Guidelines on Social Housing of Animals

Regulations

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th Edition (PDF) (external link) states, “Appropriate social interactions among members of the same species (conspecifics) are essential to normal development and well-being (Bayne et al. 1995; Hall 1998; Novak et al. 2006). When selecting a suitable social environment, attention should be given to whether the animals are naturally territorial or communal and whether they should be housed singly, in pairs, or in groups. An understanding of species-typical natural social behavior (e.g., natural social composition, population density, ability to disperse, familiarity, and social ranking) is key to successful social housing” (p. 64).

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals also states, “single housing of social species should be the exception and justified based on experimental requirements or veterinary-related concerns about animal well-being” (p. 64).

Guidance

Full-time social housing is the default housing method for housing social animal species at the University of Maine. This guidance applies to all social species housed at the University of Maine and may include pigs, rodents, cows, fish, horses, chickens, etc. Social housing can significantly enhance their overall welfare.

Exceptions

There are exceptions when social housing is not possible. For any animal that needs to be singly housed, it should occur for the minimum time possible.

Singly housed animals should still have visual, auditory, olfactory, and protected tactile contact with conspecifics if possible. If the animal cannot have contact with members of the same species, then additional enrichment plus additional interaction with staff is required, unless it is scientifically justified and approved by the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee).

Below are explained the three categories of exceptions: animal husbandry, medical, and experimental exceptions, and the IACUC approval requirements.

Animal Husbandry Exceptions

The following situations, which jeopardize the welfare of the animal, do not require scientific justification:

  • Aggressive animals or incompatible animals (such as adult males, where aggression is a documented issue)
  • Individual housing in preparation for parturition
  • Pregnant females to prevent from overcrowding following the birth of offspring
  • Quarantine period
  • Short-term post-operative recovery (less than 14 days)
  • The animal fasted pre-anesthesia
  • Intact male rabbits
  • Unfamiliar male mice

Medical Exceptions

Veterinary staff may require single housing due to medical concerns. The veterinarian will record the period of single housing and monitor the animal until the animal can be socially re-housed. The reporting to the IACUC is at the discretion of the Attending Veterinarian.

Experimental Exceptions

When single housing of social species (other than short-term recovery from experimental manipulation) is necessary for experimental reasons, a scientific justification must be described in the animal use protocol, reviewed and approved by the IACUC, and the single housing cannot begin until approval is granted by the IACUC.

Documentation of the Exception

For any exception to social housing, the reason an animal is single-housed needs to be documented on the cage card or in the animal’s health record.

References