Refinement Database

Database on Refinement of Housing, Husbandry, Care, and Use of Animals in Research

This database, created in 2000, is updated every four months with newly published scientific articles, books, and other publications related to improving or safeguarding the welfare of animals used in research.

Tips for using the database:

  • This landing page displays all of the publications in the database.
  • Use the drop-down menus to filter these publications by Animal Type, Setting, and/or Topic.
  • Clicking on a parent category (e.g., Rodent) will include publications relating to all the items in that category (e.g., Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, etc.).
  • You may also add a keyword to further narrow your search.
  • Please note that at this time, only publications dated 2010 or later (with some exceptions) can be filtered by Animal Type and Topic, and only publications dated 2020 or later (with some exceptions) can be filtered by Setting. Most publications older than 2010 can only be searched by keyword. 
Crockett, C. M., Bowden, D. M. 1994. Challenging conventional wisdom for housing monkeys. Lab Animal 24(2), 29-33.

Our research indicates that the minimum cage size does provide adequate space for the monkeys that we studied [adult long-tailed macaques of both sexes]. Our studies [with barren cages] also lead us to the conclusion...

Conlee, K. M., Taub, D. M., Mehlman, P. T. 1994. Reproductive performance in captive breeding groups of Macaca mulatta: Gang cages versus outdoor corrals. American Journal of Primatology 33, 203 (Abstract).

Overall, outdoor corral housed animals had higher reproductive performance in comparison to gang-cage housed animals (further analysis showed that this was not a result of differential age structures or virological status). We thought that this...

Wright, K. 1994. Acclimation-Maladaptive Syndrome in captive amphibians. The Vivarium 6(3), 12-13.
Wolfensohn, S. , Lloyd, M. 1994. Handbook of Laboratory Animal Management and Welfare - Chapter on Small Species: Gerbils and Hamsters. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

GERBILS are generally docile creatures, which are easily handled and rarely bite. They are generally very active, and when approached, they will resist being caught. Normally they exhibit exploratory behaviour in new surroundings, and if...

Wolfensohn, S. , Lloyd, M. 1994. Handbook of Laboratory Animal Management and Welfare - Chapter on Carnivores: Dogs and Cats. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

Environmental enrichment caters for the behavioural needs of the animals, and improves their health and welfare as much as any other environmental factor. The provision of play articles or bedding may be a simple way...

Wolfenshohn, S. , Lloyd, M. 1994. Handbook of Laboratory Animal Management and Welfare. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

Environmental enrichment caters for the behavioural needs of the animals, and improves their health and welfare as much as any other environmental factor. The provision of play articles or bedding may be a simple way...

Willemse, T., Mudde, M., Josephy, M. et al. 1994. The effect of haloperidol and naloxone on excessive grooming behavior of cats. European Neuropsychopharmacology 4, 39-45.

In a double-blind cross-over study the effect of a single injection of naloxone (1 mg/kg s.c.) was investigated in 12 cats which suffered from excessive grooming with subsequent coat damage. Based on clinical observations and...

Wiegand, R. M., Gonyou, H. W., Curtis, S. E. 1994. Pen shape and size: effects on pig behavior and performance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 39, 49-61.

The effect of pen size and pen shape on the behaviour of group-housed pigs was studied. Pen size had a significant effect on both behavioral and spacing indices. Pigs in small pens spent more time...

Wemelsfelder, F. 1994. Animal boredom - A model of chronic suffering in captive animals and its consequences for environmental enrichment. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 8, 587-591.

Discussion of the term 'animal boredom' and of basic environmental enrichment options for rabbits.

Warwick, C. , Steedman, C. 1994. Naturalistic versus clinical environments in husbandry and research. In: The Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles. Warwick, C., Frye, F. L., Murphy, T. B. (eds), 113-130. Chapman & Hall, London, UK.

Reptiles kept under more natural conditions show fewer signs of stress and behavioral problems than animals kept under conventional, rather unnatural laboratory housing conditions.

Wallace, M. E. 1994. Meeting the needs of captive mice and their caretakers. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 8, 565-568.

Description of a cage designed to meet species-typical environmental needs of mice. The cage provides opportunity for choices including both warm and cool temperatures, and a comfortable sleeping and nesting area with low light intensity...

Wainwright, P. E., Huang, Y. S., Bulman-Fleming, B. et al. 1994. The effects of dietary fatty acid composition combined with environmental enrichment on brain and behavior in mice. Behavioural Brain Research 60, 125-136.

