Publications

Effects of different ways of music stimulation on exploring, playing and aggressive behavior

In the breeding of farm animals, music serves as an environmental enrichment factor that can improve the mood and welfare level of animals. However, it is not clear whether pigs receiving different modes of musical stimulation can improve cognitive performance....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Wu, M., Wang, Z., Zhou, S. et al. 2025. Effects of different ways of music stimulation on exploring, playing and aggressive behavior. Animals 15(18), 2721.

The effects of artificial UV-B provision on positional sleeping behaviour and vitamin D3 metabolites of captive aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

Zoological environments aim to promote natural behaviours and optimal welfare conditions. Over the past decade, research on the use of artificial ultraviolet-B (UV-B) exposure has improved vitamin D3 levels and reduced incidences of metabolic bone disease in diurnal primates; however,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Walker, D., Bwye, P., Richdon, S. 2025. The effects of artificial UV-B provision on positional sleeping behaviour and vitamin D3 metabolites of captive aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis). Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 6(3), 39.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of physical environmental enrichment to improve animal welfare-related outcomes in indoor cattle

This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various physical environmental enrichment items such as brushes, ropes, teats, chains, balls, cowhides/blocks, at improving the welfare of indoor-housed calves, heifers, and cattle. This review of 33 peer-reviewed papers and one...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Unsal, G., Johnson, K. F., Stergiadis, S. et al. 2025. A systematic review and meta-analysis of physical environmental enrichment to improve animal welfare-related outcomes in indoor cattle. Animal Welfare 34, e37.

Investigating lameness in high containment swine

The Pirbright Institute is a world leading centre for the research and surveillance of viral diseases. The high containment animal facility (ISO11) is a bespoke working environment designed to house multiple species and viruses for in vivo vaccine research. Due...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Trussler, O. 2025. Investigating lameness in high containment swine. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 168–171.

Impact of sequential administration of detomidine, butorphanol, and midazolam on sedation, ataxia, stimulus response, and bispectral index in horses

Background Standing sedation is a safe and cost-effective alternative to general anesthesia in horses, but challenges include achieving adequate drug effect to block the stimulus response without inducing ataxia or recumbency. A benefit of midazolam has been reported in equine...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Thorn, C. A., Wilson, D. V., Wang, S. et al. 2025. Impact of sequential administration of detomidine, butorphanol, and midazolam on sedation, ataxia, stimulus response, and bispectral index in horses. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Recovery of male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) after overland shipping

Ornamental fish shipped by road or rail may spend days in transit without food, leading to a reduction in somatic growth after transportation and during acclimatization. In the present study, a time-series (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Thongprajukaew, K., Malawa, S., Poolthajit, S. et al. 2025. Recovery of male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) after overland shipping. Animals 15(14), 2156.

Effects of enclosure size on the preferences of juvenile chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)

This study investigated the cage size preferences of juvenile chinchillas using enclosures that allowed free choice between different dimensions. Three comparisons were tested: (1) small floor area (0.15 m2) vs. double floor area (0.30 m2) at constant height; (2) low...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Rodent

Citation: Szendrő, Z., Łapiński, S., Matics, Z. et al. 2025. Effects of enclosure size on the preferences of juvenile chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). Animals 15(17), 2483.

Maintenance of the Brugia Malayi life cycle in Mongolian gerbils

The Mongolian gerbil or jird (Meriones unguiculatus) is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. They are commonly used as models for a variety of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis E virus and Giardia lamblia. At the LSTM/University of Liverpool...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & Intubation, Disease/Experimental Model, Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Gerbil, Rodent

Citation: Steven, A. 2025. Maintenance of the Brugia Malayi life cycle in Mongolian gerbils. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 155–156.

Pain and pessimism affect calves’ play behaviours post-disbudding

Calves are expected to play less when in pain, and more pessimistic individuals may be more affected by painful events, such as hot-iron disbudding (i.e., horn-bud removal). We explored 1) the impact of disbudding on different play behaviours, predicting that...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Body Modification/Mutilation, Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: St John Wallis, A., Held, S. D. E., Mendl, M. T. et al. 2025. Pain and pessimism affect calves’ play behaviours post-disbudding. Discover Animals 2(1), 50.

Individual preferences for scented water bowls in dogs

Introduction While food preferences have been extensively studied, much less is known about water preferences in dogs, especially regarding preferences for non-consumptive scented items attached to water bowls. As a form of sensory enrichment, scents can increase engagement and were...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Sonowal, R., Hall, N. J., Stellato, A. C. 2025. Individual preferences for scented water bowls in dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.