administration. METHODS In this study, 5 intact female and 3 intact male New Zealand white rabbits aged 8 to 12 months were administered a single oral 25-mg/kg dose of gabapentin....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Conway, R. E., Desmarchelier, M., Burton, M. et al. 2025. Single oral dose of gabapentin reduces vigilance and increases play behavior without changing mobility in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 263(3), 335–342.

Using machine learning and predictive artificial intelligence to determine cage change frequency for mice housed in individually ventilated cages and drive vivarium operational efficiency

A standard 2-wk cage change frequency for individually ventilated mouse cages is used in many research facilities, with negligible effects on animal health and welfare. However, these techniques rely on subjective visual evaluations and often require spot changes. In this...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Collins, J. M., Singh, B., Zwick, M. E. et al. 2025. Using machine learning and predictive artificial intelligence to determine cage change frequency for mice housed in individually ventilated cages and drive vivarium operational efficiency. JAALAS 64(4), 682–695.