Social Housing & Companionship

Five-domain-based evaluation of environmental enrichment in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) to reduce aggressive behavior

Compared with wild troops, Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), which are commonly housed in cage-like enclosures in zoos and laboratories, face limited feeding opportunities, leading to intense competition and frequent aggression. Such aggression often results in injuries, highlighting the need for...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ogura, T., Kobayashi, M., Miura, A. et al. 2025. Five-domain-based evaluation of environmental enrichment in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) to reduce aggressive behavior. Primates 66(5), 465–473.

Putting the evidence into evidence-based husbandry: A scoping review of empirical approaches to improving captive reptile welfare

Non-avian reptiles are commonly kept in captivity, including zoos, aquariums, farms, laboratories, classrooms, rehabilitation centres, and homes. With this wide range of captive conditions and potential diversity of species housed, it is crucial to ensure that these animals are housed...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Crocodile & Alligator, Lizard, Reptile, Snake, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Hanson, S. L., Whittaker, A. L., Cooper-Rogers, B. et al. 2025. Putting the evidence into evidence-based husbandry: A scoping review of empirical approaches to improving captive reptile welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106831.

Importance of the social environment for reproductive and general welfare of domestic horse (Equus caballus) stallions

The obligation to ensure the welfare of domestic horses is evident. Social bonds are an essential part of the daily life of feral horses. In human-controlled conditions, stallions usually live alone in a barren environment of individual boxes or paddocks...

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

Citation: Górecka-Bruzda, A., Aurich, C. 2025. Importance of the social environment for reproductive and general welfare of domestic horse (Equus caballus) stallions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106827.

Differential long-term effects of physical, social, and psychological stressors in male mice: Down-regulation of inflammatory markers and unresponsiveness of the antioxidant system

The long-term molecular consequences associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are poorly understood. Our study examined the long-term (up to five months) metabolic consequences of acute and chronic traumatic factors, including physical (2-hour restraint), psychological (predator sound), and social (social...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Restraint, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Balatskyi, V., Gospodaryov, D., Abrat, O. et al. 2025. Differential long-term effects of physical, social, and psychological stressors in male mice: Down-regulation of inflammatory markers and unresponsiveness of the antioxidant system. Physiology & Behavior 301, 115065.

Welfare of calves and heifers on dairy farms with cow-calf contact rearing or early separation

Early separation (ES) of cow and calf in dairy farming is increasingly questioned due to implications on animal welfare. The aim of this study was to compare the welfare of animals on commercial dairy farms with cow-calf contact (CCC) or...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Rademann, A., Schneider, M. L., Waiblinger, S. 2025. Welfare of calves and heifers on dairy farms with cow-calf contact rearing or early separation. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

A scoping review on pair housing dairy calves: Health and performance outcomes and tactics to reduce cross-sucking behavior

Calves raised in pairs or triplets often experience better growth performance outcomes when compared to their individually housed peers. However, veterinarians may be concerned that pair housing compromises calf health, and producers are concerned about abnormal oral behavior (e.g., cross-sucking)....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Plaugher, G. D., Cantor, M. C. 2025. A scoping review on pair housing dairy calves: Health and performance outcomes and tactics to reduce cross-sucking behavior. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Impact of early social housing on the play behavior of neonatal and post-weaning dairy calves

We aimed to assess the impact of early life housing and play experiences on neonatal and weaned calves play behavior. A total of 96 female dairy calves were recruited from four Scottish dairy farms and assigned to individual (n =...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: McKay, C., Ellis, K., Haskell, M. J. et al. 2025. Impact of early social housing on the play behavior of neonatal and post-weaning dairy calves. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Affective responses and behavioral strategies to social fusion events in zoo-housed bonobos

Species with fission-fusion dynamics may face heightened social tension during fusion events due to relationship insecurity and competition over resources. Affective consequences of such events are important determinants for behavioral responses, yet remain poorly understood. To evaluate the affective consequences...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Laméris, D. W., Verspeek, J., Salas, M. et al. 2025. Affective responses and behavioral strategies to social fusion events in zoo-housed bonobos. Animal Behavior and Cognition 12(3), 300–329.

Juvenile male rats form preferences based on strain when playing in groups but not in pairs

Like many young mammals, juvenile rats engage in rough-and-tumble play. Play occurs naturally both in wild and laboratory rats, making it a suitable, ethologically relevant behavior to investigate. In the laboratory, rats are typically housed and tested in dyads, despite...

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

Citation: Ham, J. R., Jaiswal, D., Waner-Mariquito, R. et al. 2025. Juvenile male rats form preferences based on strain when playing in groups but not in pairs. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 19.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

When mice are grouped together for the first time it is a novel experience filled with new sights and smells which will stress the animal too much and may cause aggression. It has been proven that mice can see a...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Reading, P., Reading, R., Branstone, C. 2020. Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Animal Technology and Welfare 19(1), 98–100.