Ebook: The Welfare of Laboratory Animals

Animal welfare is attracting increasing interest worldwide, but particularly from those in developed countries, who now have the knowledge and resources to be able to offer the b est management systems for their farm animals, as well as potentially being able to offer plentiful resources for companion, zoo and laboratory animals. The increased attention given to animal welfare in the West derives la rgely from the fact that the relentless pursuit of financial reward and efficiency has lead to the development of intensive animal production systems that offend the conscience of many consumers in those countries. In devel oping countries, human survival is still a daily uncertainty, so that provision fo r animal welfare has to be balanced against human welfare. Welfare is usua lly provided for only if it supports the output of the animal, be it food, work, clothing, sport or companionship. In reality there are resources for all if they are properly husbanded in both developing and developed countries. The inequitable division of the world’s riches creates physical and psychological poverty for humans and animals alike in all sectors of the world. Liv estock are the world’s biggest land user (FAO, 2002) and the population, particularly of monogastric animals, is increasing rapidly to meet the need of an expanding human population. Populations of animals managed by humans are therefore increasing worldwide, so there is the tendency to allocate fewer resources to each one.

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Where there are no alternatives to the use of experimental animals in biomedical research, their welfare has to be ensured as far as possible. This book describes the current knowledge about the welfare of laboratory animals. It examines the general principles of laboratory animal maintenance and experimental use as well as factors that have to be taken into account when good research is done with animals. In addition, it provides species specific coverage, concentrating on the species most used as laboratory animals. The book gives a comprehensive description of the welfare questions considered to be important for each species under laboratory conditions. Written by leading European scientists in laboratory animal science, this book provides material for researchers, lecturers, students and technical staff working with laboratory animals.

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Where there are no alternatives to the use of experimental animals in biomedical research, their welfare has to be ensured as far as possible. This book describes the current knowledge about the welfare of laboratory animals. It examines the general principles of laboratory animal maintenance and experimental use as well as factors that have to be taken into account when good research is done with animals. In addition, it provides species specific coverage, concentrating on the species most used as laboratory animals. The book gives a comprehensive description of the welfare questions considered to be important for each species under laboratory conditions. Written by leading European scientists in laboratory animal science, this book provides material for researchers, lecturers, students and technical staff working with laboratory animals.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Animal welfare - an introduction....Pages 3-14
Research, animals and welfare. Regulations, alternatives and guidelines....Pages 15-22
Infections in laboratory animals: Importance and control....Pages 23-35
Housing, care and environmental factors....Pages 37-50
Nutrition and animal welfare....Pages 51-80
Experimental procedures: General principles and recommendations....Pages 81-115
Front Matter....Pages 117-117
The welfare of laboratory mice....Pages 119-152
The welfare of laboratory rats....Pages 153-180
The welfare of laboratory guinea pigs....Pages 181-209
The welfare of laboratory rabbits....Pages 211-243
The welfare of laboratory dogs....Pages 245-273
The welfare of pigs and minipigs....Pages 275-289
The welfare of non-human primates....Pages 291-314
Animal welfare issues under laboratory constraints, an ethological perspective: rodents and marmosets....Pages 315-338
Back Matter....Pages 339-345

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Where there are no alternatives to the use of experimental animals in biomedical research, their welfare has to be ensured as far as possible. This book describes the current knowledge about the welfare of laboratory animals. It examines the general principles of laboratory animal maintenance and experimental use as well as factors that have to be taken into account when good research is done with animals. In addition, it provides species specific coverage, concentrating on the species most used as laboratory animals. The book gives a comprehensive description of the welfare questions considered to be important for each species under laboratory conditions. Written by leading European scientists in laboratory animal science, this book provides material for researchers, lecturers, students and technical staff working with laboratory animals.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Animal welfare - an introduction....Pages 3-14
Research, animals and welfare. Regulations, alternatives and guidelines....Pages 15-22
Infections in laboratory animals: Importance and control....Pages 23-35
Housing, care and environmental factors....Pages 37-50
Nutrition and animal welfare....Pages 51-80
Experimental procedures: General principles and recommendations....Pages 81-115
Front Matter....Pages 117-117
The welfare of laboratory mice....Pages 119-152
The welfare of laboratory rats....Pages 153-180
The welfare of laboratory guinea pigs....Pages 181-209
The welfare of laboratory rabbits....Pages 211-243
The welfare of laboratory dogs....Pages 245-273
The welfare of pigs and minipigs....Pages 275-289
The welfare of non-human primates....Pages 291-314
Animal welfare issues under laboratory constraints, an ethological perspective: rodents and marmosets....Pages 315-338
Back Matter....Pages 339-345
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