Behavior management has evolved significantly since original implementation of USDA AWA requirements, and has become a specialty within the field of laboratory animal science. Industry accepted behavior management regulatory requirements and guidelines are not supported by formal curricula or resources for training and personnel who specialize in lab animal behavior management.
The purpose of this lecture is to compare, contrast and highlight novel methods of behavior management and outcome measures to meet the expectations of the Animal Welfare Act and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
The intended audience are veterinarians, enrichment coordinators, behaviorists and those invested in improving and evaluating behavior management procedures or promoting culture of care.
As behavior management and our understanding of laboratory animal welfare evolves, it is becoming increasingly important to harmonize our knowledge and plan for consistent training of behavior professionals.
As animal behavior is a critical measure of welfare, it can be challenging to evaluate on a consistent scale. This lecture will create an open dialogue with the research community to address this challenge. The American Association for Laboratory Animal Enrichment, combined with American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, provides a resources and training opportunities to improve and promote continued animal welfare science and current behavioral management techniques and evaluation methods.
