Environmental Enrichment

Environmental enrichment for sucker and weaner pigs: The effect of enrichment block shape on the behavioural interaction by pigs with the blocks

This experiment tested the effect of enrichment-block shape on oro-nasal contact by young pigs, and possible habituation to the blocks. Nineteen litters (197 piglets) were randomly allocated to one of three block-shape treatments: Cube, Brick, or Wedge. Oro-nasal contact with...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Winfield, J., Macnamara, G., Macnamara, B. et al. 2017. Environmental enrichment for sucker and weaner pigs: The effect of enrichment block shape on the behavioural interaction by pigs with the blocks. Animals 7(12), 91.

Calves use an automated brush and a hanging rope when pair-housed

Calf housing often only meets the basic needs of calves, but there is a growing interest in providing enrichments. This study described the behaviour of calves when they were given the opportunity to interact with two commonly available enrichment items....

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Zobel, G., Neave, H., Henderson, H. et al. 2017. Calves use an automated brush and a hanging rope when pair-housed. Animals 7(11), 84.

Long term physiologic and behavioural effects of housing density and environmental resource provision for adult male and female Sprague Dawley rats

There is considerable interest in refining laboratory rodent environments to promote animal well-being, as well as research reproducibility. Few studies have evaluated the long term impact of enhancing rodent environments with resources and additional cagemates. To that end, male and...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & Companionship, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Pinelli, C., Leri, F., Turner, P. 2017. Long term physiologic and behavioural effects of housing density and environmental resource provision for adult male and female Sprague Dawley rats. Animals 7(6), 44.

Exploration feeding and higher space allocation improve welfare of growing-finishing pigs

Lack of environmental enrichment and high stocking densities in growing-finishing pigs can lead to adverse social behaviors directed to pen mates, resulting in skin lesions, lameness, and tail biting. The objective of the study was to improve animal welfare and...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Vermeer, H., Dirx-Kuijken, N., Bracke, M. 2017. Exploration feeding and higher space allocation improve welfare of growing-finishing pigs. Animals 7(5), 36.

Environmental enrichment in kennelled pit bull terriers (Canis lupus familiaris)

Although social enrichment can be considered beneficial in helping dogs cope with the kennel environment, when taking individual needs into account, it places a large demand on the carers and may not be appropriate in under-resourced kennels. Some kennels are...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Kiddie, J., Bodymore, A., Dittrich, A. 2017. Environmental enrichment in kennelled pit bull terriers (Canis lupus familiaris). Animals 7(4), 27.

Stressed out: providing laboratory animals with behavioral control to reduce the physiological effects of stress

Laboratory animals experience a large amount of environmental stress. An animal's environment can include both physiological and social stressors that may require an animal to adapt to maintain allostatic balance. For example, thermal stress can lead to changes in behavior,...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Gaskill, B. N., Garner, J. P. 2017. Stressed out: providing laboratory animals with behavioral control to reduce the physiological effects of stress. Lab Animal 46(4), 142-145.

The enrichment club

Regulatory requirements provide instructions on enrichment specifically for nonhuman primates, but we believe all animals can benefit from enrichment if it is structured for that species. Hired as the Director of Behavior Management and Environmental Enrichment at the Icahn School...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Johnson, C. H., Carter, K. 2016. The enrichment club. Lab Animal 45(9), 341.

Laboratory mouse housing conditions can be improved using common environmental enrichment without compromising data

Animal welfare requires the adequate housing of animals to ensure health and well-being. The application of environmental enrichment is a way to improve the well-being of laboratory animals. However, it is important to know whether these enrichment items can be...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: André, V., Gau, C., Scheideler, A. et al. 2018. Laboratory mouse housing conditions can be improved using common environmental enrichment without compromising data. PLOS Biology 16(4), e2005019.

Enrichment in the sucker and weaner phase altered the performance of pigs in three behavioural tests

We tested the hypothesis that provision of enrichment in the form of enrichment blocks during the sucker and weaner phases would affect the behaviour of pigs. We measured the performance of pigs in an open field/novel object test, a maze...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Ralph, C., Hebart, M., Cronin, G. 2018. Enrichment in the sucker and weaner phase altered the performance of pigs in three behavioural tests. Animals 8(5), 74.

Use of space and behavior of weaned piglets kept in enriched two-level housing system

In this study, the possibility of introducing an elevated platform to a piglet pen was explored as a way of increasing available space and creating functional areas. On the platform, nine different manipulable materials were offered. In four batches, 40...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Fels, M., Lüthje, F., Faux-Nightingale, A. et al. 2018. Use of space and behavior of weaned piglets kept in enriched two-level housing system. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 21(3), 267-282.