Reproduction

Biopolymer-based nesting material for sows and its consequence on nest-building behavior, farrowing kinetics and piglet vitality

In the present study, we evaluated the effects of a soluble and biodegradable biopolymer-based material, structurally resembling natural fiber, as an alternative nesting-material for prepartum gilts. A total of 18 first parity sows and their litters were studied. One hour...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, ReproductionAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Monteiro, M. S., Muro, B. B. D., Nicolino, M. V. B. et al. 2025. Biopolymer-based nesting material for sows and its consequence on nest-building behavior, farrowing kinetics and piglet vitality. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 284, 106555.

Good welfare is attractive: Female zebrafish (Danio rerio) prefer males from complex, well-resourced conditions over males from conventional barren laboratory tanks

Applied ethologists often find that sub-optimal housing (e.g. barren versus “enriched”, well-resourced conditions) impairs animals’ interactions with conspecifics. Furthermore, some housing effects on social/sexual interactions persist even in standardised test situations. For example, in mating tests on three mammalian and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, ReproductionAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Lavery, J. M., Snaith, K., Pallarca, J. et al. 2025. Good welfare is attractive: Female zebrafish (Danio rerio) prefer males from complex, well-resourced conditions over males from conventional barren laboratory tanks. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 286, 106603.

Gilts are motivated to exit a stall (2025)

Stalls (or crates) are still a common type of housing in the swine industry, despite public concern and regional legislation restricting their use. In this study, we examined the motivation of gilts to exit a stall. Sixteen stall-naïve gilts (Large...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, ReproductionAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Ede, T., Parsons, T. D. 2025. Gilts are motivated to exit a stall. Scientific Reports 15(1), 6929.

A method to improve the housing of breeding rats used to produce pups for tissue (2025)

Rats are considered highly social animals. In the wild, they live in groups and develop complex social structures. Regrouping rats is considered stressful. We therefore wanted to keep animals in monogamous pairs so that they could develop a social bond...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, Reproduction, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Booth, K., King, J., Stephen, J. et al. 2025. A method to improve the housing of breeding rats used to produce pups for tissue. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(1), 62–65.

Pup recruitment in a eusocial mammal—Which factors influence early pup survival in naked mole-rats?

In eusocial insects, offspring survival strongly depends on the quality and quantity of non-breeders. In contrast, the influence of social factors on offspring survival is more variable in cooperatively breeding mammals since maternal traits also play an important role. This...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Housing, Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wetzel, M., Courtiol, A., Hofer, H. et al. 2023. Pup recruitment in a eusocial mammal—Which factors influence early pup survival in naked mole-rats? Animals 13(4), 630.

Ultrasound to ultrasee—The use of ultrasound to determine pregnancy in mice

Several MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) groups require early-stage mouse embryos for their scientific research programmes. Traditionally, Animal Technicians have relied on visual checks or palpation of the abdomen to determine pregnancy in mice. In 2017 an ultrasound machine...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Imaging & Electrophysiological Recording, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Karam, C., Kemp, K. 2024. Ultrasound to ultrasee—The use of ultrasound to determine pregnancy in mice. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 121–127.

Rat tickling in gestation females

It has previously not been recommended to perform rat tickling on pregnant females. We questioned if rat tickling could be used for pregnant females to improve their welfare. After discussion with our veterinarians, Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer, and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Human-Animal Interaction, ReproductionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Lomax, A., Lurkins, D., Hornsey, H. 2024. Rat tickling in gestation females. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 143–144.

Update on current hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptive options in non-human primates

Reproductive success in captive non-human primates (NHPs) has increased the demand for safe, effective, and reversible population control methods. This review provides an overview of the current literature on hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives as reproductive control methods in NHPs. Where...

Year Published: 2024Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Nederlof, R. A., Bruins-van Sonsbeek, L. G. R., Stumpel, J. B. G. et al. 2024. Update on current hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptive options in non-human primates. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 5(4), 606–629.

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.

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.