Housing

Behaviour of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) kept in four different cage sizes

Cages for laboratory and pet hamsters are usually small. Using video recordings, the behaviour of sixty female golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), housed individually in four different cage sizes, was compared in order to draw conclusions about their welfare. The cage...

Year Published: 2007Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Fischer, K., Gebhardt-Henrich, S. G., Steiger, A. 2007. Behaviour of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) kept in four different cage sizes. Animal Welfare 16(1), 85-93.

The effect of hiding enrichment on stress levels and behaviour of domestic cats (Felis sylvestris catus) in a shelter setting and the implications for adoption potential

Results of this study suggest that the welfare of kennelled cats is greatly improved if they are provided with the opportunity to perform effective hiding behavior, and that the ability to perform such a behaviour does not decrease the likelihood...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Kry, K., Casey, R. 2007. The effect of hiding enrichment on stress levels and behaviour of domestic cats (Felis sylvestris catus) in a shelter setting and the implications for adoption potential. Animal Welfare 16(3), 375-383.

A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management

In this article, recent publications are examined to determine the potential impact of new scientific evidence on current practices for the housing and care of laboratory rodents. The discussion points out recent advances in technology and new knowledge of the...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gonder, J. C., Laber, K. 2007. A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management. ILAR Journal 48(1), 29-46.

Legal space requirement stipulations

It would be a lot easier for us to improve the housing conditions for our animals if we had some legal regulations prescribing the quality of the enclosure space rather than just its minimum size. Perhaps, experts of the various...

Year Published: 2007Topics: HousingAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Legal space requirement stipulations. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 30-32. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

The effect of preweaning and postweaning housing on the behaviour of the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus)

In this experiment, 64 pairs of animals of the strain C57BL/6J were used. Half of the animals were born and reared until weaning in standard cages and the other half in cages twice the size of the standard and furnished...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Marques, J. M., Olsson, I. A. S. 2007. The effect of preweaning and postweaning housing on the behaviour of the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus). Laboratory Animals 41(1), 92-102.

The effect of the kennel environment on canine welfare: a critical review of experimental studies

Dogs can be held temporarily or permanently in kennels for a number of reasons, not necessarily for their own benefit. Although restrictive environments have been associated with poor welfare, priorities for research and change cannot be understood unless the various...

Year Published: 2007Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Taylor, K. D., Mills, D. S. 2007. The effect of the kennel environment on canine welfare: a critical review of experimental studies. Animal Welfare 16, 435-447.

The effect of cage size on reproductive performance and behavior of C57BL/6 mice

We attempted to determine whether housing breeding trios of mice in cages 50% larger than standard cages would have any measurable effect on reproductive performance or on offspring behavior. .. All cages [530 sq cm and 800 sq cm] contained...

Year Published: 2007Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Whitaker, J., Moy, S. S., Saville, B. R. et al. 2007. The effect of cage size on reproductive performance and behavior of C57BL/6 mice. Lab Animal 36(10), 32-39.

Chapter 2.11. Legal space requirement stipulations

Is it indicated to push for larger than minimum-size standard cages? Individually caged animals have little or no use for extra space beyond the space required for free postural adjustments and a few normal steps/hops. Rather than exploring empty space,...

Year Published: 2007Topics: HousingAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Chapter 2.11. Legal space requirement stipulations. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 30-32. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Chapter 9.5. Multi-Tier Caging

In a quantitative study I did on 20 pair-housed cynos, the animals spent 94 percent of their waking time in the upper part of the vertically arranged double cage. All food was given in the bottom section, yet the animals...

Year Published: 2007Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Chapter 9.5. Multi-Tier CagingMaking Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 158-161. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Chapter 4.7. Windows

We expose our squirrel monkeys to natural daylight via big windows during the summer. This is supplemented with artificial light in late fall and early spring, when the days are short, and throughout the winter. Some of our squirrel monkeys...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Squirrel Monkey

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Chapter 4.7. Windows. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 65-66. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.