RARC: Animal Social Housing & Enrichment Requirements (ASHER)

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1 1) Social Housing a) Definitions: Single is defined as 1 animal in 1 primary enclosure; pair is 2 animals in 1 primary enclosure, and social is 3 or more animals in 1 primary enclosure. i) There are 2 categories of single : (1) Category 1 single : 1 animal in 1 room, or 1 animal per primary enclosure housed in way where there is no or minimal visual, olfactory, auditory and/or tactile contact with conspecifics. (2) Category 2 single : 1 animal per primary enclosure, with visual, olfactory, auditory, and/or tactile contact with conspecifics. 2) Environment Enrichment a) Environmental enrichment will be applied according to this document. b) Environmental enrichment strategies may differ from that described in this document if there is scientific justification and IACUC approval, or at RARC veterinary discretion. 3) IACUC Review a) At least once yearly each IACUC will review the Animal Social Housing & Enrichment Requirements b) Social Housing Program i) Social will be applied according to this document. ii) Social strategies may differ from that described in this document if there is scientific justification and IACUC approval, or at RARC veterinary discretion. iii) Some individuals of a social species may be incompatible for social, such as adult male mice used for breeding, adult male rabbits and female hamsters. (1) These animals may be permanently separated into single. iv) Female rodents near the time of parturition may be singly housed to allow for recommended minimum space. v) There may be instances where there is only 1 individual animal of a social species; e.g., 1 animal remaining in a long--- term study, or 1 animal ordered for a small or pilot study. (1) To prevent additional experimental variables (e.g., by the addition of a new animal to the pen/cage), these animals may be separated into single until the end of the experiment. vi) Some species (e.g., lined ground squirrels) are not considered social and will be housed individually. vii) Enhanced environmental enrichment may be indicated for category 1 single ; RARC veterinarians may evaluate this on a case--- by---case basis. Each species will be in compliance with the UW Default Housing method. (see table on pg. 2 and 3). Each species should be provided with at least one of the Default Enrichment devices, with the option for including additional devices. Deviations from the defaults ( or enrichment) are possible, but must be justified in the protocol or done at the direction of an RARC veterinarian. (Footnotes apply on following table) * All food must be vet approved; some animals may be on lower calorie or lower fat diets, so all treats may not be appropriate for all animals. Food enrichment must also not interfere with the study goals. ^ All toys must be vet approved. Default and enrichment only required for these species when being used in biomedical protocols. Dr. Calvin Patten, March

2 Species Default Housing Default Enrichment Secondary Enrichment Mice Social/pair Nesting material Shelters/ structures/lofts Rats Social/pair Shelters/structures/lofts Rabbits (also see page following table) Hamsters Gerbils Females: social/pair (if possible) Males: singly Females: singly Males: pair (if possible) Pair Toys^, perching devices, shelters/structures Chewing items, Larger runs, playtime outside of cage 3rd (sunflower seeds) 4th Exercise devices Chew items Shelters/structures Nesting material Chew Items Chew items, Shelters/structures Guinea Pigs Females: social/pair Males: pair (if possible) Dogs Social/pair Sufficient exercise space Cats Social/pair Elevated resting surface Ferrets Social/pair Shelters/s Chew Items Sleeping device, structures, food treats, toys^ Scratching devices, toys^ Toys^ Resting board, textile bedding when appropriate, pheromone Ground squirrels Single Nesting material Shelters/structures Dr. Calvin Patten, March

3 Chinchillas RARC: Animal Social Housing & Enrichment Requirements (ASHER) Social/pair Dust bath, shelters/structures Play area, chew items Pigs Social/pair Toys^ Ice, food treats* Sheep Social/pair Sheep in adjacent pen for singly housed animals Complex forage/ Salt licks Scratching surfaces Dr. Calvin Patten, March

4 Species Default Housing Default Enrichment Secondary Enrichment 3rd 4th Goats Social/pair Climbing structure Toys^ Cattle (dairy) Cattle (beef) Horses Dairy cow brush/ time on pasture/ complex forage Time on pasture/complex forage Time on pasture/ brushing/ positive human Salt licks Cow brush Small birds Perching structures Visual cage barriers, shelters/structures, Water baths Reptiles Amphibians Fish Nonhuman primates Shelters/structures Hiding devices Shelters/structures Hiding devices Hiding devices Dr. Calvin Patten, March

5 Social Housing of Rabbits Purpose: The ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8 th edition (2011) states that Appropriate social s among members of the same species (conspecifics) are essential to normal development and well--- being 1 but acknowledges that social is not always possible Not all members of a social species are necessarily compatible. Social of incompatible animals can induce chronic stress, injury, and even death. 1 This document details specific information and requirements for the social of rabbits. University of Wisconsin Program for Social Housing of Rabbits: 1. Male rabbits are not considered social due to aggressive and territorial behaviors. Male rabbits are not to be pair--- or group--- housed. Castration of intact rabbits to mitigate aggressiveness is not considered to be in the best interest of animal well--- being, and may create unwanted study variables. For the purposes of this program, castration is not considered to be an acceptable practice solely for the purpose of attempting to socially house male rabbits. 2. Female rabbits of any age may be singly housed if there is clearly defined scientific justification for single in the pertinent ACUC--- approved animal use protocol(s); such justification will be reviewed by the ACUC at least once every 3 years during protocol renewal. 3. Female rabbits 18 weeks of age that have never been pair--- or group--- housed are not to be socially housed, as older rabbits display aggressive behaviors and there is increased risk for harm to animal well--- being. a. At the discretion of the research animal veterinarian, female rabbits 18 weeks of age that have at one time been successfully housed with other rabbits, and that are on a study with no scientific justification for single, may be socially housed; such will be discontinued if aggressive behaviors are displayed that endanger animal well--- being 4. Female rabbits <18 weeks of age will be pair--- or group--- housed. 5. Veterinary--- directed exceptions to required pair--- or group--- as defined by this document are acceptable, if based on clinical or animal well--- being needs. Such exceptions must be documented in the animal s clinical record and include reasoning for the exception and a description of pertinent long--- term husbandry plans. The ACUC will be informed of any veterinary--- directed exceptions. 6. In all cases of single of rabbits, provisions will be made to house rabbits so that tactile and/or visual and/or olfactory contact with conspecifics is allowed, with the exception of category 1 single ; in these cases, enhanced forms of environmental enrichment may be utilized as per veterinary direction. Reference: Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources (U.S.) Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 8 th ed., Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press Dr. Calvin Patten, March