Husbandry & Management

The effect of conspecific removal on the behaviour and physiology of pair-housed shelter dogs

Dogs (Canis familiaris) are a highly social species and within a shelter environment pair-housing is recommended to prevent the stress associated with social isolation. Separation of individuals which may have formed bonds in this environment is a usual occurrence, as...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Walker, J. K., Waran, N. K., Phillips, C. J. C. 2014. The effect of conspecific removal on the behaviour and physiology of pair-housed shelter dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 158, 46-56.

The effect of four different feeding regimes on rabbit behaviour

Dietary composition and presentation impacts on the behaviour of animals, and failure to provide a suitable diet can lead to reduced welfare through the development of poor health, the inability to express normal behaviours and the development of abnormal behaviours....

Year Published: 2015Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Prebble, J. L., Langford, F. M., Shaw, D. J. et al. 2015. The effect of four different feeding regimes on rabbit behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 169, 86-92.

Aspen shaving versus chip bedding: Effects on breeding and behavior

The choice of laboratory cage bedding material is often based on both practical and husbandry issues, whereas behavioral outcomes rarely appear to be considered. It has been noted that a breeding success difference appears to be associated with the differential...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Jackson, E., Demarest, K., Eckert, W. J. et al. 2015. Aspen shaving versus chip bedding: Effects on breeding and behavior. Laboratory Animals 49(1), 46-56.

Aggression and cortisol levels in three different group housing routines for lactating sows

Background: Lactating sows in Swedish organic piglet production are commonly group-housed with piglets in a multi-suckling pen within 14 days after farrowing. Nursing behaviour may be disturbed when lactating sows are moved to a new environment and mixed with other...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Thomsson, O., Bergqvist, A. S., Sjunnesson, Y. et al. 2015. Aggression and cortisol levels in three different group housing routines for lactating sows. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 57(1), 9.

Cuttlefish in captivity: An investigation into housing and husbandry for improving welfare

The European cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) is often kept in public aquaria, is becoming more common in aquaculture, and is also the most frequently used cephalopod in European research. Since 1st January 2013, all cephalopods (Mollusca) have been protected under UK/EU...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Tonkins, B. M., Tyers, A. M., Cook G. M. 2015. Cuttlefish in captivity: An investigation into housing and husbandry for improving welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 168, 77-83.

Lack of negative effects on Syrian hamsters and Mongolian gerbils housed in the same secondary enclosure

In cases where different species might be housed in the same room or secondary enclosure, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends that the animals should be behaviorally compatible and have the same health status. Syrian...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Gerbil, Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Pritchett-Corning, K. R., Gaskill, B. N. 2015. Lack of negative effects on Syrian hamsters and Mongolian gerbils housed in the same secondary enclosure. JAALAS 54(3), 261-266.

Advantages and risks of housing changes to improve animal wellbeing in a breeding colony of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Between 1975 and 2014, housing conditions for laboratory-housed marmosets changed dramatically after the introduction of new guidelines designed to improve their care and wellbeing. According to these guidelines, our facility provided marmosets with outside enclosures, switched to deep litter as...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bakker, J., Ouwerling, B., Hedit, P. J. et al. 2015. Advantages and risks of housing changes to improve animal wellbeing in a breeding colony of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). JAALAS 54(3), 273-279.

Characteristics of vibration that alter cardiovascular parameters in mice

We hypothesized that short-term exposure of mice to vibration within a frequency range thought to be near the resonant frequency range of mouse tissue and at an acceleration of 0 to 1 m/s2 would alter heart rate (HR) and mean...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Li, Y., Rabey, K. N., Schmitt, D. et al. 2015. Characteristics of vibration that alter cardiovascular parameters in mice. JAALAS 54(4), 372-377.

Effect of enrichment devices on aggression in manipulated nude mice

Agonistic behavior in group-housed male mice is a recurring problem in many animal research facilities. Common management procedures, such as the removal of aggressors, are moderately successful but often fail, owing to recurrence of aggressive behavior among cagemates. Studies have...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Lockworth, C. R., Kim, S., Liu, J. et al. 2015. Effect of enrichment devices on aggression in manipulated nude mice. JAALAS 54(6), 731-736.

Identifying environmental and management factors that may be associated with the quality of life of kenneled dogs (Canis familiaris)

This paper describes the use of a validated quality of life assessment tool (described elsewhere) to identify environmental and management factors that may affect quality of life in dogs kennelled in rehoming centres. Dogs were allocated to one of the...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Kiddie, J., Collins, L. 2015. Identifying environmental and management factors that may be associated with the quality of life of kenneled dogs (Canis familiaris). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 167, 43-55.