Abstract
Bedding material is a permanent part of the environment of laboratory rodents. In the present study, rats of two strains (Wistar HsdCpb:WU and Brown Norway BN/SsNCpbHsd) were placed in a preference test system to evaluate their preference for three types of bedding material (sawdust, softwood shavings and paper particles) compared to wire mesh. The rats showed a significant preference for the cages with wood shavings and paper bedding, both consisting of large particles. The paper bedding may serve as an alternative to wire mesh floor in some (e.g. toxicological) studies, because of its defined composition. The cages with sawdust and wire mesh floor were relatively avoided. Rats slept in the cages with large-particle bedding, but used the other cages for active behaviour such as eating and defecating; furthermore, many rats preferred different cages during day and night. It is suggested that different behavioural activities may require different cage floor covering.
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