Social Housing & Companionship

Intermittent pair-housing, pair relationship qualities, and HPA activity in adult female rhesus macaques

Laboratory rhesus macaques are often housed in pairs and may be temporarily or permanently separated for research, health, or management reasons. While both long‐term social separations and introductions can stimulate a stress response that impacts inflammation and immune function, the...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Hannibal, D. L., Cassidy, L. C.,Vandeleest, J. et al. 2018. Intermittent pair-housing, pair relationship qualities, and HPA activity in adult female rhesus macaques. American Journal of Primatology 80(5), e22762.

Higher levels of submissive behaviors at the onset of the pairing process of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are associated with lower risk of wounding following introduction

Social housing of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) is considered to be the cornerstone of behavioral management programs in biomedical facilities. However, it also involves the risk of socially inflicted trauma. The ability to avoid such trauma would contribute to the...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Pomerantz, O., Baker, K. C. 2017. Higher levels of submissive behaviors at the onset of the pairing process of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are associated with lower risk of wounding following introduction. American Journal of Primatology 79(8), e22671.

Effects of human management events on conspecific aggression in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Conspecific aggression in outdoor-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) at primate research facilities is a leading source of trauma and can potentially influence animal wellbeing and research quality. Although aggression between macaques is a normal part of daily social interactions, human...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Theil, J. H., Beisner, B. A., Hill, A. E. et al. 2017. Effects of human management events on conspecific aggression in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). JAALAS 56(2), 122-130.

Physiologic correlates of interactions between adult male and immature long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

Interactions between adult males and immature members of the same species are rare in most mammals; in contrast, an estimated 40% of primate species are characterized by an involvement of males in the social life of infants and juveniles. The...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bardi, M., Prugh, A. M., Eubanks, B. T. et al. 2017. Physiologic correlates of interactions between adult male and immature long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). JAALAS 56(6), 718-728.

Two methods of social separation for paired adolescent male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Literature-based recommendations regarding how to separate pairs of laboratory-housed NHP when required for research, veterinary, or management needs are unavailable. This study assessed 2 separation techniques—rapid and stepwise—to determine whether a period of limited social access mitigates the behavioral stress...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Truelove, M. A., Martin, A. L., Perlman, J. E. et al. 2017. Two methods of social separation for paired adolescent male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). JAALAS 56(6), 729-734.

Effect of chronic social stress on prenatal transfer of antitetanus immunity in captive breeding rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Because tetanus can cause significant morbidity and mortality in NHP, colonywide vaccination with tetanus toxoid is recommended for outdoor breeding colonies of rhesus macaques, with primary immunizations commonly given to infants at 6 mo of age followed by booster vaccines...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Reproduction, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Stammen, R. L., Cohen, J. K., Meeker, T. L. et al. 2018. Effect of chronic social stress on prenatal transfer of antitetanus immunity in captive breeding rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). JAALAS 57(4), 357-367.

Using the five domains model to assess the adverse impacts of husbandry, veterinary, and equitation interventions on horse welfare

The aim of this study was to conduct a series of paper-based exercises in order to assess the negative (adverse) welfare impacts, if any, of common interventions on domestic horses across a broad range of different contexts of equine care...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & Management, Restraint, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: McGreevy, P., Berger, J., de Brauwere, N. et al. 2018. Using the five domains model to assess the adverse impacts of husbandry, veterinary, and equitation interventions on horse welfare. Animals 8(3), 41.

Understanding tail-biting in pigs through social network analysis

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between social structure and incidence of tail-biting in pigs. Pigs (n = 144, initial weight = 7.2 ± 1.57 kg, 4 weeks of age) were grouped based on their litter...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Li, Y., Zhang, H., Johnston, L. et al. 2018. Understanding tail-biting in pigs through social network analysis. Animals 8(1), 13.

To group or not to group? Good practice for housing male laboratory mice

It is widely recommended to group-house male laboratory mice because they are ‘social animals', but male mice do not naturally share territories and aggression can be a serious welfare problem. Even without aggression, not all animals within a group will...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kappel, S., Hawkins, P., Mendl, M. 2017. To group or not to group? Good practice for housing male laboratory mice. Animals 7(12), 88.

Long term physiologic and behavioural effects of housing density and environmental resource provision for adult male and female Sprague Dawley rats

There is considerable interest in refining laboratory rodent environments to promote animal well-being, as well as research reproducibility. Few studies have evaluated the long term impact of enhancing rodent environments with resources and additional cagemates. To that end, male and...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & Companionship, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Pinelli, C., Leri, F., Turner, P. 2017. Long term physiologic and behavioural effects of housing density and environmental resource provision for adult male and female Sprague Dawley rats. Animals 7(6), 44.