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. 
Moodie, E. M., Chamove, A. S. 1990. Are brief threating events beneficial for captive tamarins? Zoo Biology 9, 275-286.

Cotton-top tamarins living in four families were observed following stimulating husbandry procedures [capture, birds passing overhead]. Arousal led to an improvement in behaviour (i.e., decrease in activity and an increase in affiliation) during the remainder...

Line, S. W., Morgan, K. N., Markowitz, H. et al. 1990. Increased cage size does not alter heart rate or behavior in female rhesus monkeys. American Journal of Primatology 20, 107-113.

The behavioral and heart rate responses of 10 female rhesus monekys to three different-sized, barren cages were measured. No differences were found and the conclusion drawn that the proposed [by USDA, 1985] changes in cage...

Line, S. W., Morgan, K. N., Roberts, J. A. et al. 1990. Preliminary comments on resocialization of aged macaques. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 29(1), 8-12.

Group formation technique is described. Each rhesus monkey [6 males and 7 females] was introduced to group members in a series of brief pair tests. Despite the number of injuries, and the death of one...

Line, S. W., Morgan, K. N., Markowitz, H. et al. 1990. Behavioral responses of female long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) to pair formation. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 29(4), 1-5.

Pair formation technique is described. Five of six pairs tested were compatible during a five to six months study period. Self-abusive behaviors were recorded for five of the ten subjects when singly housed, but were...

Line, S. W., Clarke, A. S., Markowitz, H. et al. 1990. Responses of female rhesus macaques to an environmental enrichment apparatus. Laboratory Animals 24, 213-220.

The apparatus consisted of a box attached to the monkey's home cage that contained a radio and a food dispenser, which could be controlled by the monkeys via contact detectors.

Lee-Parritz, D. E., Petto, A. J., Casto, M. B. et al. 1990. Social housing of a timed-mating rhesus monkey colony. Laboratory Animal Science 40, 549 (Abstract).

Even though fighting was a problem in group-housed animals, the fertility rate was approximately 45%. These results indicate that timed-mating may be performed successfully within socially [grouped] housed macaques.

Landi, M. S., Kissinger, J. T., Campbell, S. A. et al. 1990. The effects of four types of restraint on serum alanine aminotransferase and asparate aminotransferase in the Macaca fascicularis. Journal of the American College of Toxicology 9, 517-523.

All methods of restraint resulted in elevation in AST [aspartate aminotransferase] and ALT [alanine aminotransferase] over time.

Keizer, F. 1990. Intragroup mother rearing and intergroup transfers at Apenheul. Proceedings: Columbus Zoo Gorilla Workshop, 109-116.

Species-adequate housing and management of gorilla groups is described.

Keeling, M. E. 1990. A historical view. In: Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates in Research . Mench, J. A. , Krulisch, L. (eds), 12-14. Scientist Center for Animal Welfare, Bethesda, MD.

It is generally agreed that for social species of nonhuman primates, social interaction with other nonhuman primates is probably the optimum enrichment possibility. (p. 114)

Kamarck, T. W., Manuck, S. B., Jennings, J. R. 1990. Social support reduces cardiovascular reactivity to psychological challenge: a laboratory model. Psychosomatic Medicine 52, 42-58.

In this study we investigated the effects of nonevaluative social interaction on the cardiovascular response to psychological challenge. Thirty-nine college-age females appeared accompanied ( Friend condition) or unaccompanied ( Alone condition) to an experimental laboratory...

Hayes, S. L. 1990. Increasing foraging opportunities for a group of captive capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus). Laboratory Animal Science 40, 515-519.

The [group-housed] monkeys avidly searched for and removed food from the feeders, displaying a wide variety of manipulative abilities.

Harmen, J. 1990. Environmental enrichment and reduction of agonistic interactions in captive Aotus trivirgatus. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 81, 235-236 (Abstract).

Access to enrichment diminishes agonistic interactions in groups of night monkeys.

