Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures

Katharina Hohlbaum; Pia Kahnau; Jenny Wilzopolski; Carola Fischer-Tenhagen

doi:10.3791/66008

Journal

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Behavior

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Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures

JoVE Journal
Behavior
Author Produced

This content is Free Access.

JoVE Journal Behavior

Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures

2,203 Views

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05:21 min

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February 16, 2024

DOI:

10.3791/66008-v

DOI:

10.3791/66008-v

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05:21 min

February 16, 2024

•

25 Views

Katharina Hohlbaum¹, Pia Kahnau¹, Jenny Wilzopolski¹, Carola Fischer-Tenhagen¹

¹German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R),German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment

Transcript

We intend to improve animal welfare for as long as animal experiments are carried out. It is our moral responsibility and duty to ensure that the laboratory animals suffer as less as possible. This also includes caring for and handling the animals in the gentlest way possible.

For instance, by using positive reinforcement training. Our research suggests that gentle handling techniques and positive reinforcement training reduces stress in laboratory animals. researchers are currently confronted with the requirements to train their laboratory animals.

However, this is extremely challenging for someone without any previous experiences in animal training. Therefore, our protocol provides step-by-step instructions that should allow everyone to get the first positive experiences in training a rabbit. First of all, it is animal friendly.

We compared the behavior of the rabbits after they were picked up in a transport box, or with the conventional handling techniques. The transport box was less aversive and therefore, could serve as an effective refinement measure.

Summary

Training protocols involving positive reinforcement for routine husbandry procedures in rabbits were developed and proved to be successful, as the rabbits reliably showed the trained behaviors at the weekly general examination. Picking the rabbits up with the transport box was less aversive than the conventional handling technique.