Social Housing & Companionship

Effect of short-term pair housing of juvenile rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) on immunologic parameters

Social housing of nonhuman primates (NHP) in an infectious disease setting presents unique challenges, and individual housing is often scientifically justified. At our institute, we recognized an opportunity to limit individual housing to the minimal period necessary by pair-housing NHP...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Benton, C. G., West, M. W., Hall, S. M. et al. 2013. Effect of short-term pair housing of juvenile rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) on immunologic parameters. JAALAS 52(3), 240-246.

Does the presence of a human affect the preference of enrichment items in young, isolated pigs?

Pigs may be housed individually in both production and research settings. Gregarious by nature, pigs kept in isolation may show behavioural and physiological signs of stress. In this study we investigated the preference of individually housed pigs, for social and...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: DeBoer, S. P., Garner, J. P., Lay Jr, D. C. et al. 2013. Does the presence of a human affect the preference of enrichment items in young, isolated pigs? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 143(2-4), 96-103.

Effects of environment and enrichment on the behavior and serum corticosterone levels in Xenopus laevis

Xenopus laevis is a commonly used research animal for which well accepted enrichment strategies have not been established. Our overall objective was to identify enrichment strategies that are most beneficial to Xenopus as a step toward creating housing standards that...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad

Citation: Scott, J. A., Taylor, D. 2013. Effects of environment and enrichment on the behavior and serum corticosterone levels in Xenopus laevis. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 662 (Abstract #P145).

Kidding around in the laboratory animal facility – Goat enrichment

Goat enrichment can be incredibly rewarding, not only for the goat, but for personnel as well. In our facility, we often refer to goatenrichment tasks as technician (or vet!) enrichment. Somewhere in the evolutionary development of Capra hircus, curiosity and...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Savage, S. 2013. Kidding around in the laboratory animal facility - Goat enrichment. Enrichment Record 14, 14-15.

Refinements in laboratory cat management: While the humans are away, the cats will play! Laboratory Animal Science Professional 1(4) (December), 32-35

Cats can be successfully housed in groups when given enough space in addition to sufficient feeding, elimination, and resting areas. Cats at the University of Rochester are utilized in vision research, and have titanium cranium implants to stabilize their heads...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Rehrig, A., DeMagistris, M., Callan, C. 2013. Refinements in laboratory cat management: While the humans are away, the cats will play! Laboratory Animal Science Professional 1(4) (December), 32-35.

The effect of social buffering on fear responses in sheep (Ovis aries)

Fear in farm animals has been extensively studied because of its close relation to animal welfare. Numerous studies have categorized the behavioral responses of animals to stimuli that can elicit a fear reaction under social isolation conditions. However, farm animals...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Gonzaleza, M., Averosa, X., de Herediaa, I. B. et al. 2013. The effect of social buffering on fear responses in sheep (Ovis aries). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 149(1-4), 13-20.

Risk factors for stereotypic behavior and self-biting in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Animal’s history, current environment, and personality

Captive rhesus macaques sometimes exhibit undesirable abnormal behaviors, such as motor stereotypic behavior (MSB) and self-abuse. Many risk factors for these behaviors have been identified but the list is far from comprehensive, and large individual differences in rate of behavior...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Gottlieb, D. H., Capitanio, J. P., McCowan, B. 2013. Risk factors for stereotypic behavior and self-biting in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Animal's history, current environment, and personality. American Journal of Primatology 75(10), 995-1008.

Social housing program for sexually mature male macaques

To ensure both regulatory compliance and high animal welfare standards a program was initiated in our facility to allow sexually mature male macaques the opportunity for social housing. Historically, there had been concern over social housing of these animals. It...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Kuhlman, G. 2013. Social housing program for sexually mature male macaques. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 660 (Abstract #132).

Strategies to in increase compatibility among pair-housed rabbits

The eighth edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) states that appropriate social interaction among members of the same species is essential for normal animal development and wellbeing. For research animals to exhibit...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Young, L., Lin, R. 2013. Strategies to in increase compatibility among pair-housed rabbits. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 667 (Abstract #P168).

Challenges and opportunities of implementing EU standards for social housing of rodents

The EU Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes specifically states: Animals, except those which are naturally solitary, shall be socially housed in stable groups of compatible individuals. Even in cases where single housing is allowed, the...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Winnicker, C. 2013. Challenges and opportunities of implementing EU standards for social housing of rodents. Enrichment Record 15, 3-4.