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Research article2002Peer reviewedOpen access

Human-animal interactions and animal welfare in conventionally and pen-housed rats

Augustsson, H; Lindberg, L; Hoglund, AU; Dahlborn, K

Abstract

The main aim of the present study was to explore the significance of large group/greater pen housing (PH) versus standard Makrolon caging (ST) in three behaviour tests related to human-animal interactions in the adult male laboratory rat. The rats' perception of human interaction was tested in three behavioural tests, of which two reflected common practical procedures, capture and restraint, whereas the third was a human approach test in a Y-maze. The rats' anticipatory reactions to handling and the reactions to restraint did not differ between groups, but the ST rats approached a human hand more quickly than did the PH rats (P < 0.01). Although food intake did not differ, ST rats gained more weight (P < 0.01) and had higher total cholesterol values (P < 0.01) than PH rats. In conclusion, this study shows that housing rats in large groups in an enriched environment did not influence their anticipatory reaction to handling in normal handling situations. However, as the PH rats tended to have a longer approach latency than ST rats in the Y-maze there might be underlying differences in appraisal that are not detected in practical situations. In addition, the PH rats weighed less arid had lower total cholesterol values than ST rats and their urine corticosterone values were higher. These effects are suggested to be due to higher physical activity in the PH rats, and the implications of this on the animal as a model is discussed.

Keywords

housing; pen-housed; urine corticosterone; laboratory animals; welfare; activity

Published in

Laboratory Animals
2002, Volume: 36, number: 3, pages: 271-281
Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC

      SLU Authors

    • Sassner, Hanna

      • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      • Dahlborn, Kristina

        • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Animal and Dairy Science

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1258/002367702320162388

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/109221