Husbandry & Management

Recommendations for measuring and standardizing light for laboratory mammals to improve welfare and reproducibility in animal research

Light enables vision and exerts widespread effects on physiology and behavior, including regulating circadian rhythms, sleep, hormone synthesis, affective state, and cognitive processes. Appropriate lighting in animal facilities may support welfare and ensure that animals enter experiments in an appropriate...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: All/General, Cat, Dog, Goat, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rat, Rodent, Sheep, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Lucas, R. J., Allen, A. E., Brainard, G. C. et al. 2024. Recommendations for measuring and standardizing light for laboratory mammals to improve welfare and reproducibility in animal research. PLOS Biology 22(3), e3002535.

The influence of water nitrate concentration combined with elevated temperature on rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in an experimental aquaponic setup

Intensive recirculating systems are a fast-developing sector of aquaculture. While several warm-water fish have been reared in aquaponics, almost no data are available for cold-water species. The determination of nitrate toxicity thresholds in recirculating aquaculture is crucial. Different pollutants are...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Trout

Citation: Papadopoulos, D. K., Lattos, A., Chatzigeorgiou, I. et al. 2024. The influence of water nitrate concentration combined with elevated temperature on rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in an experimental aquaponic setup. Fishes 9(2), 74.

Resource choice during ontogeny enhances both the short- and longer-term welfare of laying hen pullets

We hypothesised that resource choice during early life contributes to both current and longer-term beneficial effects on animal welfare. We investigated this hypothesis in a longitudinal cross-over experiment with laying hen pullets (Gallus gallus domesticus) reared in pens with one...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Holt, R. V., Skånberg, L., Keeling, L. J. et al. 2024. Resource choice during ontogeny enhances both the short- and longer-term welfare of laying hen pullets. Scientific Reports 14(1), 3360.

Investigations on Xenopus laevis body composition and feeding behavior in a laboratory setting

The African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, has been used as a laboratory animal for decades in many research areas. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the nutritional physiology of this amphibian species and the feeding regimen is not...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad

Citation: Böswald, L. F., Matzek, D., von La Roche, D. et al. 2024. Investigations on Xenopus laevis body composition and feeding behavior in a laboratory setting. Scientific Reports 14(1), 9517.

Growth and oxidative stress of clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris reared at different salinities

Aquaculture of ornamental marine fish is often conducted in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) using artificial seawater. Considering the cost of salts to produce artificial seawater (salinity 35‰), we investigated the effect of different salinities (5, 15, 25, and 35‰) on...

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

Citation: Carneiro, M. D. D., Medeiros, R. S. de, Monserrat, J. M. et al. 2024. Growth and oxidative stress of clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris reared at different salinities. Fishes 9(1), 30.

Influence of deep-litter bedding materials on environmental and welfare-related factors in boar studs

In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for artificial insemination (AI) centers to procure high-quality bedding materials. The aim of this study was to investigate influences of bedding materials on selected environmental and welfare-related aspects in breeding boars. Including...

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

Citation: Riedel, A., Pieper, L., Lautner, M. et al. 2024. Influence of deep-litter bedding materials on environmental and welfare-related factors in boar studs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 273, 106215.

Husbandry protocols for juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) based on stress response to stocking density and dry-dock time

When necessary, sea turtles are held captive for veterinarian care and research purposes. Protocols and basic guidelines have been described for husbandry of sea turtles with veterinarian needs but not considering physiological indicators of animal welfare. Because all sea turtle...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & Management, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Usategui-Martín, A., Liria - Loza, A., Valverde, R. A. et al. 2024. Husbandry protocols for juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) based on stress response to stocking density and dry-dock time. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 27(3), 589–601.

Paper towel shredding as a novel, affordable, noninvasive method for detecting arousals in hibernating rodents

Many research groups explore the regulation of hibernation or compare the physiology of heterothermic mammals between the torpid and aroused, euthermic states. Current methods for monitoring torpor (for example, infrared cameras, body temperature or heart-rate telemetry, and motion sensing) are...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Hutchinson, A. J., Duffy, B. M., Rego, L. H. et al. 2024. Paper towel shredding as a novel, affordable, noninvasive method for detecting arousals in hibernating rodents. Lab Animal 53(5), 117–120.

Differences in fluid, electrolyte, and energy balance in C57BL/6J mice (Mus musculus) in metabolic caging at thermoneutral or standard room temperatures

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends mice be pair or group housed and provided with nesting materials. These provisions support social interactions and are also critical for thermoregulatory behaviors such as huddling and burrowing. However,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Lawton, S. B., Grobe, C. C., Reho, J. J. et al. 2024. Differences in fluid, electrolyte, and energy balance in C57BL/6J mice (Mus musculus) in metabolic caging at thermoneutral or standard room temperatures. JAALAS 63(2), 190–200.

Know when you are on a break: Effects of predictable breaks on bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus behaviours

Under human care, dolphins' activities are alternated with moments of breaks that should allow them to behave as they want. However, scheduled activities such as training, feeding and playing with objects can affect dolphins' behaviours during breaks. Specifically, dolphins perform...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Bigiani, S., Pil, C. 2023. Know when you are on a break: Effects of predictable breaks on bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus behaviours. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 11(3), 311–317.