Husbandry & Management

Report of the 2010 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting – The effect of husbandry on welfare and promoting good practice

The RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare Group holds a one-day meeting every autumn so that its members can discuss current welfare research, exchange views on rodent welfare issues and share experiences of the implementation of the 3Rs of replacement, reduction and refinement...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, Handling, Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hawkins, P., Burn, C., Hurst, J. et al. 2011. Report of the 2010 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting - The effect of husbandry on welfare and promoting good practice. Animal Technology and Welfare 10(2), 105-114.

Cage-change interval preference in mice

Before animal research facilities began using individually ventilated cage (IVC) systems formice, cages were often changed one or more times per week. When using IVC systems, however, it is standard practice to change cages only once every 2-3 weeks. When...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Godbey, T., Gray, G., Jeffery, D. 2011. Cage-change interval preference in mice. Lab Animal 40(7), 225-230.

Farm Animal Behavior – Characteristics for Assessment of Health and Welfare (1st ed): Sheep

Each chapter follows a consistent pattern describing the behavioral characteristics of the species featured. Reference is made to the natural state before domestication, leading us through the various changes to the present, demonstrating along the way recognized behavioral needs of...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Restraint, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Ekesbo, I. 2011. Sheep. In: Farm Animal Behavior: Characteristics for Assessment of Health and Welfare (1st ed). Fraser, A. F. , Broom, D. M. (ed). CABI, Oxfordshire, UK. pp. 82-92.

Improvement and refinement in husbandry processes and environmental enrichment for ferrets housed at CL1 levels of containment

The aims of this paper are to discuss the most appropriate housing, husbandry routine and enrichment for ferrets .. without compromising science.

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Ferret

Citation: Cruden, J. 2011. Improvement and refinement in husbandry processes and environmental enrichment for ferrets housed at CL1 levels of containment. Animal Technology and Welfare 10, 177-200.

Cage change influences serum corticosterone and anxiety-like behaviors in the mouse

Environmental variables and husbandry practices can influence physiology and alter behavior in mice. Our study evaluated the effects of cage change on serum corticosterone levels and anxiety-like behaviors in C57BL/6 male mice. We examined the effects of 3 different methods...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Handling, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Rasmussen, S., Miller, M., Filipski, S. B. et al. 2011. Cage change influences serum corticosterone and anxiety-like behaviors in the mouse. JAALAS 50(4), 479-483.

Common Marmoset Care [Online resource]

The three main divisions of 'marmosetcare.com' aim respectively to promote: an understanding of the range of behaviour in this species, placing this behaviour in the context of its natural habitat and promoting good welfare in captive environments. Topics covered in...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: NC3Rs, University of Stirling. 2011. Common Marmoset Care [Online resource].

The effects of sanded (bottom only) perches on finch feet

Birds that are kept in captivity often require nail trims, presumably due to the lack of opportunity to wear the nails down on natural substrates. For many birds, restraint for the nail trim may result in increased stress. In an...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Finch

Citation: Sheets, M. D., Lindstrom, K. E., Carbone, L. G. 2011. The effects of sanded (bottom only) perches on finch feet. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 779 (Abstract #P157).

Serotonin transporter genotype x construction stress interaction in rats

A well-known example for gene x environment interactions in psychiatry is the one involving the low activity (s) allelic variant of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) that in the context of stress increases risk for depression. In analogy,...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Schipper, P., Nonkes, L. J., Karel, P. et al. 2011. Serotonin transporter genotype x construction stress interaction in rats. Behavioural Brain Research 223(1), 169-175.

Environmental enrichment program in transgenic mouse breeding colonies

Results of studies on the benefits of environmental enrichment in group-housed mice and breeding colonies are often inconsistent and conflicting. After observing a significant drop in some of the genetically engineered mice (GEM) breeding colonies during a major construction project...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Reed, M., Goldsteen, D. L., Moore, E. et al. 2011. Environmental enrichment program in transgenic mouse breeding colonies. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 779 (Abstract #P160).

Does structural enrichment for the toxicology studies improve zebrafish welfare?

Enrichment of the environment for captive animals is aimed at producing beneficial effects on the behaviour and physiology of relevant species, and is commonly used to reduce harmful social behaviours and stereotypies. However, little work has been undertaken to develop...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Wilkes L, Owen SF, Readman GD, et al. 2012. Does structural enrichment for the toxicology studies improve zebrafish welfare? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 139(1-2), 143-150.