Information Resources on the Care and Welfare of Rabbits


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Environmental Enrichment



Batchelor, G.R. (1995). Group housing on floor pens and environmental enrichment of Sandy lop rabbits (Ii): the 24 hour behavioural time budget of group housed rabbits. Animal Technology: Journal of the Institute Animal Technicians 46 (3): 167-190, ISSN: 0264-4754.
NAL Call Number: QL55 I5
Keywords: breed, Sandy lop, housing, behavior, enrichment, group housing, floor pens.

Bayne, K.A. (2003). Environmental enrichment of nonhuman primates, dogs and rabbits used in toxicology studies. Toxicologic Pathology 31 (Suppl.): 132-7, ISSN: 0192-6233.
Abstract: The increasing emphasis on the provision of environmental enrichment to laboratory animals, vis-a-vis the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC 1996), and a potential forthcoming policy from the USDA on the subject, can be difficult to accommodate in a toxicology research environment. A summary will be provided of current requirements and recommendations. Then, strategies for meeting regulatory requirements will be described for non-rodent animals used in toxicology research. These strategies will address methods of both social enrichment, such as pair or group housing, as well as non-social enrichment, such as cage furniture, food enrichments, and toys. In addition, the value of positive interactions with staff (e.g., through training paradigms or socialization programs) will also be discussed. Apparent in the discussion of these strategies will be an overarching recognition of the necessity to avoid introducing confounding variables into the research project and to avoid compromising animal health. The roles of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the attending veterinarian in helping scientists balance animal well-being, the scientific enterprise and the regulatory environment will be described.
Keywords: dogs, rabbits, husbandry, housing, legislation, jurisprudence, standards, social environment, toxicology methods, ethics.

Berthelsen, H. (1999). The effect of hay on the behaviour of caged rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Animal Welfare 8 (2): 149-157, ISSN: 0962-7286.
NAL Call Number: HV4701 A557
Keywords: cages, hay, enrichment.

Dean, S.W. (1999). Environmental enrichment of laboratory animals used in regulatory toxicology studies. Laboratory Animals 33 (4): 309-327, ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55 A1L3
Keywords: laboratory mammals, social content, diet, pair housing, husbandry, environmental enrichment.

Gerson, P. (2000). The modification of “traditional” caging for experimental laboratory rabbits and assessment by behavioural study. Animal Technology: Journal of the Institute of Animal 51 (1): 13-36.
NAL Call Number: QL55 I5
Keywords: cages, enrichment.

Gunn, D.; Morton, D.B. (1995). Rabbits. In: Environmental Enrichment Information Resources for Laboratory Animals: 1965 - 1995: Birds, Cats, Dogs, Farm Animals, Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents. AWIC Resource Series No. 2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD and Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), Potters Bar, Herts, UK, pp. 127-143, ISBN: 0-900767-91-X.
Online: http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/enrich/rabbits.htm#intro
NAL Call Number: aHV4701.A94 no. 2
Keywords: natural environment, wild rabbits, social groupings, warrens, behavior, laboratory rabbits, breeds, New Zealand Whites, Dutch, Lops, housing, husbandry, cage design, psychological well-being, behavioral abnormalities, stereotypies, discomfort, distress, pair housing, group housing.

Harris, L.D. (2001). Evaluation of objects and food for environmental enrichment of NZW rabbits. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40 (1): 27-30.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5 A23
Keywords: enrichment, toys, Jingle Ball, Kong toy, Nylabone, food enrichment, Bunny Stix, Bunny Blocks, celery.

Jordan, D. (2002). The influence of environment enrichment (gnawing stick) on some performance and carcass traits of male rabbits. Acta Agraria Kaposváriensis 6 (2): 195-200. ISSN: 1418-1789.
Keywords: breed, New Zealand White, male, housing, animal welfare, carcass weight, digestive tract, environmental enrichment, gnawing wood, fattening performance, liveweight gain, seasonal variation, Spring, Summer.

Lidfors, L. (1997). Behavioural effects of environmental enrichment for individually caged rabbits. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52 (1/2): 157-169, ISSN: 0168-1591.
NAL Call Number: QL750 A6
Keywords: enrichment, behavior patterns, animal welfare.

Potter, M.P. (1998). Apparent psychogenic polydipsia and secondary polyuria in laboratory-housed New Zealand white rabbits. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 37 (6): 87-89, ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5 A23
Keywords: polydipsia, environment, enrichment.

Shomer, N.H. (2001). Enrichment-toy trauma in a New Zealand white rabbit. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40 (1): 31-32.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5 A23
Keywords: laboratory mammals, enrichment, toys, behavior.


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