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Research Animal Welfare: Current Practices and Future Directions
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Research Animal Welfare: Current Practices and Future Directions

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2025) | Viewed by 6512

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bhupinder Singh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Comparative Medicine Resources, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
Interests: laboratory animals; pain; welfare; analgesia; behavior
Dr. Patricia V. Turner

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Interests: diseases of laboratory animals; toxicologic pathology; research animal anesthesia; analgesia; euthanasia; animal welfare
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of laboratory animals remains essential for conducting biomedical research and advancing both human and veterinary medicine. However, it is a significant responsibility and ensuring animal welfare must always be a top priority. The principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (the 3Rs), introduced by William Russell and Rex Birch in 1956, laid the groundwork for improving laboratory animal welfare. While substantial progress has been made in developing non-animal methods for biological research, we have yet to reach a point where animals can be completely replaced.

Laboratory animal welfare encompasses both physical and psychological well-being, requiring the diligent effort of all personnel involved. Proper housing and nutrition provided by husbandry staff, clinical and preventive healthcare by veterinary teams, and the use of refined techniques by research staff are all critical to maintaining animal welfare. Key components for enhancing welfare include staff training and the post-approval monitoring (PAM) process. Training personnel in proper animal handling and experimental procedures is essential for minimizing animal distress. The PAM process ensures that research complies with approved protocols and regulations, safeguarding animal welfare throughout the study.

Neglecting animal welfare can compromise experimental rigor and reproducibility, which is why ensuring the well-being of research animals is vital for producing high-quality research.

We invite researchers to submit both review articles and original research on laboratory animal welfare, with a particular focus on how technological innovations can enhance it. We seek strategies and tools that can improve animal welfare, such as the CIRS-LAS portal—a web-based platform called the "Critical Incident Reporting System in Laboratory Animal Science"—which allows users to anonymously share critical incidents and negative experiences from animal experiments or husbandry practices. Additionally, we welcome submissions exploring how automated and continuous animal monitoring through artificial intelligence and digital biomarkers can advance welfare practices.

Dr. Bhupinder Singh
Dr. Patricia V. Turner
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • research animals
  • welfare
  • refinement
  • ethics
  • innovation
  • digital biomarker
  • artificial intelligence

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 1549 KB  
Article
Assessing Perceptions Toward Aquatic Animal Welfare: A Study on the Perspectives of Educators, Students and Aquaculture Industry Stakeholders in South and South-Central Vietnam
by Sasha Saugh, Pham Kim Long, Lien-Huong Trinh, Oanh Duong Hoang, Huong Huynh Kim, Pham Van Day, Men Nguyen Thi, Simão Zacarias and Chau Thi Da
Animals 2026, 16(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16010026 - 22 Dec 2025
Abstract
This study investigated the perceptions of AAW among educators (n = 47), students (n = 359), and aquaculture sector stakeholders (n = 34) in key aquaculture regions of South and South-Central Vietnam. Using a mixed-methods survey, perception scores, understanding of core welfare concepts, [...] Read more.
This study investigated the perceptions of AAW among educators (n = 47), students (n = 359), and aquaculture sector stakeholders (n = 34) in key aquaculture regions of South and South-Central Vietnam. Using a mixed-methods survey, perception scores, understanding of core welfare concepts, curricular coverage, and willingness to pay (WTP) for higher-welfare products were assessed. Although perception scores were high across surveyed groups, only 5.57% of students identified most of the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, while 17.0% showed no understanding of welfare. This highlighted a gap between awareness and understanding, leading to the development of the Awareness Depth Gap Framework. A small but statistically significant negative correlation (Kendall–Theil –Sen slope = −0.28, p < 1.25 × 10−12) indicated that greater AAW curricular inclusion was associated with stronger welfare attitudes. Willingness to pay modest premiums (6–10%) for higher-welfare products increased non-linearly with higher perception scores among educators and students. In contrast, aquaculture sector stakeholders appeared to prioritise economic factors over welfare. These results highlight the need for structured AAW curricula and community collaborative education to close knowledge gaps. This study provides the first empirical insights into AAW perceptions across the education and aquaculture sectors in Vietnam. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Animal Welfare: Current Practices and Future Directions)
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18 pages, 927 KB  
Article
Environmental Exposure to the Common Trunk of Mammalian Appeasing Pheromone Modulates Social Behavior and Reduces Fight Wounds in Male Mice
by Sara Fuochi, Cecile Bienboire-Frosini, Estelle Descout, Miriam Marcet-Rius, Patrick Pageat and Alessandro Cozzi
Animals 2025, 15(22), 3278; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15223278 - 13 Nov 2025
Viewed by 445
Abstract
Aggression among group-housed male laboratory mice poses significant challenges for animal welfare and scientific outcomes. Semiochemicals, such as mammalian appeasing pheromones, have shown potential in modulating social behaviors in various species. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a synthetic Common Trunk [...] Read more.
Aggression among group-housed male laboratory mice poses significant challenges for animal welfare and scientific outcomes. Semiochemicals, such as mammalian appeasing pheromones, have shown potential in modulating social behaviors in various species. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a synthetic Common Trunk (CT) of mammalian appeasing pheromone on social behavior, aggression, and welfare indicators in adult male mice. Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) male RjOrl:SWISS mice (8–12 weeks old) were housed in open-top cages and exposed via environmental passive diffusion to either a 2% synthetic CT pheromone formulation or a placebo (excipient only). Behavioral tests included the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and the Resident–Intruder (RI) test. Clinical welfare assessments and hematobiochemical analyses were also performed. Behavioral testing revealed minimal differences between groups, except for—in animals exposed to the CT—significantly fewer unsupported rearings, both in number (p = 0.0284) and duration (p = 0.0184), suggesting reduced vigilance (EPM Test) and shorter upright posture durations (p = 0.0031), a behavior linked to social signaling during conflict (RI test). Welfare assessments and risk-based analyses indicated that mice exposed to the CT of the appeasing pheromone displayed more agonistic but less violent confrontations, with fewer visible lesions. The protective effect was most pronounced during early group housing of unfamiliar adult males, with significantly fewer injuries in treated mice during the first (p = 0.0215) and second week (p = 0.0329). Treated mice also showed higher serotonin levels (p = 0.0295), suggesting reduced aggressiveness in line with observed behavioral outcomes. Exposure to the CT appeared to improve social dynamics and reduce escalation of aggression in male mice, supporting its potential as a refinement tool in laboratory housing practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Animal Welfare: Current Practices and Future Directions)
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13 pages, 216 KB  
Article
Voluntary Additional Welfare Monitoring of Farm Animals Used in Research: Maximising Benefits Requires Sustained Support
by Siobhan Mullan, Jessica Stokes, Helena Elizabeth Hale and Timm Konold
Animals 2025, 15(19), 2817; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192817 - 26 Sep 2025
Viewed by 496
Abstract
The aim of this project was to co-create an animal welfare monitoring system that incorporated both positive and negative welfare measures that would contribute to best practice husbandry standards of farm animals in a real animal research setting. Researchers worked with nine staff [...] Read more.
The aim of this project was to co-create an animal welfare monitoring system that incorporated both positive and negative welfare measures that would contribute to best practice husbandry standards of farm animals in a real animal research setting. Researchers worked with nine staff to co-design six bespoke welfare assessment protocols to be conducted in addition to legally required welfare monitoring for adult cattle, calves, sheep, pigs, and goats in specific experimental environments. Four protocols were subsequently applied with variable frequency by three staff to cattle, goats, and two pig populations. Assessments were all observational, and included behavioural scan sampling, Qualitative Behaviour Assessment scores, visual analogue mood scores, and physical condition data. Two staff provided feedback on their views of the process. A key finding was that with facilitation, staff could generate protocols that included elements designed to encourage or evaluate interventions to promote positive emotions. However, data collection was sporadic, and although the staff who provided feedback reported that they valued the process highly, they noted that the primary challenge was finding the time to conduct the assessments. We therefore conclude that sustained support is likely to be required to maximise the benefits for the animals and staff of developing and conducting voluntary welfare monitoring of farm animals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Animal Welfare: Current Practices and Future Directions)
19 pages, 6432 KB  
Article
Simultaneous, Non-Contact and Motion-Based Monitoring of Respiratory Rate in Sheep Under Experimental Condition Using Visible and Near-Infrared Videos
by Beatriz Leandro Bonafini, Lukas Breuer, Lisa Ernst, René Tolba, Lucas Ferrari de Oliveira, Mauren Abreu de Souza, Michael Czaplik and Carina Barbosa Pereira
Animals 2024, 14(23), 3398; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14233398 - 25 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1491
Abstract
The validation of methods for understanding the effects of many diseases and treatments requires the use of animal models in translational research. In this context, sheep have been employed extensively in scientific studies. However, the imposition of experimental conditions upon these animals may [...] Read more.
The validation of methods for understanding the effects of many diseases and treatments requires the use of animal models in translational research. In this context, sheep have been employed extensively in scientific studies. However, the imposition of experimental conditions upon these animals may result in the experience of discomfort, pain, and stress. The ethical debates surrounding the use of animals in research have resulted in the adoption of Directive 2010/63/EU. The present study proposes a non-contact method for monitoring the respiration rate of sheep based on video processing. The Detecron2 model was trained to segment the sheep’s body, abdominal, and facial regions in the video frames. A motion-tracking algorithm was developed to assess abdominal movement associated with the sheep’s respiratory cycle. The method was applied to videos of Rhön sheep under experimental and housing conditions, utilising two types of cameras to assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The mean average error (MAE) obtained was 0.79 breaths/minute for the visible and 1.83 breaths/minute for the near-infrared (NIR) method. This study demonstrates the feasibility of video technology for simultaneous and non-invasive respiration monitoring, being a crucial parameter for assessing the health deterioration of multiple laboratory animals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Animal Welfare: Current Practices and Future Directions)
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Review

