Common husbandry, housing, and animal care practices

Animal care in facilities housing nonhuman primates has undergone a transformation in the past two decades, as the scientific community has learned more about the effects of husbandry practices on behavior and physiology of captive nonhuman primates. Today, husbandry consists of more than simply feeding animals and removing waste. Husbandry practices cover all aspects of animal care, from ensuring the animals' nutritional needs to providing adequate shelter, monitoring the health of the animals, and refining procedures so that they reduce stress and distress. As such, husbandry is integral to providing optimal animal welfare. This chapter will summarize four main areas of husbandry (health monitoring, nutrition, shelter, and humane handling) and discuss how each can influence aspects of the welfare of captive nonhuman primates living in a research environment.