Environmental Enrichment

Ever been close to a nosey pig?

Rooting seems to be a very important behaviour in pigs. Its major function is exploratory. Accepting responsibility for farm animals' welfare means more than providing food, water and shelter. The animals' needs, including exploration must also be taken into account....

Year Published: 1979Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Van Putten, G. 1979. Ever been close to a nosey pig? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 5, 298 (Abstract).

Paradoxical sleep and memory (I): Selective alterations following enriched and impoverished environmental rearing

Mice were reared in either enriched (EE), social control, (SE), or impoverished (IE) environments for 30 days. Environmental enrichment results in a significant and selective increase in paradoxical sleep (PS, or REM sleep) and also enhances recall of a multiple-trial,...

Year Published: 1980Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gutwein, B. M., Fishbein, W. 1980. Paradoxical sleep and memory (I): Selective alterations following enriched and impoverished environmental rearing. Brain Research Bulletin 5(1), 9-12.

A resting platform for dog pens

After converting our dog holding facilities from commercial dog cages to pen type enclosures, it became apparent that suitable resting platforms were needed. Clear acrylic plastic was used to construct the resting platforms.

Year Published: 1980Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Feldhaus, R. A. 1980. A resting platform for dog pens. Laboratory Animal Science 30(4-1), 714-715.

Objective observation on the behaviour of fattening pigs

Supplying straw reduced tail biting in group-housed pigs.

Year Published: 1980Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Van Putten, G. 1980. Objective observation on the behaviour of fattening pigs. Animal Regulation Studies 3, 104-118.

Growth and the plasma concentrations of growth hormone and prolactin in chicks: Effects of ‘environmental enrichment’, sex and strain

The enriched boxes were similar to the bare ones but also contained the following objects: two large red rubbing bungs, a golf ball, a bottle top, two coloured table tennis balls hanging from the cage lid, two lengths of string......

Year Published: 1980Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B., Harvey, S., Hughes, B. O. et al. 1980. Growth and the plasma concentrations of growth hormone and prolactin in chicks: Effects of 'environmental enrichment', sex and strain. British Poultry Science 21(6), 457-462.

Animal well-being and housing systems for piglets

Weaned piglets housed with straw performed less tail-biting, rooting, massaging, and nibbling of pen-mates than pigs reared without straw.

Year Published: 1981Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Buré, R. G. 1981. Animal well-being and housing systems for piglets. In: The Welfare of Pigs. Sybesma, W. (ed), 198-207. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands.

Effects of early environmental enrichment upon open-field behavior and timidity in the domestic chick

Group-housed domestic chicks were reared either with objects (enriched) [golf ball, bottle top, lengths of string etc.] or without objects. ... The increased stimulation provided by environmental enrichment may decrease fearfulness in subsequent fear-inducing situations and may enhance the ability...

Year Published: 1982Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Jones, R. B. 1982. Effects of early environmental enrichment upon open-field behavior and timidity in the domestic chick. Developmental Psychobiology 15, 105-111.

Environmental enrichment and restriction: Effects on reactivity, exploration and maze learning in mice with septal lesions

Mice from enriched living conditions showed less fear responses [resistance to capture, handling; vocalization] than mice from barren standard housing conditions.

Year Published: 1982Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Engellenner, W. J., Goodlett, C. R., Burright, R. G. et al. 1982. Environmental enrichment and restriction: Effects on reactivity, exploration and maze learning in mice with septal lesions. Physiology and Behavior 29, 885-893.

Deep woodchip litter: Hygiene, feeding, and behavioral enhancement in eight primate species

Sixty-seven animals from eight primate species were used to assess improved husbandry techniques. The presence of woodchips as a direct-contact litter decreased inactivity and fighting, and increased time spent on the ground. Placing food in the deep litter led to...

Year Published: 1982Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Capuchin, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Chamove, A. S., Anderson, J. R., Morgan-Jones, S. C. et al. 1982. Deep woodchip litter: Hygiene, feeding, and behavioral enhancement in eight primate species. International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems 3, 308-318.

The enrichment of a bare environment for animals in confined conditions

New earth and food were given at the same time ... and all piglets in these groups used the earth trough [for rooting] before [emphasis added] feeding.

Year Published: 1983Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Wood-Gush, D. G. M., Beilharz, R. G. 1983. The enrichment of a bare environment for animals in confined conditions. Applied Animal Ethology (Applied Animal Behaviour Science) 10, 209-217.