Welfare Assessment

Baboon vocalizations as measures of psychological well-being

Increased grunting was associated with environmental enrichment [radio, food treats]. Thus vocalizations may provide a useful tool for evaluating enrichment programs designed to promote baboon, and perhaps other nonhuman primate, psychological well-being. ... With minimal training, caregivers can learn to...

Year Published: 1993Topics: Vocalization, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Crowell Comuzzie, D. K. 1993. Baboon vocalizations as measures of psychological well-being. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 32(3), 5-6.

Addressing animal welfare from a behavioral perspective

Ways of measuring the impact of husbandry training and environmental enrichment are discussed.

Year Published: 1995Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Laule, G. E. 1995. Addressing animal welfare from a behavioral perspective. American Zoo And Aquarium Association (AZA) Annual Conference Proceedings, 333-337.

Terrestrial predator alarm vocalizations are a valid monitor of stress in captive brown capuchins (Cebus apella)

We have most commonly, but certainly not always, documented TPAs being produced in association with the entrance into or presence of humans in colony rooms. Most predictably those humans are research technicians associated with manipulative research projects involving the capuchins....

Year Published: 1999Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Capuchin, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Boinski, S., Gross, T. S., Davis, J. K. 1999. Terrestrial predator alarm vocalizations are a valid monitor of stress in captive brown capuchins (Cebus apella). Zoo Biology 18, 295-312.

Effects of training on stress-related behavior of the common marmost (Callithrix jacchus) in relation to coping with routine husbandry procedures

Using positive reinforcement, J. McKinley trained 12 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to provide urine samples on request. The study then exposed the marmosets to mildly stressful, routine husbandry procedures (i.e., capture and weighing). The nonhuman animals spent less time inactive...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Animal Training, Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Handling, Restraint, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bassett, L., Buchanan-Smith, H. M., McKinley, J. et al. 2003. Effects of training on stress-related behavior of the common marmost (Callithrix jacchus) in relation to coping with routine husbandry procedures. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 6(3), 221-233.

Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research

Expanding on the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, this book deals specifically with mammals in neuroscience and behavioral research laboratories. It offers flexible guidelines for the care of these animals, and guidance on...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Regulations & Ethical Review, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Ferret, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: National Research Council. 2003. Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research. National Academic Press: Washington, DC, 223 pp.

The Welfare of Cats

This book covers the major issues affecting the welfare of domestic cats. It covers recent developments in our understanding of cat behaviour, considers the ways in which cat welfare is assessed, and addresses the successes and failures of the relationship...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Housing, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Reproduction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Rochlitz, I. (Ed.) 2007. The Welfare of Cats. Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 283 pp.

Alopecia scoring: the quantitative assessment of hair loss in captive macaques

Many captive animals show forms of pelage loss that are absent in wild or free-living conspecifics, which result from grooming or plucking behaviours directed at themselves or at other individuals. For instance, dorsal hair loss in primates such as rhesus...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Honess, P., Gimpel, J., Wolfensohn, S. et al. 2005. Alopecia scoring: the quantitative assessment of hair loss in captive macaques. ATLA (Alternatives to Laboratory Animals) 33, 193-206.

Preparing New World monkeys for laboratory research

New World monkeys represent an important but often poorly understood research resource. The relatively small size and low zoonotic risk of these animals make them appealing as research subjects in a number of areas. However, historic portrayal of many of...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Handling, Husbandry & Management, Relocation & Transport, Restraint, Social Housing & Companionship, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey

Citation: Tardif, S. D., Bales, K., Williams, L. et al. 2006. Preparing New World monkeys for laboratory research. ILAR Journal 47(4), 307-315.

Stress and distress: A discussion by the Refinement and Enrichment Forum

The question was asked: "The terms 'stress' and 'distress' are often used in the scientific literature but usually without a definition. If you use these terms, how do you define them? What are the signs that tell you that an...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Roberts, S., Van Loo P., Schultz, P. et al. 2006. Stress and distress: A discussion by the Refinement and Enrichment Forum. Animal Technology and Welfare 5(2), 99-102.

Impaired well-being, pain and suffering

There are general signs - reduced alertness, lack of interest in food and enrichment gadgets, unusual coat condition, unusual response to human presence - and species-specific signs that tell you that an animal does not feel well. The response of...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Impaired well-being, pain and suffering. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 32-35. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.