Housing

Housing breeding mice in three different IVC systems: Maternal performance and pup development

A proper cage environment is essential for the welfare of laboratory mice, especially for females during the energy demanding lactation period and for pups during early development and growth. The most common housing system for laboratory mice is individually ventilated...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Spangenberg, E., Wallenbeck, A., Eklöf, A.-C. et al. 2014. Housing breeding mice in three different IVC systems: Maternal performance and pup development. Laboratory Animals 48(3), 193–206.

Does enclosure size influence the behaviour & welfare of captive snakes (Pantherophis guttatus)?

There is much evidence in mammals and birds demonstrating the importance of providing sufficient space to allow captive animals to exhibit natural behaviours, however, little such evidence exists for reptiles. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether enclosure...

Year Published: 2021Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Reptile, Snake

Citation: Hoehfurtner, T., Wilkinson, A., Walker, M. et al. 2021. Does enclosure size influence the behaviour & welfare of captive snakes (Pantherophis guttatus)? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 243, 105435.

Outside the box: Working with wildlife in biocontainment

Research with captive wildlife in Animal Biosafety Level 2 (ABSL2) and 3 (ABSL3) facilities is becoming increasingly necessary as emerging and re-emerging diseases involving wildlife have increasing impacts on human, animal, and environmental health. Utilizing wildlife species in a research...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, RestraintAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal

Citation: Falendysz, E. A., Calhoun, D. M., Smith, C. A. et al. 2020. Outside the box: Working with wildlife in biocontainment. ILAR Journal 61(1), 72-85.

Roaming in a land of milk and honey: Life trajectories and metabolic rate of female inbred mice living in a semi naturalistic environment

Despite tremendous efforts at standardization, the results of scientific studies can vary greatly, especially when considering animal research. It is important to emphasize that consistent different personality-like traits emerge and accumulate over time in laboratory mice despite genetic and environmental...

Year Published: 2021Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mieske, P., Diederich, K., Lewejohann, L. 2021. Roaming in a land of milk and honey: Life trajectories and metabolic rate of female inbred mice living in a semi naturalistic environment. Animals 11(10), 3002.

Challenges and solutions surrounding environmental enrichment for dogs and cats in a scientific environment

Dogs and cats housed in research-, kennel- and cattery-type settings are reliant on caregivers to optimise their day-to-day experiences and welfare. The goal is to provide enriching environments for physical, social and environmental control; behavioural choice and opportunities to live...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Cat, Dog

Citation: Desforges, E. 2021. Challenges and solutions surrounding environmental enrichment for dogs and cats in a scientific environment. Animals 11(10), 2980.

Analysis of housing risk factors for the welfare of lean and heavy pigs in a sample of European fattening farms

Pig welfare is affected by housing conditions, the minimum requirements of which are set up by EU legislation. Animal and non-animal-based measures are useful indicators to investigate housing risk factors for pig welfare. An observational study on 51 pig farms...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Ferrari, P., Ulrici, A., Barbari, M. 2021. Analysis of housing risk factors for the welfare of lean and heavy pigs in a sample of European fattening farms. Animals 11(11), 3221.

Horses’ use of lying halls and time budget in relation to available lying area

Sleep is crucial to horses' wellbeing, and their lying time can vary according to such factors as climate, exercise, bedding, and housing. This study aimed to analyze behavior and time spent in lying halls of various sizes. We examined the...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Kjellberg, L., Yngvesson, J., Sassner, H. et al. 2021. Horses' use of lying halls and time budget in relation to available lying area. Animals 11(11), 3214.

Assessing allostatic load in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta)

Responses to stress are unavoidable, adaptive mechanisms in humans and non-human animals. However, in humans, chronic stress has been linked to poor health outcomes and early mortality. Allostatic load, the physiologic dysregulation that occurs when an organism is exposed to...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Lemur, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Seeley, K. E., Proudfoot, K. L., Wolfe, B. et al. 2021. Assessing allostatic load in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). Animals 11(11), 3074.

Refining procedures within regulatory toxicology studies: Improving animal welfare and data

During the development of potential new medicines or agrochemicals, an assessment of the safety profile to humans and environmental species is conducted using a range of different in silico and in vitro techniques in conjunction with metabolism and toxicity studies...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Cannulation, Catheterization, & Intubation, HousingAnimal Type: Dog, Fish, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Prior, H., Blunt, H., Crossman, L. et al. 2021. Refining procedures within regulatory toxicology studies: Improving animal welfare and data. Animals 11(11), 3057.

The effect of tank cover on welfare of farmed Nile tilapia

Welfare in aquaculture is a pressing topic. One of the main measures to improve the life of farmed fish is implementing environmental enrichment, which can include the addition of structural covers to rearing tanks. Here we test the effects of...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Fish, Tilapia

Citation: Saraiva, J. L., Nogueirinha, M., Teodósio, R. et al. 2021. The effect of tank cover on welfare of farmed Nile tilapia. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 241, 105396.