Abstract
Refining animal studies has gained traction. Several initiatives may
limit stress, indirectly diminish variation, and hence contribute to
both animal welfare and scientific robustness. Ameliorating
stressful experiences by use of different training techniques
appears to be useful. Despite the increased awareness of refine-
ment by use of training, the number of publications describing
training of pigs in detail are limited.
In this study we prepared detailed information regarding how
pigs are transitioned from farm pigs to research pigs at our facil-
ity. On the basis of our experiences, we created a step-by-step
guide to share our experiences.
We engaged our caretakers and had thorough discussions con-
cerning our current practices. Then we designed a checklist to
monitor the progression of twenty pigs enrolled in our study.
The checklist was further adjusted encompassing all relevant
inputs from the caretakers. Ultimately, we tested the new check-
list on twenty new pigs. The results show that by working consis-
tently using a checklist, farm pigs become calmer when handled
and allow basic outcome measures to be collected within seven
days.
Reporting the work done to refine the experiments involving
pigs is important to accelerate the use of refinement techniques.
We speculate that the lack of peer reviewed training publications
may be due to the fact that the work is primarily performed by the
caretaker staff, and more rarely by researchers. To further devel-
op and adjust the training procedures, peers should discuss pros
and cons of different techniques as well as discuss how obstacles
may be addressed.
limit stress, indirectly diminish variation, and hence contribute to
both animal welfare and scientific robustness. Ameliorating
stressful experiences by use of different training techniques
appears to be useful. Despite the increased awareness of refine-
ment by use of training, the number of publications describing
training of pigs in detail are limited.
In this study we prepared detailed information regarding how
pigs are transitioned from farm pigs to research pigs at our facil-
ity. On the basis of our experiences, we created a step-by-step
guide to share our experiences.
We engaged our caretakers and had thorough discussions con-
cerning our current practices. Then we designed a checklist to
monitor the progression of twenty pigs enrolled in our study.
The checklist was further adjusted encompassing all relevant
inputs from the caretakers. Ultimately, we tested the new check-
list on twenty new pigs. The results show that by working consis-
tently using a checklist, farm pigs become calmer when handled
and allow basic outcome measures to be collected within seven
days.
Reporting the work done to refine the experiments involving
pigs is important to accelerate the use of refinement techniques.
We speculate that the lack of peer reviewed training publications
may be due to the fact that the work is primarily performed by the
caretaker staff, and more rarely by researchers. To further devel-
op and adjust the training procedures, peers should discuss pros
and cons of different techniques as well as discuss how obstacles
may be addressed.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Laboratory Animals |
| Vol/bind | 56 |
| Nummer | 1, suppl. |
| Sider (fra-til) | 181 |
| Antal sider | 1 |
| ISSN | 0023-6772 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - jun. 2022 |
| Begivenhed | FELASA 2022 - Marseille Chanot Exhibition and Convention Centre, Marseille, Frankrig Varighed: 13 jun. 2022 → 16 jun. 2022 |
Konference
| Konference | FELASA 2022 |
|---|---|
| Lokation | Marseille Chanot Exhibition and Convention Centre |
| Land/Område | Frankrig |
| By | Marseille |
| Periode | 13/06/2022 → 16/06/2022 |