Animal Research Review Animal Research Review PanelPanel

HOT TOPICS for AECsHOT TOPICS for AECs

Conforming to Conforming to “Industry Standards”“Industry Standards”

Industry Standards

TransportHousing

Induction of AnimalsHusbandry

RearingValidation of Product

Common industry procedures Common industry procedures with animal welfare implicationswith animal welfare implications Transport Transport

– mode of transportmode of transport– numbers of animals numbers of animals – distance travelleddistance travelled

HusbandryHusbandry– mulesingmulesing– castrationcastration– tail dockingtail docking– blood samplingblood sampling

RearingRearing– numbers of animalsnumbers of animals– timeframe timeframe

HousingHousing– type of housingtype of housing– density of animalsdensity of animals

InductionInduction – mixing of animalsmixing of animals– handling, including weighing, handling, including weighing,

vaccination, eartaggingvaccination, eartagging

Validation of productsValidation of products– large numbers of animals large numbers of animals

usedused

Conflicts between Industry and AEC Conflicts between Industry and AEC standardsstandards

Industry standards generally not as strict as Industry standards generally not as strict as local AEC standardslocal AEC standards

Much of this research funded by industryMuch of this research funded by industry Research conducted by international Research conducted by international

students from countries where standards students from countries where standards are very lenient or even non-existentare very lenient or even non-existent

Conflict examples at UNEConflict examples at UNE

Research required 100 chickens to hatch within 6 hoursResearch required 100 chickens to hatch within 6 hours To achieve this required 300 eggs. To achieve this required 300 eggs. What to do with the birds that hatched outside the required What to do with the birds that hatched outside the required

time frame? time frame? In industry chickens not hatched in time are euthanised.In industry chickens not hatched in time are euthanised.

Numbers used for registration of animal health productsNumbers used for registration of animal health products When queried regarding the large numbers of animals the When queried regarding the large numbers of animals the

AEC is told that “the study is designed to comply with the AEC is told that “the study is designed to comply with the registration requirements of the APVMA”.registration requirements of the APVMA”.