Biomedical subjects

E G Patterson-Kane

Publications and source records attributed to E G Patterson-Kane.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Rats' preferences for corn versus wood-based bedding and nesting materials.

Corn by-products can be used as bedding and nesting products. Corn-cob bedding resists ammonia build-up and corn-husk nesting material resists dampness. It is not clear whether these advantages are at the expense of animal comfort. Corn cob was compared to aspen chip bedding, and corn husk to paper strip nesting material. Data from 20 rats with differential early bedding experience suggested that they prefer aspen chip, but are also biased towards the bedding they were raised on. Data from 10 rats with no prior nesting material experience suggested that paper strip was preferred over cornhusk. Thus, corn-cob products are not recommended except in situations where air quality and/or flooding are significant problems.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed2001

The cage preferences of laboratory rats.

Preference tests were used to assess a range of enrichment options for rats kept under standard New Zealand (and similar) caging conditions. The rats did not show significant preferences for most of the options, over an empty cage. The exceptions were shredded paper, a nesting box and a semi-enriched condition incorporating a range of modifications. These cage modifications are recommended for the enrichment of laboratory rats.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1999

Behavioral indexes of poor welfare in laboratory rats.

A study compared the behavior of rats kept under standard conditions with the behavior of those from enriched, semi-enriched, and single-housed conditions to determine whether standard conditions have detrimental effects on nonhuman animal welfare. The subjects were 35 female Hooded Norway rats. Using an emergence box, open field, and Hebb-Williams maze, the study measured the subjects' behaviors. Housing conditions significantly affected the behavior of the rats as measured by all 3 procedures. The results of the rats from standard conditions were intermediate between those of the single-housed and the more enriched groups. Thus, enriching the standard environment would ameliorate behavioral deficits in rats kept under standard conditions.

Journal Article↗