Gould, J. E. 1990. Conspecific introduction, socialization, and attempts to breed a solitary-raised, silverback male gorilla. Proceedings: Columbus Zoo Gorilla Workshop, 56-79.

Even though the silverback Colossus had not had an opportunity to interact with any other gorilla since infancy, his introduction to the adult female conspecific Muke was very successful. The careful pair formation procedure is...

Fox, M. W. 1990. Inhumane Society. The American Way of Exploiting Animals. St. Martin's Press, New York, NY.

Today I see the veterinary profession entangled in the economic web of animal exploitation, ranging from the inhuman incarceration of farm animals in industrialized factory farm systems ... to the too-often needless suffering and destruction...

Donnelley, S. 1990. Animals in science: The justification issue. In: Animal, Science and Ethics. Donnelley, S. , Nolan, K. (eds), 8-13. The Hastings Center Report, Briarcliff Manor, CT.

Professional bungling and inadequacy of animal care, with ensuing animal distress, can skew animal data and render the particular research useless.

DiGregorio, G. 1990. The effects of woodchips and buried food on behavior patterns and psychological well-being of captive rhesus monkeys. Dissertation Abstracts International B50(11), 5353.
Damen, F. 1990. Effects of the addition of browse on the feeding behaviour (time budget and coprophagy) in captive bonobos. Annual Conference of the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens oral presentation.

The addition of browse increased foraging time from 3 to 17% and resulted in a drastic decline in coprophagia.

Crockett, C. M. 1990. Psychological well-being and enrichment workshop held at Primate Centers' Director Meeting. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 29(3), 3-6.

A synopsis of a workshop. The overwhelming conclusion of the participants was that the best psychological enrichment, overall, is social enrichment.

Wolfle, T. L. 1990. Policy, program and people: The three P's to well-being. In: Canine Research Environment. Mench, J. A. , Krulisch, L. (eds), 41-47. Scientists Center for Animal Welfare [SCAW], Bethesda, MD.

Successful socialization of foxhound puppies was accomplished with a time investment of five minutes of 'hands-on' per puppy per week. During the bi-weekly socialization procedure, each puppy benefited from the interaction of people with the...

White, S. 1990. Naltrexone for treatment of acral lick dermatitis in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 196, 1073-1076.
Warwick, C. 1990b. Reptilian ethology in captivity: Observations of some problems and an evaluation of their aetiology. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 26, 1-13.

Discussion of some behavioral problems of reptiles resulting from inadequate captive environments. Many of the behaviour and activities exhibited by captive reptiles suggest that they are unable to cope with their unnatural situations. ... Resistance...

Terlouw, E. M. C., Lawrence, A. B., Lindstrom-Nielsen, B. et al. 1990. The effect of food level and housing on the development of stereotypic behaviour in tethered sows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 26, 295.

It is often assumed that physical restraint and lack of stimulation are the major stressors for intensively housed sows. ... At all times of the day, low-fed gilts were more active than high-fed gilts, spending...

Tan, S. S. L., Shackleton, D. M. 1990. Effects of mixing unfamiliar individuals and of azaperone on the social behaviour of finishing pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 26, 157-168.

Mixing unfamiliar pigs with each other is a common practice in both commercial swine and research operations to create economical units or experimental treatments. The typical consequence of mixing is an increase in fighting....

Stolba, A., Henderson, R., Wechsler, B. 1990. The influence of different social and physical environments on the incidence of lactational oestrus in sows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 27, 269-276.

The family pens contain an activity area with straw and a rooting area with peat and bark. This environmental enrichment increases the foraging activity of the sows and probably further reduces the amount of time...

Stolba, A., Hinch, G. N., Lynch, J. J. et al. 1990. Social organisation of Merino sheep of different ages, sex and family structure. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 27, 337-349.

Sheep respond to the addition of trees, logs and earthen mounds by increasing their repertoire of behavior compared to those seen in barren paddocks.