Physiological, Behavioral, and Scientific Impact of Different Fluid Control Protocols in the Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta).
Rhesus macaques are an important model in behavioral neuroscience due to their advanced cognitive abilities. To motivate animals to engage in complex tasks, fluid rewards, in conjunction with fluid control protocols, are often used. The impact of these protocols on animal welfare is controversial. We compared two fluid control protocols against a protocol providing free access to water and evaluated the impacts on physiological states of hydration, behavioral measures of welfare, and scientific output. Blood physiology did not significantly differ between any of the protocols, and urine measures were indicative of well functioning, healthy kidneys. Changes in behaviors were limited, the main one being an increase in motivation to drink on the stricter fluid control protocol, and improved task performance early in the week. Overall, fluid control protocols had little measurable impact on the welfare of rhesus macaques while ensuring that scientific data of high quality could be obtained.
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom.
Helen
0000-0001-8335-7432
H
Gray
Comparative Biology Centre, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom.
Henri
H
Bertrand
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom.
Claire
C
Mindus
Comparative Biology Centre, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom.
Paul
P
Flecknell
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom.
Candy
0000-0001-5379-843X
C
Rowe
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom.
Alexander
0000-0003-4894-0213
A
Thiele
motivation; nonhuman primate; welfare 
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