The hardness of pellets for rodents

Did you know that the hardness of pellets for rodents has a big influence on their wellbeing?

Rodents that are used in research often get pellets as feeding, and they can differ from hardness.

Research shows that the right hardness is important for the following reasons:

Dental care
Rodents have continuously growing teeth. Hard pellets help wear down incisors naturally, preventing dental problems
Behaviour and enrichment
Hard pellets require more gnawing activity, which encourages natural behaviour and helps reduce boredom and stereotypical behaviour.
Longer eating time = less boredom
Animals spend more time eating hard pellets than soft food. This is positive for their well-being, especially in an environment without natural challenges.
Less waste.
Hard pellets are less brittle and less likely to crumble, as a result, less dust and waste gets into the bedding, improving hygiene and use efficiency.
Standardization in research
In laboratory animal facilities, consistency is important. A certain hardness ensures consistent behavior, equal tooth wear and a similar nutritional intake.

Want to know more about feeding rodents and the offerings of Carfil Quality? Feel free to get in touch via philippe@carfil.be.

Carfil Quality supports the life science sector