Environmental Enrichment

The use of sand substrate modulates dominance behaviour and brain gene expression in a flatfish species

Physical complexity adds physical enrichment to rearing conditions. This enrichment promotes fish welfare and reduces detrimental characteristics that fish develop in captivity. Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is an important species for European aquaculture, where it is reared in intensive conditions...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Almeida, M. M., Cabrita, E., Fatsini, E. 2023. The use of sand substrate modulates dominance behaviour and brain gene expression in a flatfish species. Animals 13(6), 978.

Olfactory enrichment using a maternal pheromone improved post-weaning pig performance and behavior

The post-weaning environment in commercial pig nursery buildings is typically devoid of both the sow and her semiochemicals. Among other factors, the loss of maternal odors may contribute to post-weaning stress. In this work, we report four studies (studies 1-4)...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Archer, C., Garcia, A., Henderson, M. et al. 2022. Olfactory enrichment using a maternal pheromone improved post-weaning pig performance and behavior. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 9, 965370.

Cognitive enrichment in a social setting: Assessing the use of a novel food maze in sanctuary-housed chimpanzees

Foraging devices are effective enrichment tools for non-human primates, as they provide both cognitive and manipulative stimulation that may enhance these animals' welfare. We assessed the behavioral effects of a novel tool-based enrichment on 14 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) housed at...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Padrell, M., Amici, F., Córdoba, M. P. et al. 2022. Cognitive enrichment in a social setting: Assessing the use of a novel food maze in sanctuary-housed chimpanzees. Primates 63(5), 509–524.

Long-term body tactile stimulation reduces aggression and improves productive performance in Nile tilapia groups

One concern of the Anthropocene is the effects of human activities on animal welfare, revealing the urgency to mitigate impacts of rearing environments. Body tactile stimulation (TS), like massage therapy, has emerged as an enrichment method to counteract stress and...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Fish, Tilapia

Citation: dos Santos Gauy, A. C., Bolognesi, M. C., Gonçalves-de-Freitas, E. 2022. Long-term body tactile stimulation reduces aggression and improves productive performance in Nile tilapia groups. Scientific Reports 12(1), 20239.

The use of ball pits and playpens in laboratory Lister Hooded male rats induces ultrasonic vocalisations indicating a more positive affective state and can reduce the welfare impacts of aversive procedures

The advancement and quality of science rely on research that is robust and unbiased in its experimental design, execution, analysis, and reproducibility. In preclinical research, a better understanding of animal emotions and refinement of their husbandry, housing, and handling are...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hinchcliffe, J. K., Jackson, M. G., Robinson, E. S. 2022. The use of ball pits and playpens in laboratory Lister Hooded male rats induces ultrasonic vocalisations indicating a more positive affective state and can reduce the welfare impacts of aversive procedures. Laboratory Animals 56(4), 370-379.

Vole husbandry at Colorado University Boulder

Since they arrived at CU Boulder, we have learned a lot about the voles from the laboratory, other institutions, and our trial-and-error. We hope this information can be helpful to any considering adding voles to their census.

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Abazaris, J., Hashway, S. 2022. Vole husbandry at Colorado University Boulder. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 10(4) (July/August), 12-15.

Compressed paper column housing enrichment for Naked Mole-rats

Naked Mole-rats are relative newcomers in the research world. Due to the complexity of their natural subterranean tunneling system, it has been difficult to replicate in the laboratory environment. Housing standards often differ from the hard solidified lateritic loam soils...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Pantophlet, J., McClusky, D. 2022. Compressed paper column housing enrichment for Naked Mole-rats. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 10(5) (September/October), 42-44.

Modernization of wall guard railing for safe enrichment in feline housing facilities

Creatively adapting older lab animal housing spaces to improve psychological well-being, welfare, and safety for animals is necessary to meet expectations for animal enrichment. Traditional lab animal facilities are designed to have functional, flexible, durable, and sanitizable housing spaces. Many...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Snipes, M. M., Wofford, K. A., Funk, A. L. et al. 2022. Modernization of wall guard railing for safe enrichment in feline housing facilities. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 10(5) (September/October), 50-51.

Environmental enrichment: Dissociated effects between physical activity and changing environmental complexity on anxiety and neurogenesis in adult male Balb/C mice

Several factors, including environmental modifications, stimulate neuroplasticity. One type of neuroplasticity consists in the generation of new neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Neurogenesis is modulated by environmental enrichment (ENR, tunnels plus running wheel) and affected by the...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ramírez-Rodríguez, G. B., Gutiérrez-Vera, B., Ortiz-López, L. et al. 2022. Environmental enrichment: Dissociated effects between physical activity and changing environmental complexity on anxiety and neurogenesis in adult male Balb/C mice. Physiology & Behavior 254, 113878.

Welfare improvement by enrichment programs in common marmoset females under social isolation

Animal welfare is critical to buffer stress in captive animals and to ensure the reliability of data from studies. The most usual environmental enrichment technique (EE) for social non-human primates is the social enrichment. However, some experimental protocols require keeping...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: de França Santos, M., de Menezes Galvão, A. C., Santos Silva, F. et al. 2022. Welfare improvement by enrichment programs in common marmoset females under social isolation. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 25(3), 297-309.