Publications by authors named "Marielu Voit"
Article Synopsis
- - The research aimed to validate a less painful method of sampling feathers (cutting vs. plucking) for analyzing feather corticosterone (CORTf) levels, supporting the principles of animal welfare through reduced stress in studies.
- - Two wild bird species, the Mallard and the Greater Flamingo, were tested, and results showed minor differences between the two sampling methods, indicating that cutting feathers is as effective as plucking for CORTf analysis.
- - The study found no significant influence of sex on CORTf levels, suggesting that while CORTf values should not be viewed in isolation, the new sampling method is a suitable alternative for future animal welfare research.
The most common feather sampling method for feather corticosterone measurement is by plucking the feathers from the bird's skin. This procedure performed on living, restrained birds is qualified as an animal experiment according to German/European legislation, which has to be applied for from the competent authorities. The Directive 2010/63/EU requires the full implementation of the 3-R Principle of Russel and Burch in animal experiments, which means not only to replace the use of animals, but also to reduce the number of animals used and to refine procedures whenever possible.
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