Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory Rabbits
The major responsibility of researchers and laboratory animal facilities is to ensure animal well-being during the time of acclimatization, experiments, and recovery. In this context, animal housing conditions are of utmost importance. Here, we implemented a mobile and modular floor-pen housing syst...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-04-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/4/977 |
| _version_ | 1797539313258332160 |
|---|---|
| author | Dana Matzek Hanna-Mari Baldauf Rico Schieweck Bastian Popper |
| author_facet | Dana Matzek Hanna-Mari Baldauf Rico Schieweck Bastian Popper |
| author_sort | Dana Matzek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The major responsibility of researchers and laboratory animal facilities is to ensure animal well-being during the time of acclimatization, experiments, and recovery. In this context, animal housing conditions are of utmost importance. Here, we implemented a mobile and modular floor-pen housing system for laboratory rabbits that combines rabbits’ natural behavioral requirements and the high hygiene standards needed in biomedical science. Twelve female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were single- or group-housed for 12 months in mobile and modular floor-pens. Their general health status was evaluated at the end of the experimental setup. Further, we performed behavioral analysis of six additional NZW females group-housed for eight weeks in pens of two different sizes. We show that our improved housing concept supported species-specific behavioral patterns. Taken together, our housing system provides an optimal setup for rabbits in animal facilities that combines strict requirements for animal experiments with animal welfare. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:43:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-259f0bc85fbf470f8d425da24e41191a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:43:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-259f0bc85fbf470f8d425da24e41191a2023-11-21T13:40:44ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-04-0111497710.3390/ani11040977Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory RabbitsDana Matzek0Hanna-Mari Baldauf1Rico Schieweck2Bastian Popper3Biomedical Center, Core Facility Animal Models, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Großhaderner Straße 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyMax von Pettenkofer Institute & Gene Center, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, 80336 Munich, GermanyBiomedical Center, Anatomy and Cell biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Großhaderner Straße 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyBiomedical Center, Core Facility Animal Models, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Großhaderner Straße 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyThe major responsibility of researchers and laboratory animal facilities is to ensure animal well-being during the time of acclimatization, experiments, and recovery. In this context, animal housing conditions are of utmost importance. Here, we implemented a mobile and modular floor-pen housing system for laboratory rabbits that combines rabbits’ natural behavioral requirements and the high hygiene standards needed in biomedical science. Twelve female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were single- or group-housed for 12 months in mobile and modular floor-pens. Their general health status was evaluated at the end of the experimental setup. Further, we performed behavioral analysis of six additional NZW females group-housed for eight weeks in pens of two different sizes. We show that our improved housing concept supported species-specific behavioral patterns. Taken together, our housing system provides an optimal setup for rabbits in animal facilities that combines strict requirements for animal experiments with animal welfare.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/4/9773R strategyanimal welfareNew Zealand White |
| spellingShingle | Dana Matzek Hanna-Mari Baldauf Rico Schieweck Bastian Popper Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory Rabbits Animals 3R strategy animal welfare New Zealand White |
| title | Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory Rabbits |
| title_full | Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory Rabbits |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory Rabbits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory Rabbits |
| title_short | Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory Rabbits |
| title_sort | evaluation of a configurable mobile and modular floor pen system for group housing of laboratory rabbits |
| topic | 3R strategy animal welfare New Zealand White |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/4/977 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danamatzek evaluationofaconfigurablemobileandmodularfloorpensystemforgrouphousingoflaboratoryrabbits AT hannamaribaldauf evaluationofaconfigurablemobileandmodularfloorpensystemforgrouphousingoflaboratoryrabbits AT ricoschieweck evaluationofaconfigurablemobileandmodularfloorpensystemforgrouphousingoflaboratoryrabbits AT bastianpopper evaluationofaconfigurablemobileandmodularfloorpensystemforgrouphousingoflaboratoryrabbits |