Housing

Factors influencing the preferred nesting location of laboratory mice

Understanding the preferred nesting location of laboratory mice within the cage may serve as a useful, objective, behavioral assessment tool. To determine if caging ventilation rates influenced nesting location, we observed nesting site (front, middle, or rear) within the cage,...

Year Published: 2011Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Scales, M., McDonald, K. M. 2011. Factors influencing the preferred nesting location of laboratory mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 773 (Abstract #P128).

The use of bedding for groups of rhesus macaques

The use of substrate can have benefits to group housed macaques, including decreased aggression and increased foraging. Still, in some facilities, the use of bedding is perceived as time intensive and costly. In this study, we examined the use of...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Andrews, K., Morelli, N., Ruesterholz, E. et al. 2012. The use of bedding for groups of rhesus macaques. American Journal of Primatology 74(S1), 69. (35th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #138)

Aggression and welfare in a common aquarium fish, the Midas cichlid

Many species of fishes are aggressive when placed in small aquaria. Aggression can negatively affect the welfare of those individuals toward whom it is directed. Animals may behave aggressively in order to defend resources such as food, shelter, mates, and...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Oldfield, R. G. 2011. Aggression and welfare in a common aquarium fish, the Midas cichlid. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 14(4), 340-360.

Novel canine housing in the United Kingdom: A welfare perspective

Since opening in 2008, a consistent observation has been that the dogs are significantly quieter and easier to handle in their new surroundings in comparison to the old facility. This may be due to specific design features and working practices,...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Housing, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Watts, N., Crimes, S. 2012. Novel canine housing in the United Kingdom: A welfare perspective. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 17(3), 3.

The impact of huts on physiological stress: A refinement in post-transport housing of male guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

The ideal animal model would contribute no confounding variables in experimental science. Variables affect experimental design resulting in increased animal use or repeated studies. We demonstrated a simple refinement which may reduce the number of animals used experimentally while simultaneously...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Relocation & Transport, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Walters, S. L., Torres-Urbano, C. J., Chichester, L. et al. 2012. The impact of huts on physiological stress: A refinement in post-transport housing of male guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Laboratory Animals 46(3), 220-224.

Current practices in a captive breeding colony of 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)

The authors provide an update to their 2006 report on the successful large-scale captive breeding of the 13-lined ground squirrel (TLGS; Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) in their colony, now a single-source supplier of purpose-bred TLGSs for several research institutions. With funding from...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, ReproductionAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Merriman, D. K., Lahvis, G., Jooss, M. et al. 2012. Current practices in a captive breeding colony of 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). Lab Animal 41(11), 315-325.

Effects of play caging on the behavior and enrichment use of singly-housed rhesus macaques

This study examined whether allowing 10 singly-housed adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) 2-week access to a larger play cage would increase their species-typical behavior and decrease anxiety and abnormal behavior. The play cage consisted of four interconnected cages equipped...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Griffis, C., Martin, A. L., Perlman, J. E. et al. 2012. Effects of play caging on the behavior and enrichment use of singly-housed rhesus macaques. American Journal of Primatology 74(S1), 35. (35th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #33)

Effect of marginal environmental and social enrichment during rearing on pigs’ reactions to novelty, conspecifics and handling

The rearing environment of farmed animals can affect their behaviour when handled, and therefore needs to be taken into account when selecting for traits such as docility. Therefore, 126 German Landrace and Pietrain × German Landrace pigs were reared in...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Toenepoehl, B., Appel, A. K., Welp, S. et al. 2012. Effect of marginal environmental and social enrichment during rearing on pigs' reactions to novelty, conspecifics and handling. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 140(3-4), 137-145.

Can regular access to floor pens affect caged rabbit behavior? American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 615-616 (Abstract #PS43)

The main objective of the program of research, of which this study is part, is to evaluate the housing and environmental enrichment for laboratory rabbits. The aim is to determine whether modifications to basic housing will improve the wellbeing of...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Cruden, J. 2013. Can regular access to floor pens affect caged rabbit behavior? American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 615-616 (Abstract #PS43).

Biology, behavior, and environmental enrichment for the captive African clawed frog (Xenopus spp)

Xenopus are a hardy, long-lived, aquatic amphibian species which readily adapt to a captive environment. This characteristic makes Xenopus ideal for the laboratory, where they are used extensively in basic and biomedical research. Though husbandry practices for Xenopus have not...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad

Citation: Chum, H., Felt, S., Garner, J. et al. 2013. Biology, behavior, and environmental enrichment for the captive African clawed frog (Xenopus spp). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 143(2-4), 150-156.