title: Assessing stability of body weight in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).
abstract: When conducting controlled laboratory studies with non-traditional laboratory animals it is important that methods for determining body weight stability are reliable. This helps ensure the health and welfare of animals when they are maintained during periods of free feeding or food restriction. This study compared different methods for determining body weight stability in six common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) maintained on a free-feeding diet under laboratory conditions. A criterion of five consecutive weighings with less than ±2.5% change across days and no more than two consecutive days of weight loss or weight gain was judged to be the most suitable criteria for determining stability. It is important to study non-traditional animals, especially endangered or pest species, under controlled laboratory conditions and to have robust methods for establishing body weight stability.
authors: Learning, Behaviour & Welfare Research Unit, School of Psychology, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand kristie.uni@gmail.com.
authors: Kristie E
authors: KE
authors: Cameron
authors: Learning, Behaviour & Welfare Research Unit, School of Psychology, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors: Lewis A
authors: LA
authors: Bizo
authors: Learning, Behaviour & Welfare Research Unit, School of Psychology, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors: Nicola J
authors: NJ
authors: Starkey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D007756:Laboratory Animal Science / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010827:Physiology; D048330:Trichosurus / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Trichosurus vulpecula; body weight; brushtail possum; free-feeding; stability