Husbandry & Management

Cardiovascular effects of dog-appeasing pheromone in the hospital environment

Recent research has emphasized the health implications of acute or chronic stress in animals. Hospitalized dogs are susceptible to stress due to various factors, including exposure to a novel environment, invasive procedures, and separation from their primary caregiver. The clinical...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Minuzzo, T., Bascherotto, J. S., Gnoatto, F. L. C. et al. 2024. Cardiovascular effects of dog-appeasing pheromone in the hospital environment. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 76, 68–72.

Comparison of two bedding types on the breeding fecundity of C57BL/6J mice

One of the favored options for generating complex transgenic laboratory mice is through in-house breeding and management strategies. One consideration in the management of these colonies is how the animals' environment may affect reproductive success. Several aspects of the microenvironment...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pinckard, J. L., Gibson, L. A., Williams, W. R. 2024. Comparison of two bedding types on the breeding fecundity of C57BL/6J mice. Laboratory Animals 58(6), 545–551.

How should one design and position straw feeders in group-housed horses? A case study on occupancy and agonistic interactions at straw feeders in a large group of horses

As group housing of horses can be associated with increased injury risk especially when there are limited resources, the aim of this study was to allow initial, scientifically based recommendations regarding the positioning and design of straw feeders. Data collection...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Puttkammer, N., Hildebrandt, F., Krieter, J. et al. 2024. How should one design and position straw feeders in group-housed horses? A case study on occupancy and agonistic interactions at straw feeders in a large group of horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106423.

Lighting and behaviour in captivity: Butterflies prefer light environments containing UV wavelengths

The behaviour and welfare of animals in captivity is of great importance to zoological collections, captive breeding programmes, food production and keepers of companion animals. Artificial lighting is commonly deficient in UV wavelengths, and use of such lighting for indoor...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Insect & Spider, Invertebrate

Citation: Thomas, R. K., Gay, A. P., Gwynn-Jones, D. et al. 2024. Lighting and behaviour in captivity: Butterflies prefer light environments containing UV wavelengths. Animal Behaviour 214, 165–172.

Puzzle feeder as a cognitive enrichment strategy determines long-term welfare improvements in a teleost fish

Providing access to cognitive tasks, such as puzzle feeders, holds promise as enrichment strategy to enhance the welfare of captive animals. Despite the substantial number of teleost fish in captivity, the effects of cognitive enrichments in this group remain relatively...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Gatto, E., Varracchio, C., Bertolucci, C. et al. 2024. Puzzle feeder as a cognitive enrichment strategy determines long-term welfare improvements in a teleost fish. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 279, 106401.

Moving vs still prey: Do common wall lizards show any preference?

Among prey functional traits, mobility plays a major role, affecting its actual availability to predators: a moving animal is usually more susceptible of being detected than immobile or inanimate prey. With the aim of investigating the role played by visual...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Guadin, B., Gazzola, A., Balestrieri, A. et al. 2024. Moving vs still prey: Do common wall lizards show any preference? Behaviour 161(6), 417–439.

Improving effectiveness of environmental enrichment: The role of light intensity in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) rearing

Environmental enrichment is a potential approach to enhance the fitness and survival of hatchery fish stocked for conservation purposes. Its effectiveness presumably depends not only on ecologically relevant features of physical enrichment but also on light condition applied. Despite the...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Li, Z., He, J., Zhou, S. et al. 2024. Improving effectiveness of environmental enrichment: The role of light intensity in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) rearing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 281, 106421.

Reducing hay waste from New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by switching to hanging wire feeders from conventional food bowls

Rabbits require daily dietary fiber (hay) to help maintain a healthy digestive tract. As per our standard operating procedure (SOP), we give the rabbits hay and other daily food enrichment in a bowl. Rabbits are intelligent, playful, and curious animals...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Hayes, R. A., Baker, C. L., Birke, L. L. 2024. Reducing hay waste from New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by switching to hanging wire feeders from conventional food bowls. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(3) (May/June), 40–42.

A new laboratory research model: The Damaraland mole-rat and its managed care

The Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis) is a subterranean, hypoxia-tolerant, long-lived rodent endemic to southern and central Africa that is increasingly being used in laboratory research. Its husbandry needs and characteristics differ from traditional rodent research models. Here, we provide a...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Buffenstein, R., Smith, M., Amoroso, V. G. et al. 2024. A new laboratory research model: The Damaraland mole-rat and its managed care. JAALAS 63(6), 683–693.

Moving toward evidence-based care: Measuring preferences in zoo-housed aquatic turtles using 24-h remote monitoring

Providing evidence-based care to animals is a common goal in zoos and aquariums. However, there are many understudied species with a lack of information available, which may result in suboptimal care for individuals of these species. Using preference tests to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: O'Brien, S. L., Koenig, S., Cronin, K. A. 2024. Moving toward evidence-based care: Measuring preferences in zoo-housed aquatic turtles using 24-h remote monitoring. Zoo Biology 43(5), 491–498.