Husbandry & Management

Perches used as environmental enrichment influence fast-growth broilers’ biomechanics and locomotor morphometry at the age of 42 days

Currently available conventional breeding methods for broilers often result in impaired biomechanics and skeletal growth for the animals. The addition of environmental enrichment is an alternative which can help alleviate these effects. This study examines the effects of environmental enrichment...

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

Citation: Nazareno, A. C., Silveira, R. M. F., Fernandes, D. P. B. et al. 2024. Perches used as environmental enrichment influence fast-growth broilers' biomechanics and locomotor morphometry at the age of 42 days. PLOS ONE 19(11), e0313214.

Think beyond the room: Measuring relative humidity in the home cage and its impact on reproduction in laboratory mice, mus musculus

Relative humidity (RH) is measured in vivaria with a broad range to accommodate seasonal fluctuations. It is assumed that measurements in the room (macroenvironment) reflect those in the cage (microenvironment). However, there is limited data comparing RH in the macroenvironment...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Barabas, A. J., Conlon, R. A., Hodges, C. A. 2024. Think beyond the room: Measuring relative humidity in the home cage and its impact on reproduction in laboratory mice, mus musculus. Animals 14(22), 3164.

Report of the 2023 RSPCA/UFAW/IAT Rodent Welfare Group Meeting

This report summarises the meeting and covers discussions ranging from housing and husbandry to refinement in procedures, education, and learning from companion rate care. It includes some action points for readers to consider raising at their own establishments.

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Barnabe, M., Applebee, K., Hurst, J. et al. 2024. Report of the 2023 RSPCA/UFAW/IAT Rodent Welfare Group Meeting. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 81–90.

Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Enrichment of the perinatal environment improves maternal nest building and reduces stereotypic behaviour

Pens for farmed mink (Neogale vison) commonly include separate nesting areas to provide privacy and warmth in the perinatal period. However, standard bedding materials may not be sufficient to allow intrinsically motivated nest-building behaviours in dams. Further, these materials may...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mink

Citation: Clark, G. B., Díez-León, M., Meagher, R. K. 2025. Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Enrichment of the perinatal environment improves maternal nest building and reduces stereotypic behaviour. Animal Welfare 34, e5.

Cardiovascular effects of dog-appeasing pheromone in the hospital environment

Recent research has emphasized the health implications of acute or chronic stress in animals. Hospitalized dogs are susceptible to stress due to various factors, including exposure to a novel environment, invasive procedures, and separation from their primary caregiver. The clinical...

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

Citation: Minuzzo, T., Bascherotto, J. S., Gnoatto, F. L. C. et al. 2024. Cardiovascular effects of dog-appeasing pheromone in the hospital environment. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 76, 68–72.

Comparison of two bedding types on the breeding fecundity of C57BL/6J mice

One of the favored options for generating complex transgenic laboratory mice is through in-house breeding and management strategies. One consideration in the management of these colonies is how the animals' environment may affect reproductive success. Several aspects of the microenvironment...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pinckard, J. L., Gibson, L. A., Williams, W. R. 2024. Comparison of two bedding types on the breeding fecundity of C57BL/6J mice. Laboratory Animals 58(6), 545–551.

How should one design and position straw feeders in group-housed horses? A case study on occupancy and agonistic interactions at straw feeders in a large group of horses

As group housing of horses can be associated with increased injury risk especially when there are limited resources, the aim of this study was to allow initial, scientifically based recommendations regarding the positioning and design of straw feeders. Data collection...

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

Citation: Puttkammer, N., Hildebrandt, F., Krieter, J. et al. 2024. How should one design and position straw feeders in group-housed horses? A case study on occupancy and agonistic interactions at straw feeders in a large group of horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106423.

Lighting and behaviour in captivity: Butterflies prefer light environments containing UV wavelengths

The behaviour and welfare of animals in captivity is of great importance to zoological collections, captive breeding programmes, food production and keepers of companion animals. Artificial lighting is commonly deficient in UV wavelengths, and use of such lighting for indoor...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Insect & Spider, Invertebrate

Citation: Thomas, R. K., Gay, A. P., Gwynn-Jones, D. et al. 2024. Lighting and behaviour in captivity: Butterflies prefer light environments containing UV wavelengths. Animal Behaviour 214, 165–172.

Puzzle feeder as a cognitive enrichment strategy determines long-term welfare improvements in a teleost fish

Providing access to cognitive tasks, such as puzzle feeders, holds promise as enrichment strategy to enhance the welfare of captive animals. Despite the substantial number of teleost fish in captivity, the effects of cognitive enrichments in this group remain relatively...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Gatto, E., Varracchio, C., Bertolucci, C. et al. 2024. Puzzle feeder as a cognitive enrichment strategy determines long-term welfare improvements in a teleost fish. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 279, 106401.

Moving vs still prey: Do common wall lizards show any preference?

Among prey functional traits, mobility plays a major role, affecting its actual availability to predators: a moving animal is usually more susceptible of being detected than immobile or inanimate prey. With the aim of investigating the role played by visual...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Guadin, B., Gazzola, A., Balestrieri, A. et al. 2024. Moving vs still prey: Do common wall lizards show any preference? Behaviour 161(6), 417–439.