Publications

Report of the 2023 RSPCA/UFAW/IAT Rodent Welfare Group Meeting

This report summarises the meeting and covers discussions ranging from housing and husbandry to refinement in procedures, education, and learning from companion rate care. It includes some action points for readers to consider raising at their own establishments.

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Barnabe, M., Applebee, K., Hurst, J. et al. 2024. Report of the 2023 RSPCA/UFAW/IAT Rodent Welfare Group Meeting. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 81–90.

The 3Hs Initiative—Housing, handling, and habituation

We have looked at our housing, handling and habituation approaches to identify areas to make improvements. This is critical for our resaerch outputs and has the benefit of reducing the cumulative suffering the animals experience by reducing stress and negative...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Animal Training, Drug/Substance Administration, Handling, Housing, RestraintAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bartlett, J., Hinchcliffe, J., Jackson, M. et al. 2024. The 3Hs Initiative—Housing, handling, and habituation. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 91–99.

Use of the oxygen reserve index/FiO2 as a non-invasive index to estimate venous admixture in anesthetized dogs

The oxygen reserve index (ORi) is a novel, non-invasive parameter that estimates arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) during hyperoxia when the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) is elevated. This study aimed to assess the utility of the ORi/FiO2 ratio as...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Bellini, L., Maney, J. K., Zanusso, F. et al. 2025. Use of the oxygen reserve index/FiO2 as a non-invasive index to estimate venous admixture in anesthetized dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

The effect of preference assessment-informed enrichment device colour on biting and foraging behaviour in loggerhead sea turtles

Although environmental enrichment procedures have demonstrated their benefit to non-human animals in zoos and aquariums, the field has given little attention to phylogenetic variables that might affect their efficacy. Recently, research with loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta has demonstrated that...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Bulla, A., Mahoney, A., Lee, V. M. et al. 2024. The effect of preference assessment-informed enrichment device colour on biting and foraging behaviour in loggerhead sea turtles. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 12(4), 232–242.

What are the priority welfare issues facing parrots in captivity? A modified Delphi approach to establish expert consensus

Parrots (Psittaciformes) are widely kept in captivity, yet their welfare is under-researched in comparison to other captive species. This study aimed to determine key welfare issues affecting parrots through a modified Delphi approach. Twenty-eight welfare issues were first compiled via...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Chalmers, R., Cooper, J., Ventura, B. 2024. What are the priority welfare issues facing parrots in captivity? A modified Delphi approach to establish expert consensus. Animal Welfare 33, e54.

Evaluating enrichment use in group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): A machine learning approach

Environmental enrichment programmes are widely used to improve welfare of captive and laboratory animals, especially non-human primates. Monitoring enrichment use over time is crucial, as animals may habituate and reduce their interaction with it. In this study we aimed to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ciminelli, G., Witham, C., Bateson, M. 2024. Evaluating enrichment use in group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): A machine learning approach. Animal Welfare 33, e59.

Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Effects of juvenile physical enrichment on behaviour, temperament, and long-term stereotypic behaviour

A single manipulable enrichment is often introduced to the pens of farmed American mink (Neogale vison) to combat stereotypic behaviour and behaviours or temperaments associated with poor welfare (e.g. inactivity, fear, and aggression). This enrichment is provided early in life,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Mink

Citation: Clark, G. B., Díez-León, M., Meagher, R. K. 2025. Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Effects of juvenile physical enrichment on behaviour, temperament, and long-term stereotypic behaviour. Animal Welfare 34, e4.

Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Enrichment of the perinatal environment improves maternal nest building and reduces stereotypic behaviour

Pens for farmed mink (Neogale vison) commonly include separate nesting areas to provide privacy and warmth in the perinatal period. However, standard bedding materials may not be sufficient to allow intrinsically motivated nest-building behaviours in dams. Further, these materials may...

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

Citation: Clark, G. B., Díez-León, M., Meagher, R. K. 2025. Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Enrichment of the perinatal environment improves maternal nest building and reduces stereotypic behaviour. Animal Welfare 34, e5.

The promotion of play behaviour in grow-finish pigs: The relationship between behaviours indicating positive experience and physiological measures

The provision of opportunities to express rewarding behaviours is a promising concept to support a better quality of life for intensively farmed pigs. Play behaviour has been associated with excitement and fun, suggesting that playing animals experience pleasurable states. Pigs...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Steinerová, K., Parker, S. E., Brown, J. A. et al. 2024. The promotion of play behaviour in grow-finish pigs: The relationship between behaviours indicating positive experience and physiological measures. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 275, 106263.

Lighting and behaviour in captivity: Butterflies prefer light environments containing UV wavelengths

The behaviour and welfare of animals in captivity is of great importance to zoological collections, captive breeding programmes, food production and keepers of companion animals. Artificial lighting is commonly deficient in UV wavelengths, and use of such lighting for indoor...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Insect & Spider, Invertebrate

Citation: Thomas, R. K., Gay, A. P., Gwynn-Jones, D. et al. 2024. Lighting and behaviour in captivity: Butterflies prefer light environments containing UV wavelengths. Animal Behaviour 214, 165–172.