Environmental Enrichment

Individually ventilated cages impose cold-stress on laboratory mice: A source of systemic experimental variability

Individual ventilated cages (IVC) have recently been increasing in popularity. Based on the high rates of ventilation with IVCs, we developed 3 hypotheses: first, mice housed in IVCs experience significantly more cold-stress than mice housed in static cages; second, the...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: David, J. M., Stout, D. 2013. Individually ventilated cages impose cold-stress on laboratory mice: A source of systemic experimental variability. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 610 (Abstract #PS10).

Benefits of an enhanced enrichment program for a canine research colony

The overall benefits of an enrichment and exercise program for research canines has been well documented and is a required element, by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), of any institution's Animal Care and Use Program. However, some research...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Sposato, M. 2013. Benefits of an enhanced enrichment program for a canine research colony. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 669 (Abstract #P176).

Does the presence of a human affect the preference of enrichment items in young, isolated pigs?

Pigs may be housed individually in both production and research settings. Gregarious by nature, pigs kept in isolation may show behavioural and physiological signs of stress. In this study we investigated the preference of individually housed pigs, for social and...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: DeBoer, S. P., Garner, J. P., Lay Jr, D. C. et al. 2013. Does the presence of a human affect the preference of enrichment items in young, isolated pigs? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 143(2-4), 96-103.

Stainless steel puzzle feeder

This NHP puzzle feeder was designed and manufactured with the assistance of a local metal fabricating company. The need for a custom feeder arose following the use of several types of commercially available NHP puzzle feeders, all of which had...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ferraro, A. S. 2013. Stainless steel puzzle feeder. Enrichment Record 17, 5-6.

Rope toy

One of our Non-Human Primate's (NHP) favorite enrichment devices is a hanging rope toy. The toy is made up of natural jute rope 12 to 14 inches in length and 3 inches in girth. The rope is secured by non-toxic...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Donnelly, M. J. 2013. Rope toy. Enrichment Record 14, 7.

Dry bedding provides cost-effective enrichment for group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Dry bedding has been shown to be an effective enrichment strategy for small groups of captive nonhuman primates housed in cages or in small enclosures with concrete flooring. However, dry bedding is used infrequently for large groups because of the...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Doane, C. J., Andrews, K., Schaefer, L. J. et al. 2013. Dry bedding provides cost-effective enrichment for group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). JAALAS 52(3), 247-252.

Colored enrichment devices influence behavior and circadian metabolism and physiology in Sprague-Dawley rats

Enrichment devices and strategies, as currently endorsed by the Guide, are used to improve laboratory animal health and wellbeing. Many conclusions supporting this premise, however, are based primarily on observational studies with minimal consideration for circadian physiology and metabolism. Our...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wren, M. A., Dauchy, R. T., Hill, S. M. et al. 2013. Colored enrichment devices influence behavior and circadian metabolism and physiology in Sprague-Dawley rats. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 608 (Abstract #PS2).

Fresh façades for rodent homes: Revisiting enrichment naturally

Currently, enrichment consists of a variety of plastic toys to promote natural behaviors, but why use artificial devices when you could use natural materials like the animals experience in their native environment? ... From these three tests it appears that...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wasko, K., Acklin, C. J. 2013. Fresh façades for rodent homes: Revisiting enrichment naturally. Enrichment Record 16, 9-11.

Assessing the application of the 3Rs: A survey among animal welfare officers in The Netherlands

Implementation of the 3Rs (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction) in animal studies is a legal requirement in many countries. In The Netherlands, animal welfare officers (AWOs) are appointed to monitor the welfare of laboratory animals. As part of this task, AWOs...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: van Luijk, J., Cuijpers, Y., van der Vaart, L. et al. 2013. Assessing the application of the 3Rs: A survey among animal welfare officers in The Netherlands. Laboratory Animals 47(3), 210-219.

Reaction to novel pool enrichment by indoor group-housed juvenile Macaca nemestrina

Environmental enrichment is provided to laboratory-housed nonhuman primates to encourage species-typical behaviors. Some enrichment is labor intensive so quantitative studies should be undertaken to assure that the benefit is worth the effort expended. This study examined the effect of water...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Lee, G. H., Christie, D. M., Kroeker, R. H. et al. 2013. Reaction to novel pool enrichment by indoor group-housed juvenile Macaca nemestrina. American Journal of Primatology 75(S1), 82. (36th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #164)