The Relationship between Behavioural Priorities and Animal Welfare: A Test Using the Laboratory Mouse Mus musculus

The evolutionary link between feelings of pleasure and aversion (affect) behaviour means that measurement of the behaviour of animals can give a unique insight into their own perception of the welfare value of potential enrichment techniques. Consumer demand theory allows ethologists to measure objectively the strength of preference for resources. The current study assessed the extent to which different methods of applying demand theory to laboratory mice would affect the order of prioritisation of four resources. Overall the two methods used showed some agreement, particularly in the prioritisation of food as the most important resource. However in other respects the methods led to different results, for example in the effect of increasing cost on the number of visits to resources. The importance of using animals' behaviour when making practical welfare assessments is emphasised.