Rearing & Weaning

The importance of learning young: the use of nesting material in laboratory rats

Unlike mice, adult laboratory rats do not spontaneously build nests when nesting material is offered. As a result, nesting material is often regarded as unsuitable environmental enrichment for laboratory rats. Wild rats and pet rats, however, have been observed to...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Baumans, V. 2004. The importance of learning young: the use of nesting material in laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 38, 17-24.

The effects of rearing condition and enrichment on laboratory mouse immune response, health, and behavior

Animals in the enriched condition did have greater variation for any particular measurement (thymocyte populations).

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hutchinson, E. K., Avery, A., Van de Woude, S. 2006. The effects of rearing condition and enrichment on laboratory mouse immune response, health, and behavior. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 174 (Abstract).

Issues to consider for preparing ferrets as research subjects in the laboratory

Successful housing requires knowledge of ferret behaviors including social behavior, eating habits, a general inquisitive nature, and a species-typical need to burrow and hide. Regular handling is necessary to maintain well-being. A ferret health care program consists of physical examination,...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Euthanasia, Handling, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Rearing & Weaning, Relocation & Transport, Reproduction, RestraintAnimal Type: Ferret

Citation: Ball, R. S. 2006. Issues to consider for preparing ferrets as research subjects in the laboratory. ILAR Journal 47(4), 348-357.

Effects of specific environmental enrichment contributing to litter size and attrition rate of TRP1/TGfβ transgenic mice in a breeding colony

In previous studies of environmental enrichment of mice it has been determined that certain types of mice are affected by manipulation of their living environment. Some have effects on cognitive memory and some affect the developmental nurturing on second and...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Oteham, C. P. 2010. Effects of specific environmental enrichment contributing to litter size and attrition rate of TRP1/TGfβ transgenic mice in a breeding colony. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 698 (Abstract #P51).

Sexually segregated housing results in improved early larval survival in zebrafish

Large-scale aquaculture facilities require highly optimized husbandry protocols that maximize fecundity and embryo health while minimizing cost and effort. Although zebrafish are being increasingly used for preclinical drug screens, functional genomic research and toxicological and behavioral studies, many of the...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Husbandry & Management, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Kurtzman, M. S., Craig, M. P., Grizzle, B. K. et al. 2010. Sexually segregated housing results in improved early larval survival in zebrafish. Lab Animal 39, 183-189.

Rearing condition can affect success in social groups of rhesus macaques

Forming successful groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) can be challenging. Males in particular do not always get along, and some need to be permanently removed due to fighting and trauma. Early rearing condition may play a role in social...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Housing, Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Maier, A., Coleman, K. 2010. Rearing condition can affect success in social groups of rhesus macaques. American Journal of Primatology 72(S1), 36. (33rd Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #35)

Effects of environmental enrichment on the production of C57BL/6 mice kept in different housing systems

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of environmental enrichment on the performance of C57BL/6 mice kept in conventional animal facilities (open cage; OC) and individually ventilated caging system (IVC). We analyzed the interactions between treatments (enrichment...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Neves, S. 2011. Effects of environmental enrichment on the production of C57BL/6 mice kept in different housing systems. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 788 (Abstract #P201).

Enrichment materials do not negatively affect reproductive success and offspring survival and weight in mice

Environmental enrichment is designed to improve the overall welfare of laboratory animals, including mice. Few studies have directly assessed the effects of different types of enrichment on mouse offspring survival and growth. The authors examined how survival and growth of...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Shair, H. N., Nunez, Y., Osman, M. M. 2012. Enrichment materials do not negatively affect reproductive success and offspring survival and weight in mice. Lab Animal 41(1), 14-19.

Abnormal behaviour in captive sooty mangabeys

The influence of several factors on abnormal behaviour was investigated in 46 singly housed sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) (eight nursery-reared, 38 mother-reared), including self-injurious, self-directed, stereotypic locomotion, and faeces/urine-related behaviours (SIB, SDB, SL, FUR, respectively). An analysis of behavioural assessments...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Crast, J., Bloomsmith, M. A., Perlman, J. E. et al. 2014. Abnormal behaviour in captive sooty mangabeys. Animal Welfare 23(2), 167-177.