Husbandry & Management

Watching makes it worse: Dairy calves are averse to watching another calf feed while hungry

Farm animals are routinely feed restricted, and while this has adverse effects on their physiology and increases their expression of hunger-related behaviours, the subjective experience of hunger remains poorly understood. For example, dairy calves, Bos taurus, are typically fed less...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Hendricks, J., Mendl, M. T., Lecorps, B. 2026. Watching makes it worse: Dairy calves are averse to watching another calf feed while hungry. Animal Behaviour 232, 123380.

Behaviour and spatial distribution of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in experimental tanks: Influence of water flow and husbandry procedures

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is increasingly employed as an experimental model, yet knowledge of its behaviour in laboratory settings is limited. This study examined short-term (24 h), mid-term (1 week), and circadian changes in behavioural and spatial patterns of individually-housed trout...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Trout

Citation: Bortoletti, M., Lõoke, M., Pascoli, F. et al. 2026. Behaviour and spatial distribution of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in experimental tanks: Influence of water flow and husbandry procedures. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 295, 106892.

Presence of ultrasonic noise in the housing colony affects behavior and physiology of adult Sprague Dawley rats

Perception is dictated by our sensory capabilities which vary widely across species. Hearing in humans is confined to a relatively narrow range, thus the presence of ultrasonic noise, sound with a frequency >20 kHz, is often overlooked. Concerningly, it has...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & Management, VocalizationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bigelow, L. J., Pope, E. K., Sohasky, V. K. et al. 2026. Presence of ultrasonic noise in the housing colony affects behavior and physiology of adult Sprague Dawley rats. Physiology & Behavior 310, 115313.

The effects of housing temperature on mouse physiology and implications for disease modeling

Housing temperature has a critical role in preclinical research by affecting the physiological and metabolic responses of laboratory mice. Exposure to temperatures below the thermoneutral zone triggers adaptive responses, such as behavioral changes, increased energy expenditure and altered immune function,...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Bellucci, A., Baranowski, B. J., Wright, D. C. 2026. The effects of housing temperature on mouse physiology and implications for disease modeling. Lab Animal 55(4), 108–116.

Opportunities for refinement of non-human primate vaccine studies

Non-human primates (NHPs) are used extensively in the development of vaccines and therapeutics for human disease. High standards in the design, conduct, and reporting of NHP vaccine studies are crucial for maximizing their scientific value and translation, and for making...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Humane Endpoint, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Prescott, M. J., Clark, C., Dowling, W. E. et al. 2021. Opportunities for refinement of non-human primate vaccine studies. Vaccines 9(3), 284.

Effects of different feed types on intestinal microbial community diversity and intestinal development of newborn Siamese crocodiles

Conventional alligator farming, characterized by reliance on chilled fish meat, faces significant challenges, including risks of bacterial contamination and nutritional imbalances. These issues heighten increasing disease susceptibility and threaten industry sustainability, underscoring the critical need for developing nutrient-dense, low-pathogenicity compound...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & Management, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Crocodile & Alligator, Reptile

Citation: Zhang, X., Wu, J., Wang, C. et al. 2025. Effects of different feed types on intestinal microbial community diversity and intestinal development of newborn Siamese crocodiles. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 7(1).

Exploring dietary practices and faecal consistency in zoo-housed cotton-top tamarins Oedipomidas oedipus

The cotton-top tamarin Oedipomidas oedipus is currently classified as critically endangered by the IUCN, prompting intensive conservation efforts, including the maintenance of healthy populations under human care. However, ensuring optimal welfare and health remains challenging, particularly in terms of nutritional...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Urrego, A. C. B., Mendoza, J. C., Vieira, M. F. et al. 2026. Exploring dietary practices and faecal consistency in zoo-housed cotton-top tamarins Oedipomidas oedipus. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 14(1), 38–45.

Ethological constraints and welfare-related bias in laboratory mice: Implications of housing, lighting, and social environment

Laboratory mice are the most widely used model organisms in biomedical and behavioral research, yet growing concerns regarding reproducibility and translational validity have highlighted the substantial influence of housing and husbandry conditions on experimental outcomes. Although domestication is often assumed...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Török, H. K., Bárdos, B. 2026. Ethological constraints and welfare-related bias in laboratory mice: Implications of housing, lighting, and social environment. Animals 16(2).

Validation of enhanced floor pen housing for chickens

This study assesses the transition from isolator housing to an enhanced floor pen system for chickens, with the goal of improving Animal Welfare and promoting natural behaviours. Historically, chickens in our facility were housed in isolators, which limited the opportunities...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Teggart, M., Mackay, F., Merck Enrichment Team 2025. Validation of enhanced floor pen housing for chickens. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(3), 251–253.

Report of the 2024 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting

The RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare Group has held a one-day meeting every autumn for the last 31 years. These meetings provide an opportunity for members to discuss current welfare research, exchange views on welfare issues and share their experiences of the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal Training, Drug/Substance Administration, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Imaging & Electrophysiological RecordingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Stevens, C., Robinson, E., Jackson, M. et al. 2025. Report of the 2024 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting. Animal Welfare and Technology 4(3), 219–226.