Reproduction

Laboratory zebra finch breeding pair management

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), our finch colony includes more than 200 birds, with up to 45 breeding pairs maintained at a time. We also rear song-isolated clutches by separating offspring from the male parent at ~11 to...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Bird, Finch

Citation: Plump, L. N., Backx, A. G., Fabian, N. J. 2026. Laboratory zebra finch breeding pair management. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 14(2) (March/April), 15-20.

Advancing animal welfare: A natural mating protocol for Xenopus laevis

The amphibian Xenopus laevis is an alternative animal model for developmental biology and toxicology. The Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus (FETAX) stands as a validated test for ecotoxicology and chemical hazard characterization. Conventionally, fertilized eggs are obtained through adult hormonal injection....

Year Published: 2025Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad

Citation: Menegola, E., Di Renzo, F., Bacchetta, R. et al. 2025. Advancing animal welfare: A natural mating protocol for Xenopus laevis. Laboratory Animals 59(6), 722–726.

Solvable challenges, meaningful lives – welfare and reproduction in zoo animals

In the management and care of farm animals and pets, controlling reproduction is common practice to an extent that its justification is rarely questioned. In zoo population management, limited holding capacity and difficulties in culling so-called ‘surplus animals’ lead to...

Year Published: 2025Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Schiffmann, C., Schiffmann, L., Müller, E. et al. 2025. Solvable challenges, meaningful lives – welfare and reproduction in zoo animals. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 13(4), 245–263.

Introducing an innovative pain scale for assessing postpartum pain in mares: Preliminary clinical evaluation

Background: Pain after giving birth is commonly observed in horses, yet there has not been a specific tool developed for assessing this pain in postpartum mares. The goal was to adapt existing equine pain scales and to preliminarily validate a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Reproduction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Bolesławska-Szubartowska, J., Kucharczuk, M., Skrabska, A. et al. 2025. Introducing an innovative pain scale for assessing postpartum pain in mares: Preliminary clinical evaluation. Animals 15(23).

Development of a donkey grimace scale to recognize pain in donkeys (Equus asinus) post castration

The objectives of this study were to establish a donkey ethogram, followed by a donkey grimace scale to be applied to donkeys pre- and post-castration and to test if there was a notable difference in scores based on observer knowledge,...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Body Modification/Mutilation, Reproduction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Orth, E. K., Navas González, F. J., Iglesias Pastrana, C. et al. 2020. Development of a donkey grimace scale to recognize pain in donkeys (Equus asinus) post castration. Animals 10(8), 1411.

The use of hides during and after calving in New Zealand dairy cows

Isolation during calving is a common dairy cow behavior, however it has not been examined in large outdoor group settings. The provision of “hides” was monitored for its impact on calving location and cow–calf behavior. Stocking density and bedding management...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Housing, Husbandry & Management, Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Zobel, G., Proudfoot, K., Cave, V. et al. 2020. The use of hides during and after calving in New Zealand dairy cows. Animals 10(12), 2255.

Alternatives to shipping live mice

Many in the lab animal field are familiar with shipping animals from vendor to investigator, from investigator to vendor, and from investigator to investigator. Sharing mouse models represents being good stewards of our animal resources and prevents unnecessary duplication of...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Relocation & Transport, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Larson, M. A. 2020. Alternatives to shipping live mice. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 8(5) (September/October), 52-54.

Development of a facial expression scale using farrowing as a model of pain in sows

Changes in facial expression have been shown to be a useful tool to assess pain severity in humans and animals, but facial scales have not yet been developed for all species. A facial expression scale in sows was developed using...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Reproduction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Navarro, E., Mainau, E., Manteca, X. 2020. Development of a facial expression scale using farrowing as a model of pain in sows. Animals 10(11), 2113.

Effects of trio and pair breeding of mice on environmental parameters and nasal pathology and their implications for cage change frequency

According to the Guide, cage change frequencies must be considered when cage density requirements are exceeded. We monitored ammonia, carbon dioxide, cage wetness, health status, and breeding parameters of trio and pair breeding cages containing CD1 mice in ventilated and...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Carpenter, K. C., Thurston, S. E., Hoenerhoff, M. J. et al. 2020. Effects of trio and pair breeding of mice on environmental parameters and nasal pathology and their implications for cage change frequency. JAALAS 59(3), 288–297.

Oestrus checking – increasing productivity and embracing the 3R’s

Much like the menstrual cycle in humans, mice also have a cycle where the eggs ripen, ovulation takes place, the females come into heat and are receptive to mate with the male; this occurs over the space of 4-5 days...

Year Published: 2020Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hoskins, S., Brown, J. 2020. Oestrus checking – increasing productivity and embracing the 3R’s. Animal Technology and Welfare 19(2), 159-161.