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. 
Russell, W. M. S. , Burch, R. L. 1992. The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique - Special Edition. Wheathampstead, UK, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare.

The wages of inhumanity are paid in ambiguous or otherwise unsatisfactory experimental results. The authors introduce the concept of the 3 Rs, i.e. Replacement, Reduction, Refinement. Desirable as replacement is, it would be a mistake...

Rupniak, N. M. J., Iversen, S. D. 1992. Environmental enrichment for laboratory macaques. Primate Eye 46(2), 10-11 (Abstract).

There is no precise way in which to evaluate the effect of environmental manipulations on the psychological well-being of laboratory primates.

Roush, R. S., Burkhardt, R., Converse, L. et al. 1992. Comment on 'Are alarming events good for captive monkeys?'. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 33, 291-293.

The paper by Chamove and Moodie (Applied Animal Behaviour Science 27, 167-176, 1990) 'Are alarming events good for captive monkeys?' concludes that the capture and exposure to predators improves the behavioral well-being of captive cotton-top...

Rogers, R. W. 1992. Environmental enrichment methods: A workshop for the primate keeper. Proceedings of the National Conference of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) 16, 1-15.

Some inanimate and feeding enrichment techniques used by primate keepers are reviewed.

Roberts, J. A. 1992. Behavioral observation in a macaque breeding colony: Assessment of enrichment strategies. Congress of the International Primatological Society, 167-168 (Abstract).

While the percentage of animals demonstrating one abnormal behavior in one month observation may reach 30%, the frequency of deleterious abnormal behavior [self-aggression, hair pulling, bizarre stereotypical behaviors] is low at 2.2% of the total...

Ritskes-Hoitinga, M., Bosland, M. C., de Greeve, P. et al. 1992. Legislation and animal experimentation in The Netherlands and the U.S.: Is there a difference in approach? Lab Animal 21(8), 28-37.

Comparison of legislation and animal experimentation in The Netherlands and the U.S.

Reinhardt, V., Zweifel, D., Pape, D. 1992. Improving the microenvironment of caged laboratory macaques. Animal Technology 43, 179-183 .

Simple technical improvements of three common deficiencies of macaque cages are described: a) dark lower row cages, b) inaccessibility of vertical space, c) lack of privacy.

Reinhardt, V., Reinhardt, A. 1992. Quantitatively tested environmental enrichment options for singly-caged nonhuman primates: A review. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 6, 374-384.

Compatible companionship has a therapeutic effect on behavioral disorders, providing long- term stimulation of a great variety of species-typical social behavior patterns. Inanimate objects have little impact on behavioral disorders, but some of them provide...

Reinhardt, V., Cowley, D. 1992. In-homecage blood collection from conscious stumptailed macaques. Animal Welfare 1(4), 249-255.

Six adult female stumptailed macaques (Macaca aretoides) were trained within a two week period to actively co-operate during in-homecage venipuncture rather than in a restraint apparatus away from the homecage. The training was based on...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Voluntary progression order in captive rhesus macaques. Zoo Biology 11,(1) 61-66.

The sequence in which 14 laboratory rhesus macaques left their home enclosure during a routine catching procedure was recorded on 30 occasions during 6 weeks. The animals were trained to voluntarily exit one by one...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Transport-cage training of caged rhesus macaques. Animal Technology 43, 57-61.

A simple training protocol is described which ensures that [most] caged animals readily enter a transport cage.

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Space utilization by captive rhesus macaques. Animal Technology 43, 11-17.

The area covered by the floor was 3 times larger than that covered by elevated structures; nonetheless the animals were located significantly more often (89.8% of 108 scan samples) on elevated structures than on the...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Improved handling of experimental rhesus monkeys. In: The Inevitable Bond. Examining Scientist-Animal Interactions. Davis, H., Balfour, A. D. (eds), 171-177. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

The significant increase of serum cortisol concentration associated with involuntary manual or mechanical restraint during venipuncture was absent in females who were trained to voluntarily cooperate during the procedure in the homecage. The present findings...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Foraging for commercial chow. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 31(2), 10.

While sitting on swings, platforms or other elevated structures, or clinging to the mesh, individual animals seize a piece of chow [fruit, vegetable or bread] and retrieve a piece [through the mesh of the ceiling]...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Environmental enhancement plan for previously single-caged adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Animal Technology 43, 115-119.

To promote the well-being of previously single-caged adult (older than 5 years) rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and the quality of research done with them, the following environmental enhancement plan has been developed and implemented at...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Environmental enrichment branches that do not clog drains. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 31(2), 8.

More than 700 caged rhesus and stump-tailed macaques housed in 29 rooms have been exposed to red oak perches and/or loose branch segments for a period of six months. Drains did not clog in any...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Difficulty in training juvenile rhesus macaques to actively cooperate during venipuncture in the homecage. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 31(3), 1-2.

The relatively large amount of time invested with little success does not make training of juvenile rhesus macaques attractive enough to be recommended as a routine management procedure.

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Avoiding aggression during and after pair formation of adult rhesus macaques. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 31(3), 10-11.

Tested recommendations to avoid aggression during and after pair formation of macaques.

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Are rhesus macaques really so aggressive? International Zoo News 39(1), 14-19.

Several years of experience with pair housing of previously single-caged adult rhesus macaques and venipuncture in the home cage of cooperative, non-resisting animals lead the author to conclude that rhesus macaques are not as aggressive...

Reichard, T., Shellaberger, W. 1992. Training for husbandry and medical procedures. American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Annual Conference Proceedings, 396-402.

Chimpanzees can be trained to cooperate in treatment of wounds, allowing blood sampling and injection.

Pruetz, J. D., Bloomsmith, M. A. 1992. Comparing two manipulable objects as enrichment for captive chimpanzees. Animal Welfare 1(2), 127-137.

This study compared the effectiveness of kraft wrapping paper and rubber to as enrichment for 22 chimpanzees group-housed in conventional indoor/outdoor runs. Objects were tested separately during 67 hours of data collection using a group...

Prescott, J. 1992. Environmental enrichment for captive chimpanzees [French text]. Ecozoo 52(1), 18-22.
Poenisch, T. 1992. Bedding for enrichment. The Newsletter 4(1), 1.

When forage materials [chicken scratch] are provided, bedding materials, such as straw or shredded newspaper, along with woodchips increase the amount of time the captive chimpanzee spends in search of forage materials. ... Whether this...

Petto, A. J., Russell, K., Lyna, W. et al. 1992. Promoting psychological well-being in a biomedical research facility: Sheep in wolves' clothing. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 6, 366-370.

We contend that the most significant innovation to be made in the efforts to promote psychological well-being in nonhuman primates is in the attitude and awareness of those who work with the animals.

Phillippi-Falkenstein, K., Clarke, M. R. 1992. Procedure for training corral-living rhesus monkeys for fecal and blood-sample collection. Laboratory Animal Science 42, 83-85.

Clear description of training technique. By day 9, the male stopped resisting, and three of the [five] females extended their legs voluntarily.