Rearing & Weaning

Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Effects of juvenile physical enrichment on behaviour, temperament, and long-term stereotypic behaviour

A single manipulable enrichment is often introduced to the pens of farmed American mink (Neogale vison) to combat stereotypic behaviour and behaviours or temperaments associated with poor welfare (e.g. inactivity, fear, and aggression). This enrichment is provided early in life,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Mink

Citation: Clark, G. B., Díez-León, M., Meagher, R. K. 2025. Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Effects of juvenile physical enrichment on behaviour, temperament, and long-term stereotypic behaviour. Animal Welfare 34, e4.

Elevating the welfare of mouse dams: A pilot study on elevated tunnels for breeding mice

Mouse dams and their pups may benefit from more gradual weaning, but this is not possible in standard laboratory cages because dams cannot physically separate from their pups. Allowing mouse dams to control nursing may improve their welfare and encourage...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ratuski, A. S., Makowska, I. J., Weary, D. M., 2024. Elevating the welfare of mouse dams: A pilot study on elevated tunnels for breeding mice. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(5) (September/October), 52–55.

No effect of infant nursery rearing on laboratory rhesus monkey dams’ social behavior or long-term cortisol profiles

While the behavioral and physiological impacts of nursery rearing in laboratory-housed infant monkeys have been well characterized, to date no studies have examined the impact on nonhuman primate dams of their infants being removed for rearing in the nursery. Despite...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Dettmer, A. M., Slonecker, E. M., Clouse, S. et al. 2024. No effect of infant nursery rearing on laboratory rhesus monkey dams' social behavior or long-term cortisol profiles. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106428.

Effects of supplemental diet during breeding on fertility, litter size, survival rate, and weaning weight in mice (Mus musculus)

The addition of supplemental diets to laboratory animals, specifically rodents, is a common practice for the provision of additional nutritional support. We set out to investigate whether the use of commercially available supplemental diets during breeding affected fertility rate, litter...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Wong, R. K., Carriero, S. J., Wadsworth, B. C. et al. 2024. Effects of supplemental diet during breeding on fertility, litter size, survival rate, and weaning weight in mice (Mus musculus). JAALAS 63(5), 480–487.

Rearing pigs with play opportunities: The effects on disease resilience in pigs experimentally inoculated with PRRSV

Positive emotions can reduce disease susceptibility during infectious challenges in humans, and emerging evidence suggests similar effects in farm animals. Because play behaviour may support a positive emotional state in pigs, this study investigates whether rearing pigs with regular intermittent...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Steinerová, K., Harding, J. C., Parker, S. E. et al. 2024. Rearing pigs with play opportunities: The effects on disease resilience in pigs experimentally inoculated with PRRSV. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Effects of intermittent harem mating on parturition-induced stress and success rate of weaning in C57BL/6JNarl mice

Improving the effectiveness of mating schemes for large-scale production of mice is an ongoing challenge in animal facilities. Continuous mating, which requires fewer breeding cages than intermittent mating, has traditionally been used to take advantage of postpartum estrus for efficient...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Chang, T.-K., Wang, C.-H., Lin, T.-Y. et al. 2024. Effects of intermittent harem mating on parturition-induced stress and success rate of weaning in C57BL/6JNarl mice. JAALAS 63(5), 488–494.

Making the most of life: Environmental choice during rearing enhances the ability of laying hens to take opportunities

The potential of aviary housing for improving laying hen (Gallus gallus domesticus) welfare will be constrained if rearing conditions limit the hens' behavioral ability to take opportunities. Incorporating theories on developmental plasticity and animal agency, this study aimed to determine:...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Skånberg, L., Holt, R. V., Newberry, R. C. et al. 2024. Making the most of life: Environmental choice during rearing enhances the ability of laying hens to take opportunities. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

The effect of a hiding space on the behaviour and heart rate variability of dairy calves during temporary separation from the dam

In natural settings, newborn calves hide for several days before joining the herd. It is unclear whether dairy calves housed indoors would show similar hiding behaviour. This study aimed to describe the use of an artificial hide provided to calves...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Spitzer, H. B., Meagher, R. K., O'Sullivan, M. L. et al. 2024. The effect of a hiding space on the behaviour and heart rate variability of dairy calves during temporary separation from the dam. Animal Welfare 33, e2.

Effects of the individual and pair housing of calves on long-term heifer production on a UK commercial dairy farm

Pair housing of pre-weaning dairy calves has previously demonstrated positive impacts on their growth, health and behaviour, but longer-term effects on production are still relatively unknown. This study followed a cohort of 431 Holstein heifers, recruited from a single UK...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Mahendran, S. A., Wathes, D. C., Booth, R. E. et al. 2024. Effects of the individual and pair housing of calves on long-term heifer production on a UK commercial dairy farm. Animals 14(1), 125.

Early-life contact with non-maternal adult cows and a pasture-based rearing environment influence behavioural responses of dairy heifers to novelty

The complexity experienced in early life can affect trait development of individuals, including sociability and fearfulness. The modern dairy calf's rearing environment often lacks environmental and social complexity. This study examined the effects of early-life, non-maternal adult contact and access...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Field, L., Hemsworth, L., Jongman, E. et al. 2024. Early-life contact with non-maternal adult cows and a pasture-based rearing environment influence behavioural responses of dairy heifers to novelty. Animal Welfare 33, e18.