Environmental Enrichment

The naked truth: Breeding performance in outbred and inbred strains of nude mice with and without nesting material

In laboratories, mice are housed at ambient temperatures between 20 to 24 °C, which is below their lower critical temperature of 30 °C, but comfortable for human workers. Thus, mice are thermally stressed, which can compromise many aspects of physiology...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gaskill, B., Winnicker, C. L., Garner, J. P. et al. 2011. The naked truth: Breeding performance in outbred and inbred strains of nude mice with and without nesting material. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 741 (Abstract #PS95).

Energy reallocation to breeding performance through improved behavioral thermoregulation

Mice are housed at temperatures which increase their basal metabolic rates and impose high energy demands to maintain core temperatures. Thus, energy may be reallocated from other biologic processes to increase heat production. We hypothesized that nesting material will allow...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gaskill, B., Garner, J. P., Pritchett-Corning, K. 2011. Energy reallocation to breeding performance through improved behavioral thermoregulation. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 771 (Abstract #P120).

Improvement and refinement in husbandry processes and environmental enrichment for ferrets housed at CL1 levels of containment

The aims of this paper are to discuss the most appropriate housing, husbandry routine and enrichment for ferrets .. without compromising science.

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Ferret

Citation: Cruden, J. 2011. Improvement and refinement in husbandry processes and environmental enrichment for ferrets housed at CL1 levels of containment. Animal Technology and Welfare 10, 177-200.

Refining housing and husbandry techniques in transgenic mice through environmental enrichment

Dynamic changes in housing and husbandry techniques based on the concept of 3Rs should be included as routine practice in breeding and experimental animal facilities tending to improve animal welfare. Immunosupressed mice are susceptible to diseases and have special requirements...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Paula, A. A., Goyeneche, L., Crispo, M. 2011. Refining housing and husbandry techniques in transgenic mice through environmental enrichment. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 777 (Abstract #P148).

Cage enrichment with paper tissue, but not plastic tunnels, increases variability in mouse model of asthma

Environmental enrichment, besides having a great impact on animal welfare, can also be a potential variable in experimental research. Thus, we investigated whether enrichment of cages with paper tissues or plastic tunnels affects scientific outcome in the well-described mouse model...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pasalic, I., Bosnjak, B., Ivetic Tkalcevic, V. et al. 2011. Cage enrichment with paper tissue, but not plastic tunnels, increases variability in mouse model of asthma. Laboratory Animals 45(2), 121-123.

Effects of environmental enrichment and loose housing of lactating sows on piglet behaviour before and after weaning

Weaning of piglets in commercial husbandry systems is earlier and more abrupt than would happen under natural conditions, resulting in low feed intakes and health and welfare problems in the immediate postweaning period. Piglets in commercial systems generally have limited...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Oostindjer, M., van den Brand, H., Kemp, B. et al. 2011. Effects of environmental enrichment and loose housing of lactating sows on piglet behaviour before and after weaning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 134(1-2), 31-41 .

The effect of cage enrichment on fluctuating asymmetry and fecal corticosterone of group-housed laboratory mice

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) represents small, random deviations from symmetry in bilaterally symmetrical anatomic characteristics, is highly correlated with the amount of stress during development, and thus, is considered as a potential welfare indicator. In the present study, female BALB/c mice...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Niu, Y., Zhang, M., Liu, J. 2011. The effect of cage enrichment on fluctuating asymmetry and fecal corticosterone of group-housed laboratory mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 740 (Abstract #PS91).

Environmental enrichment for captive and wild-born macaques

Although the use of wild-born primates in research is banned in some countries, in others it is commonplace. It has been demonstrated that not only do wild-born primates react more strongly to some stressors than those that are captive-born, but...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Honess, P., Fernadez, L. 2011. Environmental enrichment for captive and wild-born macaques. Enrichment Record 9, 16-18.

The use of mirrors as a form of environmental enrichment for the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Primates have a fascination with mirrors. There is much literature available although no previous studies have been carried out to determine the benefits of mirrors for the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Initially a six week study was conducted to assess...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Cooper, A., Spice, R. 2011. The use of mirrors as a form of environmental enrichment for the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Animal Technology and Welfare 10(2), 79-84.

Nylon cylinder: Safe and cost-effective chewable rat enrichment

Offering enrichment to stimulate chewing behavior in rats has been found to promote psychologic and physiologic wellbeing. While there are many commercially produced nylon products available for use as chewable enrichment, these items are costly, especially with current economic constraints....

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Witt, S. L., Plews, C. A., Ruppert, G. et al. 2011. Nylon cylinder: Safe and cost-effective chewable rat enrichment. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 782 (Abstract #P174).