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Effect of cage-change frequency on rodent breeding performance
Amy E Sanderson1, Heather M Multari, Jeffrey J Lohmiller
1Veterinary Sciences Department, Taconic Farms Incorporated, Hudson, NY, USA. Amy.Sanderson@taconic.com
Lab Animal
|May 21, 2010
Summary
Disrupting sensitive rodent breeding cages weekly, even with pups present, did not significantly impact breeding success or pup survival. This finding challenges common laboratory animal husbandry beliefs regarding cage-change frequency.
Area of Science:
- Laboratory animal science
- Animal husbandry
- Rodent breeding
Background:
- Common belief in laboratory rodent facilities: disrupting sensitive lines increases breeding failures and pup loss.
- This belief often leads to modified husbandry practices to minimize cage disturbance.
- Lack of empirical data to support or refute the impact of cage-change frequency on breeding performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically evaluate the effect of cage-change frequency on the breeding performance of sensitive mouse and rat strains.
- To determine if weekly cage changes, with or without pup presence, affect breeding success.
- To provide data-driven insights into optimal laboratory rodent husbandry practices.
Main Methods:
- Assessed breeding performance in C57BL/6NTac mice and NTac:NIH-Whn rats.
- Compared two cage-changing protocols: weekly changes vs. weekly changes unless pups were present.
- Utilized the production efficiency index (pups weaned/breeding females) to quantify breeding performance.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in breeding performance was observed between the two cage-changing groups.
- Rodents whose cages were changed weekly, including those with newborn pups, showed comparable breeding success to those with undisturbed pups.
- The production efficiency index did not significantly differ between the treatment groups.
Conclusions:
- Weekly cage changes do not negatively impact the breeding performance of sensitive mouse and rat strains.
- Current husbandry practices that avoid cage changes when pups are present may not be necessary for these rodent lines.
- Findings suggest that standard weekly cage-changing protocols can be maintained without compromising breeding efficiency in these specific rodent stocks.
