Abstract:
Present study evaluated the behavioural and physiological measures of welfare on preference of female Wistar rat to litter
in two types of solid bottom cages and a grid floor cage. In this regard, reproductive indices and fetal findings were
measured, analyzed and compared. Higher reproductive performances were observed in rats tested in solid bottom cages
compared to grid floor cages. Pre- and post-implantation losses was significantly (p<0.05) lower in two types of solid
bottom cages, while those of in grid floor cages were significantly (p<0.05) higher. Moreover, gestation index, litter index,
number of littered pups and mean pups weights were significantly higher (p<0.05) in rats tested in solid bottom cages. Of
the two types of solid bottom cages, better reproductive performances were observed from the animals kept in solid round
bottom cages through which lowest amount of light could reach animals at daytime. Present findings therefore suggest that
more attention should be given to cage type and flooring when maintaining laboratory animals. Also, laboratory animals
should be reared in solid bottom cages with sufficient floor area in order to ensure better welfare and grid floor cages
should be avoided to achieve the best results from the animal experimentation.