Enriched animals in all groups showed less rearing activity in the openfield and spent more time stationary.

Wurbel, H., Stauffacher, M. 1994. Standard-Haltung fur Labormause - Probleme und Losungsasatze. Tierlaboratorium 17, 109-118.

The high prevalence of stereotypies in mice kept in standard animal facilities is underscored.

Van den Bos, R., de Cock Buning, T. 1994. Social behaviour of domestic cats (Felis lybica f. catus L.): A study of dominance in a group of female laboratory cats. Ethology 98, 14-37.

Cats establish a distinctive dominance hierarchy. This makes it advisable to distribute food for group-housed cats on different locations so that no animal can monopolize it, denying others access. The lowest ranking animals spent little...

Van de Weerd, H. A., Baumans, V., Koolhaas, J. M. et al. 1994. Strain specific behavioural response to environmental enrichment in the mouse. Journal of Experimental Animal Science 36, 117-127.

Strain differences in the response to environmental enrichment are assessed. While environmental enrichment increased reactivity and alertness in some strains (e.g., C57BL) it triggered anxiety in another strain (BALB/c).

Van de Weerd, H. A., Baumans, V., Blom, H. J. M. et al. 1994. Behavioural consequences of environmental enrichment in two strains of mice. In: Proceedings of the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations [FELASA] Symposium. Bunyan, J. (ed), 49-53. Royal Society of Medicine Press, London, UK.

It is concluded that environmental enrichment has an effect on the behaviour of mice.

Tanida, H., Miura, A., Tanaka, T. et al. 1994. The role of handling in communication between human and weanling pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 40, 219-228.

Handling pigs regularly from 4 to 7 weeks of age increased their propensity to approach humans. .. It is possible that regular handling reduced their fear of humans.

Tauson, R., Abrahamsson, P. 1994. Foot and skeletal disorders in laying hens. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavia, Section A - Animal Science 44, 110-119.

Flat-surfaced, mushroom-shaped, wooden perches reduce keel damage when compared with traditional, wide, rectangular wooden perches [which cause less damage than those with circular cross-section].

Stookey JM, N. T. H. J. a. V. S. 1994. A movement-measuring-device for objectively measure temperament in beef cattle and for use in determining factors that influence handling. Journal of Animal Science 1(Supplement), 207.

The fear response in an unfamiliar environment is reduced by the presence of a another heifer.

Stauffacher, M., Bell, D. J., Schulz, K.-D. B. V. et al. 1994. Rabbits. In: The Accommodation of Laboratory Animals in Accordance With Animal Welfare Requirements. Proceedings of an International Workshop Held at the Bundesgesundheitsamt, Berlin [The Berlin Workshop]. O'Donoghue, P. N. (ed), 15-30. Bundesministerium f?r Ern?hrung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten, Bonn, Germany.

Berlin Workshop' recommendations for the adequate housing of rabbits in the research laboratory setting address the following issues: (1) Should rabbits be maintained in pens or in cages. Housing laboratory rabbits in groups in floor...

Stauffacher, M. 1994. Improved husbandry systems - an ethological concept. In: Proceedings of the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations [FELASA] Symposium. Bunyan, J. (ed), 68-73. Royal Society of Medicine Press, London, UK.

A social partner provides necessary diversion, occupation and probably also feelings of 'safety' and 'security'. In contrast to occupational objects, a partnership creates a repetition of new and unpredictable situations to which the animals must...

Spitzfaden, D. M., Hitchcock, J. P. 1994. Environmental enrichment and its effect on performance of nursery age grower pigs. Journal of Dairy Science 77(Supplement 1), 209 (Abstract).
Stanzel, K., Sachser, N. 1994. The ontogeny of male Guinea pigs living under different housing conditions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 40, 94 (Abstract).

From these data is was concluded, that young male Guinea pigs develop more favourably in colonies than in pairs or singly.

Smith, D. F. E., Durman, K. J., Roy, D. B. et al. 1994. Behavioural aspects of the welfare of rescued cats. The Journal of the Feline Advisory Bureau 31, 25-28.

Cats use structures more often than the floor and prefer high structures over low ones.

Searbrook, M. F. 1994. The psychological interaction between the stockman and his animals and its influence on performance of pigs and dairy cows. Veterinary Record 115, 84-87.