Handling

Getting a handle on rat familiarization: The impact of handling protocols on classic tests of stress in Rattus norvegicus

Experimenter familiarization with laboratory rodents through handling prior to experimentation is an important practice in neurobehavioral research and is implicated in stress, study variability, and replicability. Unfortunately, different handling protocols have not been thoroughly examined. Determining optimal experimenter familiarization protocols...

Year Published: 2023Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bigelow, L. J., Pope, E. K., MacDonald, D. S. et al. 2023. Getting a handle on rat familiarization: The impact of handling protocols on classic tests of stress in Rattus norvegicus. Laboratory Animals 57(3), 259–269.

Effects of different handling methods on the behavior of adult zebrafish

The zebrafish is an important biomedical research organism. In most research, zebrafish are removed from their home tank and subsequently their phenotype is measured. The method of handling the fish, however, may significantly affect a variety of phenotypes. This is...

Year Published: 2023Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Shishis, S., Tsang, B., Ren, G. J. et al. 2023. Effects of different handling methods on the behavior of adult zebrafish. Physiology & Behavior 262, 114106.

Chronic handling stress in zebrafish Danio rerio husbandry

The zebrafish (Danio rerio, Hamilton, 1822) is one of the most important fish model species in scientific research, with millions of fish housed in laboratory animal facilities around the world. During husbandry, it is necessary to regularly handle the fish,...

Year Published: 2023Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Philippe, C., Vergauwen, L., Huyghe, K. et al. 2023. Chronic handling stress in zebrafish Danio rerio husbandry. Journal of Fish Biology 103(2), 367–377.

Effects of refined handling on reproductive indices of BALB/cJ and CD-1 IGS mice

Current mouse handling methods during cage change procedures can cause stress and potentially compromise animal welfare. Our previous study of breeding C57BL/6J mice found modest increases in pup production and a significant reduction in preweaning litter losses when mice were...

Year Published: 2024Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hull, M. A., Nunamaker, E. A., Reynolds, P. S. 2024. Effects of refined handling on reproductive indices of BALB/cJ and CD-1 IGS mice. JAALAS 63(1), 3–9.

Evaluation of potential low-stress handling methods in Crl:CDSD rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Low-stress handling methods have been studied in detail in mice, but relatively little research exists concerning preferred handling methods in rats. Most recommendations for low-stress handling of rats have been extrapolated from the mouse literature, despite known differences in handler...

Year Published: 2024Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Kylie, J., Cooper, D. M., Kurpinski, J. K. et al. 2024. Evaluation of potential low-stress handling methods in Crl:CDSD rats (Rattus norvegicus). JAALAS 63(1), 10–19.

Weaned piglet’s reactivity to humans, tonic immobility and behaviour in a spatial maze test is affected by gestating sows’ relationship to humans and positive handling at weaning

Fear of human can impact negatively offspring's behaviour and cognition whereas early positive handling has positive impacts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the crossed effects of trans-generational transfer and familiarisation with human on piglets' behaviour. Sows were...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Lanthony, M., Briard, E., Špinka, M. et al. 2023. Weaned piglet's reactivity to humans, tonic immobility and behaviour in a spatial maze test is affected by gestating sows' relationship to humans and positive handling at weaning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 268, 106080.

Lifting laboratory rats: A survey of methods, handlers’ reasons and concerns, and rat behavioural responses

Lifting mice by the tail is of animal welfare and scientific concern, but rat lifting methods are little researched, potentially differing from mice. Using an online questionnaire we explored different methods for lifting laboratory rats, alongside handlers' reasons and concerns,...

Year Published: 2023Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Burn, C. C., Camacho, T., Hockenhull, J. 2023. Lifting laboratory rats: A survey of methods, handlers' reasons and concerns, and rat behavioural responses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 268, 106077.

A fat tailed what?!: Navigating husbandry for the fat tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata)

FTDs are Australian carnivorous nocturnal marsupials, whose diet, environmental needs, and enrichment vary from typical research species. Due to the limited working knowledge on the husbandry and care of this species in a biomedical setting, information was compiled from multiple...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Powell, J., Collins, T., Beaty, T. et al. 2023. A fat tailed what?!: Navigating husbandry for the fat tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata). Laboratory Animal Science Professional 11(4) (July/August), 46-48.

Report of the 2022 RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare Group Meeting

The RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare Group has held a one-day meeting every autumn for the last 29 years, so that its members can discuss current welfare research, exchange views on welfare issues and share experiences of the implementation of the 3Rs...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Environmental Enrichment, Euthanasia, HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Stevens, C., Hammonds, T., Hinchcliffe, J. et al. 2023. Report of the 2022 RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare Group Meeting. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(2), 91–100.

The welfare of domestic goats (Capra hircus) in a zoo-based animal-visitor interaction program

We investigated whether the welfare of domestic goats in an animal-visitor interaction experience at a zoo was affected by the presence and behavior of visitors. We considered how the number of visitors in the goats' habitat and visitor proximity to...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Ramont, M., Leahy, M., Cronin, K. A. 2021. The welfare of domestic goats (Capra hircus) in a zoo-based animal-visitor interaction program. Animal Behavior and Cognition 8(4), 493–506.