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What factors should determine cage sizes for primates in the laboratory?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

HM Buchanan-Smith ,
MJ Prescott  and
NJ Cross
HM Buchanan-Smith*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
MJ Prescott
Affiliation:
Research Animals Department, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS, UK
NJ Cross
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk
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Abstract

It is imperative to provide adequate quantity and quality of space for all captive animals. Yet practically all guidelines on the housing of primates in the laboratory specify minimum cage sizes based solely on body weight. We argue that no single factor, such as body weight, is sufficient to determine cage size. Instead a suite of characteristics should be used that include morphometric, physiological, ecological, locomotor, social, reproductive and behavioural characteristics. Ideally, the primate's age, sex and individual history should also be taken into account. In this paper we compare this suite of characteristics for some commonly used primates whose weights overlap, to illustrate important differences amongst them. For good animal welfare and good quality science it is necessary to be sensitive to such species differences when determining suitable cage sizes.

Keywords

animal welfarearborealitybreeding successcolony managementprimatespecies-specific needs
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 13 , Issue S1: Science in the Service of Animal Welfare: Proceedings of the UFAW International Symposium, Edinburgh, 2-4 April 2003 , February 2004 , pp. S197 - S201
Copyright
© 2004 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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