Behavior, Socialization, and Enrichment of Minipigs

Animal welfare considerations are important to the conduct of good research. A generally accepted tenet is that animals which are maintained in a non-stressful environment will be more physiologically stable and therefore provide more reliable data in an experiment. In order to provide such an environment personnel must be familiar with the normal behavior and normal physiologic requirements for the species. Some protocols may require adjustment from the recommendations in this manuscript for both practical and experimental reasons.

M. Michael Swindle, Professor & Chairman, Department of Comparative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston