lab animal management

animal scientific procedures act 1986

regulates use of protected animals which is defined as any living vertebrate in any experimental or scientific procedure which may have the effect of causing pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.

licencing, training, housing and husbandry, animal welfare

5 needs

• need to be free from fear and distress

• need to be free from pain injury and disease

• need to be free from hunger and thirst

• need to be free from discomfort

• need to express normal behaviour

3 rs

• reduction

• refinement

• replacement

animal welfare and ethical review body

• local ethical review

• project licence applications

• animal welfare within the facilities

• promote a culture of care

uk gov- animals in science regulation unit

• national ethical review

• personal/project/establishment licence reviews

• facility and process inspections

• enforcement of the law

rodent/lagomorph natural behaviours

• curious, active, social

• climbing, tunnelling, and play behaviour often observed

• personal and social grooming

• hierarchal animals

• disruption of hierarchy causes fighting

• pheromones reinforce standing in hierarchy

• important to leave some nesting/enrichment mateirals at cleaning to preven fighting

ferret natural behaviours

• climbing, tunelling, and play behaviour

• like to use teeth

• very curious and hyperactive

• demonstrate tunnelling behaviour a lot and naturally seek out tunnels/ narrow gaos

• very social, live in groups, can be hormonal (territorial)

zebrafish natural behaviours

• should be housed in groups- like to shoal together

• should be kept in mixed sex groups to prevent egg bound occurrences

• have become more common in research

• prey species so need areas to hide/feel safe

• live in water so require environmental interactions in water

cows natural behaviour

• calm by playing soothing music

• dairy breeds more sensitive to sound and touch than beef

• cutaneous sensitivity can be used to calm cattle by scratching under the neck and behind the ears