Social Housing & Companionship

Opportunities for refinement of non-human primate vaccine studies

Non-human primates (NHPs) are used extensively in the development of vaccines and therapeutics for human disease. High standards in the design, conduct, and reporting of NHP vaccine studies are crucial for maximizing their scientific value and translation, and for making...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Humane Endpoint, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Prescott, M. J., Clark, C., Dowling, W. E. et al. 2021. Opportunities for refinement of non-human primate vaccine studies. Vaccines 9(3), 284.

Ethological constraints and welfare-related bias in laboratory mice: Implications of housing, lighting, and social environment

Laboratory mice are the most widely used model organisms in biomedical and behavioral research, yet growing concerns regarding reproducibility and translational validity have highlighted the substantial influence of housing and husbandry conditions on experimental outcomes. Although domestication is often assumed...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Török, H. K., Bárdos, B. 2026. Ethological constraints and welfare-related bias in laboratory mice: Implications of housing, lighting, and social environment. Animals 16(2).

The influence of environmental conditions and husbandry practices on goat welfare

Goat (Capra hircus) welfare is an important issue in any farming system. The aim of the study was a comprehensive analysis of the impact of environmental factors and farming practices on the welfare of goats, with particular attention to physical,...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Body Modification/Mutilation, Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & Companionship, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Pilarczyk, R., Bąkowska, M., Tomza-Marciniak, A. et al. 2026. The influence of environmental conditions and husbandry practices on goat welfare. Animals 16(5).

Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) husbandry and their welfare

A key diagnostic tool in breeding practice is systematic observation: by identifying abnormalities in natural behaviour, it can highlight early signs of reduced welfare or physical and mental health issues in livestock and other animals. The aim of this paper...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Pilarczyk, R., Bąkowska, M., Pilarczyk, B. et al. 2025. Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) husbandry and their welfare. Animals 15(21).

Effects of hand-rearing and group size on chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) social competence in captivity

The behavior of individual animals reflects both internal states and external context. For captive animals, their early life experiences can influence later adjustment, particularly their social competence. In addition, the way in which they are housed and their current social...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Murray, L. E. 2026. Effects of hand-rearing and group size on chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) social competence in captivity. Animals 16(2).

Early-life socialization enhances social competence and alters affiliative preference in piglets

Early-life socialization (comingling with other litters before weaning) may affect social behaviors in pigs, but whether the impacts are sex-dependent is unknown. We assessed the effects of early-life socialization on interactions and behavioral responses of female and male pigs in...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Luo, L., Li, Z., Bolhuis, J. E. et al. 2025. Early-life socialization enhances social competence and alters affiliative preference in piglets. Animals 15(23).

Environmental exposure to the common trunk of mammalian appeasing pheromone modulates social behavior and reduces fight wounds in male mice

Aggression among group-housed male laboratory mice poses significant challenges for animal welfare and scientific outcomes. Semiochemicals, such as mammalian appeasing pheromones, have shown potential in modulating social behaviors in various species. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Fuochi, S., Bienboire-Frosini, C., Descout, E. et al. 2025. Environmental exposure to the common trunk of mammalian appeasing pheromone modulates social behavior and reduces fight wounds in male mice. Animals 15(22).

The effect of environment and husbandry practices on sheep welfare

The amount of attention paid to the welfare of animals and their maintenance conditions has grown considerably in recent years. This paper examines the effects of extensive and intensive housing systems on the environmental, behavioural, health, nutritional and social aspects...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Bąkowska, M., Pilarczyk, R., Juszczak-Czasnojć, M. et al. 2025. The effect of environment and husbandry practices on sheep welfare. Animals 15(22).

Evaluating behavioral management practices for laboratory nonhuman primates: An international survey

The largest survey to date of behavioral management practices among facilities breeding and housing nonhuman primates (NHPs) for research was conducted from 2019 to 2020. Its primary objective was to analyze and compare practices across the European Union (EU), the...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Baker, K. C., Sewell, F. R., Prescott, M. J. 2026. Evaluating behavioral management practices for laboratory nonhuman primates: An international survey. Animals 16(1).

Effect of different management protocols for grouping does on aggression and dominance hierarchies

The study aimed at evaluating different management protocols of grouping does in regard to aggressive interactions and the establishment of a hierarchy under commercial conditions. Fifty-seven multiparous rabbit does of the Hycole hybrid maternal line were randomly distributed into three...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Munari, C., Mugnai, C., Braconnier, M. et al. 2020. Effect of different management protocols for grouping does on aggression and dominance hierarchies. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 227, 104999.