Husbandry & Management

Refinements in husbandry, care and common procedures for non-human primates: Ninth report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement

Preface: Whenever animals are used in research, minimizing pain and distress and promoting good welfare should be as important an objective as achieving the experimental results. This is important for humanitarian reasons, for good science, for economic reasons and in...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Buchanan-Smith, H. M., Gamble, M. R., Gore, M. et al. 2009. Refinements in husbandry, care and common procedures for non-human primates: Ninth report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement . Lab Animals 43 Supplement, 1-47.

Studies and snack bites

Veterinary technician Evelyn Skoumbourdis and environmental enrichment coordinator Casey Coke Murphy discuss proper feeding of small laboratory mammals.

Year Published: 2009Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Skoumbourdis, E., Coke Murphy, C. 2009. Studies and snack bites. Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) Quarterly 58(1) Winter, 12-13.

A closer look inside rodent water valves

An increase in the number of leaking water valves was observed ........ resulted in flooded cages.

Year Published: 2009Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rodent, Salmon

Citation: Ogeka, S. 2009. A closer look inside rodent water valves. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 123 (Abstract).

Behavioral response of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to routine cage washing procedures

Documenting behavioral effects of routine procedures such as the cage washing process in nonhuman primate facilities is an important step in identifying procedures that may be stressful to the primates, and in determining ways to improve those procedures. Collecting 210...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: McMillan, J., Perlman, J. E., Martin, A. L. et al. 2009. Behavioral response of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to routine cage washing procedures. American Journal of Primatology 71(S1), 33. (32nd Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #15)

Physiological and behavioural responses of laboratory rats housed at different tier levels and levels of visual contact with conspecifics and humans

Laboratory rats are typically housed in clear or opaque cages on multi-tiered racks. Clear-walled cages allow a view of the room and facilitate visual social contact with neighbouring rats but may induce anxiety due to lack of visual cover. We...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Cloutier, S., Newberry, R. C. 2010. Physiological and behavioural responses of laboratory rats housed at different tier levels and levels of visual contact with conspecifics and humans. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 125(1-2), 69-79.

Feeding behavior of Saguinus oedipus in relation to food hardness in a zoo setting: Possibilities for enrichment? Laboratory Primate Newsletter 49(3), 10-13

We suggest that by providing animals with food in a more natural form (i.e., not cut to a standardized size), they would have an opportunity to process the food in a manner that best approaches what would be encountered in...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ceja, C., White, J. 2010. Feeding behavior of Saguinus oedipus in relation to food hardness in a zoo setting: Possibilities for enrichment? Laboratory Primate Newsletter 49(3), 10-13.

Multidimensional cost-benefit analysis to guide evidence-based environmental enrichment: Providing bedding and foraging substrate to pen-housed monkeys

Refinement of animal care and housing is an important shared goal - and challenge - of the team of research, veterinary, and animal care personnel charged with ensuring the wellbeing of laboratory animals. This study addresses 2 issues central to...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Bennett, A. J., Corcoran, C. A., Hardy, V. A. et al. 2010. Multidimensional cost-benefit analysis to guide evidence-based environmental enrichment: Providing bedding and foraging substrate to pen-housed monkeys. JAALAS 49(5), 571-577.

Housing mice on corncob bedding verus hardwood chip may confound research models

The result demonstrates that bedding material, a variable not often considered in research, could have profound influence on the data for many studies of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, or metabolism.

Year Published: 2010Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Zahorsky-Reeves, J., Castellani, L. W. 2010. Housing mice on corncob bedding verus hardwood chip may confound research models. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 655 (Abstract #PS2).

Benefits of providing nesting material as a from of environmental enrichment for mice

Husbandry conditions in a laboratory environment can be barren and monotonous. Improving those conditions by providing opportunities for laboratory mice to engage in species-specific behavior can improve their mental and physical well-being. Giving the animals choices and control over their...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Froberg-Fejko, K. M. 2010. Benefits of providing nesting material as a from of environmental enrichment for mice. Lab Animal 39(10), 326-327.

The effects of four types of enrichment on feather-pecking behaviour in laying hens housed in barren environments

Severe feather pecking, a potentially stereotypic behaviour in chickens (Gallus gallus), can be reduced by providing enrichment. However, there is little comparative information available on the effectiveness of different types of enrichment. Providing forages to birds is likely to decrease...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Dixon, L. M., Duncan, I. J. H., Mason, G. J. 2010. The effects of four types of enrichment on feather-pecking behaviour in laying hens housed in barren environments. Animal Welfare 19(4), 429-435.