Publications

Water pigs! Capybara husbandry in a biomedical research lab

Capybaras, also known as “water pigs,” are the world’s largest rodent. Although these animals are closely related to guinea pigs, with a shoulder height of approximately 2 ft, coarse brown fur, and partially webbed feet, they are unlike any guinea...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Strait, K.,Chisholm, A., Kusovska, C. et al. 2020. Water pigs! Capybara husbandry in a biomedical research lab. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 8(5) (September/October), 14-18.

Welfare assessment on pasture: A review on animal-based measures for ruminants

Outdoor and extensive farming systems allow animals to behave in a natural way and are often perceived as welfare friendly. Nonetheless, the natural environment poses multiple challenges to the welfare of animals, sometimes hampering their capacity to cope. Welfare assessment...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle, Goat, Sheep

Citation: Spigarelli, C., Zuliani, A., Battini, M. et al. 2020. Welfare assessment on pasture: A review on animal-based measures for ruminants. Animals 10(4), 609.

What 3Rs idea have you developed?

The author describes how she used an automated system to reduce how frequently mouse cage bedding is changed without compromising cleanliness. This idea came from the desire to reduce animal stress to a minimum.

Year Published: 2020Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Filby, E. 2020. What 3Rs idea have you developed? Animal Technology and Welfare 19(1), 49-51.

Defining and managing pain in stroke and traumatic brain injury research

Neurologic conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury are challenging conditions to study in humans. Animal models are necessary to uncover disease processes and develop novel therapies. When attempting to model these or other neurologic diseases, the accompanying anesthesia...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Analgesia, Anesthesia & Sedation, Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Larson, C. M., Wilcox, G. L., Fairbanks, C. A. 2019. Defining and managing pain in stroke and traumatic brain injury research. Comparative Medicine 69(6), 510–519.

Development of a donkey grimace scale to recognize pain in donkeys (Equus asinus) post castration

The objectives of this study were to establish a donkey ethogram, followed by a donkey grimace scale to be applied to donkeys pre- and post-castration and to test if there was a notable difference in scores based on observer knowledge,...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Body Modification/Mutilation, Reproduction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Orth, E. K., Navas González, F. J., Iglesias Pastrana, C. et al. 2020. Development of a donkey grimace scale to recognize pain in donkeys (Equus asinus) post castration. Animals 10(8), 1411.

Discovering the relationship between dietary nutrients and cortisol and ghrelin hormones in horses exhibiting oral stereotypic behaviors: A review

This review focuses on associations of cortisol and the hormone ghrelin on abnormal oral behaviors, predominantly stereotypic behavior, in horses. Abnormal oral behaviors are prevalent in the stabled horse population. Feeding practice and satiety seem to play a significant role...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Hanis, F., Chung, E. L. T., Kamalludin, M. H. et al. 2020. Discovering the relationship between dietary nutrients and cortisol and ghrelin hormones in horses exhibiting oral stereotypic behaviors: A review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 39, 90-98.

Effects of a temporary period on pasture on the welfare state of horses housed in individual boxes

Domesticated horses mainly live in individual boxes, a housing system reported as compromising animal welfare. A common practice in riding schools involves offering a temporary period on pasture with conspecifics to alleviate the impact of long-term deprivation triggered by boxes....

Year Published: 2020Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Ruet, A., Arnould, C., Levray, J. et al. 2020. Effects of a temporary period on pasture on the welfare state of horses housed in individual boxes. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 228, 105027.

Effects of grazing muzzles on behavior and physiological stress of individually housed grazing miniature horses

Grazing muzzles are used on obese-prone equids to limit intake of pasture while grazing. However, the length of time grazing muzzles must be worn to prevent weight gain and whether they impede normal grazing behavior to the degree they impact...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Davis, K. M., Iwaniuk, M. E., Dennis, R. L. et al. 2020. Effects of grazing muzzles on behavior and physiological stress of individually housed grazing miniature horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 231, 105067.

Effects of grazing muzzles on behavior, voluntary exercise, and physiological stress of miniature horses housed in a herd

Grazing muzzles are a popular and effective management tool used to help prevent weight gain in obese-prone equids. Concerns have been raised over their possible negative impact on horse well-being as muzzles may interfere with normal grazing and social behaviors....

Year Published: 2020Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Davis, K. M., Iwaniuk, M. E., Dennis, R. L. et al. 2020. Effects of grazing muzzles on behavior, voluntary exercise, and physiological stress of miniature horses housed in a herd. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 232, 105108.

Effects of horse blankets on the physiological and motion parameters of geriatric horses

This study analyzed the rectal and surface temperature of the horse's body, its heart rate variability parameters, and the step length when walking and trotting geriatric horses using blankets with various thermoinsulating properties. Twenty-four hot-blooded geldings were included in the...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Janczarek, I., Wiśniewska, M., Wnuk-Pawlak, E. et al. 2020. Effects of horse blankets on the physiological and motion parameters of geriatric horses. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 38, 32-37.