Abstract
There has been increased recognition of the 3Rs in laboratory animal management over the last decade, including improvements in animal handling and housing. For example, positive reinforcement is now more widely used to encourage primates to cooperate with husbandry procedures, and improved enclosure design allows housing in social groups with opportunity to escape and avoid other primates and humans. Both practices have become gold standards in captive primate care resulting in improved health and behavioural outcomes. However, training individuals and social housing may be perceived as incompatible, and so it is important to share protocols, their outcomes and suggestions for planning and improvements for future uptake. Here we present a protocol with link to video for training rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) housed in single-male – multi-female breeding groups to sit at individual stations in the social enclosure. Our aim was that the monkeys could take part in welfare-related cognitive assessments without the need for removal from the group or interference by group members. To do this we required most individuals in a group to sit by individual stations at the same time. Most of the training was conducted by a single trainer with occasional assistance from a second trainer depending on availability. We successfully trained 61/65 monkeys housed in groups of up to nine adults (plus infants and juveniles) to sit by their individual stationing tools for >30s. Males successfully trained on average within 30min (2 training sessions); females trained on average in 1h 52min±13min (7.44 sessions), with rank (high, mid, low) affecting the number of sessions required. On average, dominant females trained in 1h 26min±16min (5.7 sessions), mid ranked females in 1h 52min±20min (7.45 sessions), and subordinate females took 2h 44min±36min (10.9 sessions). Age, group size, reproductive status, temperament, and early maternal separation did not influence the number of sessions a monkey required to reach criterion. We hope this protocol will be useful for facilities worldwide looking to house their animals in naturalistic social groups without impacting on animal husbandry and management.
Highlights
IntroductionEmphasis on housing conditions that fulfil animals’ physical and social needs can result in perceived conflicts between colony management practices and animal welfare (Prescott and BuchananSmith, 2007)
With the increased recognition of the 3Rs in research (NC3Rs, 2006; Prescott, 2010; Russell and Burch, 1959), training laboratory primates to cooperate with animal management and research procedures has become a key welfare refinement (Bloomsmith et al, 1998; Coleman et al, 2008; LASA/MRC, 2004; Laule et al, 1996, 2003; NC3Rs, 2015; Perlman et al, 2010, 2012; Prescott et al, 2007; Prescott and Buchanan-Smith, 2007; Reinhardt, 1997; Schapiro et al, 2003, 2005)
61 of the 65 monkeys who were approached for training, reached criterion for successful training to sit by a stationing tool (Table 3: 9/9 males; 52/56 females)
Summary
Emphasis on housing conditions that fulfil animals’ physical and social needs can result in perceived conflicts between colony management practices and animal welfare (Prescott and BuchananSmith, 2007). Training animals teaches them that their behaviour has consequences, and positive reinforcement training (PRT) is Term. An initially unfamiliar stimulus (such as the “click” of a hand-held clicker or a verbal cue such as ‘good’) is repeatedly paired with a primary reinforcer so that it becomes a positive reinforcer through association. A bridging stimulus can be produced exactly at the moment the animal performs a desired behaviour, creating a bridge between performing the behaviour and receiving the primary reinforcer (e.g. food)
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