Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Vol 52, No 5 Copyright 2013 September 2013 by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Pages 608–700 Abstracts of Scientific Presentations 2013 AALAS National Meeting Baltimore, Maryland Platform Sessions 12:12-h light:dark cycle (300 lx; 123.0 μW/cm2; lights on 0600) in stan- dard polycarbonate translucent clear rodent cages containing either PS1 Food Enrichment of Laboratory Beagles: Behavioral Benefits and polycarbonate translucent clear (C), amber (A), red (R), or PVC opaque Durability Concerns (O) tubing (3 in. wide × 6 in. long; 1/8 in. wall thickness). After 1 wk acclimation, animals were assessed during light phase for time spent JK Willis*1, JM Cavarra2, LV Kendall3 within the colored enrichment devices (CEDs) and for arterial plasma melatonin at 6 circadian time points (beginning at 0400). Results revealed 1Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; 2George Mason, no differences in dietary or water intake, or body growth rates among Washington, DC; 3Laboratory Animal Resources, Colorado State, Fort the groups. Time spent within the CED groups during light phase in Collins, CO week 2 of the study was significantly longer in duration (P < 0.05) at 40.3 ± 10.1% (R), 15.3 ± 3.8% (A), 9.4 ± 2.8% (O), and 1.0 ± 0.6% (C), Enrichment can be a key element in stress reduction in domestic dogs in respectively, compared with that of week 5 with R (5.3 ± 2.9%) > A (1.3 both pet and kennel environments. However, providing enrichment to ± 1.2) > C (1.1 ± 0.6%) > O (1.0 ± 0.4%). Plasma melatonin levels in pg/ laboratory dogs can be a means for injury or ingestion of objects. Devices mL (mean ± 1 SE) were low in the light phase (>10.0 ± 0.2) in all groups, provided as enrichment may not be used as intended and may not effec- but significantly higher (P < 0.05) during dark phase (0400) in group A tively serve as enrichment at all. Our aim was to evaluate the activity of (213 ± 74), compared with groups R (109 ± 21), C (92.0 ± 35.0), and O laboratory dogs provided food enrichment using commercially available (64 ± 18). These findings indicate that use of colored enrichment devices activity feeder toys (2 types were used) and compared with a control con- impact behavior and circadian regulation of neuroendocrine parameters dition without enrichment. We wanted to evaluate how much time dogs that influence laboratory animal health and wellbeing. spent interacting with their food in each case, the efficacy and durability of devices, and if the presence of enrichment changed their behavior in PS3 Put Your Environmental Enrichment Program on a Diet: Applying other ways. All dogs were videotaped for 4 h, immediately following the LEAN to Environmental Enrichment presentation of either food alone or food in an activity feeder. Behaviors * were scored using an ethogram and results were tabulated in amount of CS Coke-Murphy , JC Farley time spent performing different behaviors. Dogs spent more time engaged with their food when it was presented in both types of food enrichment Animal Care, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN when compared with control. Dogs spent as little as 5 min interacting with their food in the control condition and as much as 43 min interacting with Recently, LEAN Six Sigma (LSS) has gained favor in the laboratory their food when enrichment was provided. Dogs with enrichment did not animal science as a means of reducing waste and increasing operational stay consecutively engaged with the enrichment but rather exhibited an efficiency. LSS is a managerial concept combining LEAN and Six Sigma overall activity level increase, returning to devices repeatedly for short that results in the reduction of waste. Waste is defined by LSS as nonvalue bursts of engagement. Dogs provided with enrichment were more active added tasks, process steps, and personnel practices that distract or take and used their space more when enrichment was provided. Enrichment away from the essential functions of the organization. The LSS process altered the way in which laboratory dogs used their time with an increase includes: 1) sort, 2) set-in-order, 3) shine, 4) standardize, and 5) sustain. in purposeful behavior and overall exercise. Commercially available The Division of Animal Care decided to apply the LSS process to our activity feeder toys for pet dogs were not as durable as expected, with Environmental Enrichment program (EE) in our large animal facility as some being destroyed in as little as 15 min. We hope to design a similar, a means to increase organization and efficiency of providing enrichment. but more durable food enrichment device that could be used effectively The facility has the most species, enrichment devices, and historically for repeated use in the laboratory environment. has required the largest outlay of the EE budget. We applied LSS in the following manner: 1) sort: all of the EE devices were sorted by species PS2 Colored Enrichment Devices Influence Behavior and Circadian and then tagged everything as “stay,” “go,” “broken,” or “unknown;” 2) Metabolism and Physiology in Sprague–Dawley Rats set-in-order: all of the EE devices tagged “stay” were placed in labeled bins, all “go” and “unknown” items were reevaluated either for use by MA Wren*1, RT Dauchy2, SM Hill2, TG Ooms3, LM Dupepe1, DE Blask2 another species or thrown away; 3) shine: guidelines for cleaning and storage of EE were created along with a “broken” bin; 4) standardize: bins 1Department of Comparative Medicine, 2Department of Structural and and the pegboard were labeled; 5) sustain: a facility EE point person posi- Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, tion was created to assist the EEC in managing the space and EE devices. LA; 3Section of Laboratory Medicine, Illinois Institute of Technology, As a result of the implementation of LSS we saw a dramatic decrease in Chicago, IL the amount of “lost” EE devices as evident by a substantial decreasing in EE spending for that facility for example, ≥ 50% budget reduction. LSS Enrichment devices and strategies, as currently endorsed by the Guide, implementation was a success in our large animal facility and we will are used to improve laboratory animal health and wellbeing. Many now be implementing this process in our other animal facilities. conclusions supporting this premise, however, are based primarily on observational studies with minimal consideration for circadian PS4 The Training of Many by a Few: A Hybrid Approach to Researcher physiology and metabolism. Our previous studies demonstrated that Instruction in a Large Animal Care and Use Program spectral transmittance (color) of light passing through laboratory rodent * caging impacts normal rhythms of physiology and metabolism in rats. SM Boyd , T Neubauer, CA Buckmaster Here, in conjunction with our GLAS-supported studies, we examined how the use of colored enrichment devices can influence laboratory Center for Comparative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Hous- rodents’ daily circadian melatonin signal and alter temporal coordina- ton, TX tion of normal physiologic functions. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats (Crl:SD; n = 6 per group) were maintained on a lighting regimen The animal program at our institution includes 8 vivaria with over 3,200 researchers covered by over 600 protocols and 2 dedicated train- 608 Abstracts of scientific papers 2013 AALAS National Meeting ers. Providing training and ensuring proficiency, prior to work with inspected areas. Eleven of 15 ACTs, 3 of 3 Animal Care Supervisors, animals, on all requirements to every user in a program this large is and 2 of 2 QA inspectors completed the survey. The results of the sur- very challenging for a small training staff, but is essential for preventing vey are as follows: 82% of ACTs surveyed, reported a preference for future animal welfare and compliance concerns. To meet this challenge, supervisor inspection rather than QA inspection of their rooms. Many The Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM) established a hybrid ap- ACTs (82%) also stated that the QA inspection performed by another proach to initial training that combines online lessons on all BCM and animal technician rather than a supervisor was very stressful because CCM requirements with hands-on technical instruction. By design, this the area supervisor would have more area-specific knowledge and a format also establishes collaborative relationships between key CCM QA inspector may not. Despite the senior status of the QA inspectors, professionals and researchers to encourage lasting partnerships that ACTs perceived their QA inspector coworkers as unqualified and un- promote a culture of support for all BCM studies. Researchers must able to give an unbiased assessment leaving them feeling vulnerable complete customized AALAS Learning Library “tracks” in order to be or disconcerted. In contrast, 100% of the supervisors felt it was helpful listed on animal protocols. Once listed, access to CCM training modules to have assistance with a task that had been increasingly challenging to is enabled automatically through a database interface. Certificates of complete on a consistent basis, fulfilling part 2 of our initial goals. All of passing are only generated for quiz scores of 100% and users are required the QA inspectors (100%) felt positive about the purpose of the program to deliver their certificates to the CCM Access Agent for vivarium access. but negatively about the feedback from peers. All 3 groups agreed that The agent then grants access and sends a template note to the relevant a consistent, standardized QA program is necessary and wanted. This CCM manager instructing him/her to schedule a facility tour with the pilot study highlighted the collective desire for a comprehensive QA researcher within 2 business days. After the tour, the manager reviews program as well as the importance in providing a clear, detailed message technical training needs with the researcher and submits a digital “tech- to the staff about the necessity and goals of the program.