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26 pages, 1786 KB  
Review
Home-Cage Training for Non-Human Primates: An Opportunity to Reduce Stress and Study Natural Behavior in Neurophysiology Experiments
by Francesco Ceccarelli, Fabrizio Londei, Giulia Arena, Aldo Genovesio and Lorenzo Ferrucci
Animals 2025, 15(9), 1340; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091340 - 6 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2678
Abstract
Research involving non-human primates remains a cornerstone in fields such as biomedical research and systems neuroscience. However, the daily routines of laboratory work can induce stress in these animals, potentially compromising their well-being and the reliability of experimental outcomes. To address this, many [...] Read more.
Research involving non-human primates remains a cornerstone in fields such as biomedical research and systems neuroscience. However, the daily routines of laboratory work can induce stress in these animals, potentially compromising their well-being and the reliability of experimental outcomes. To address this, many laboratories have adopted home-cage training protocols to mitigate stress caused by routine procedures such as transport and restraint—a factor that can impact both macaque physiology and experimental validity. This review explores the primary methods and experimental setups employed in home-cage training, highlighting their potential not only to address ethical concerns surrounding animal welfare but also to reduce training time and risks for the researchers. Furthermore, by combining home-cage training with wireless recordings, it becomes possible to expand research opportunities in behavioral neurophysiology with non-human primates. This approach enables the study of various cognitive processes in more naturalistic settings, thereby increasing the ecological validity of scientific findings through innovative experimental designs that thoroughly investigate the complexity of the animals’ natural behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Animal Welfare: Current Practices and Future Directions)
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