FAQs
Which species of animal are housed in the laboratory facilities at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½?
In common with many UK animal facilities, the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ holds mice, rats, rabbits, guinea-pigs, hamsters and ferrets. In addition zebra-fish, sticklebacks and amphibians are also held. Cattle, sheep, pigs and fowl are used in agricultural and veterinary research.
Which areas of research at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ involve the use of animals?
Research involving animals is vital to the continued advancement of medical, veterinary and scientific knowledge in a wide range of disciplines. These include: cancer research, diseases associated with ageing, infection and immunity, obesity, diabetes, veterinary and agricultural research.
Do you test cosmetics and/or household products on animals?
No cosmetic or safety testing is undertaken at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½. Cosmetic testing is not allowed in the UK.
Why do you have to use animals? What about alternative methods?
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ is committed to the 3R's - Reduction, Refinement and Replacement. The University applies these principles wherever possible when conducting research involving animals. We will use alternative technologies wherever feasible. In some cases these methods replace the need for animals, in other cases the non-animal methods complement and reduce the need for subsequent animal studies.
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ has close links with FRAME (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments). The , based at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, allows scientists to develop alternative methods using human tissue.
However, despite significant advances in technology there is still a need for research involving animals to take place. The research undertaken at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ includes the study of diseases and biological processes. Such studies require the use of animals that have the same complex biological systems as humans which cannot be replicated using current technology.
How are the animals housed?
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ ensures that all animals are kept in the best possible environment to ensure their health and wellbeing. They are typically housed in cages or pens filled with bedding and nesting materials and additional play items to prevent boredom. The cages are cleaned and changed frequently to maintain a healthy living environment for the animals. Animals are usually housed in groups to allow for normal social interaction and are handled frequently by staff. This ensures they are used to people, making it easier for staff to check they are in good health.
How many animals are used in procedures by the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ each year?
Number of Animals Used in Procedures at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½
| Species | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|
| Mouse |
17550 |
15631 |
13275 |
12825 |
13374 |
14185 |
12557 |
|---|
| Rat |
5265 |
9359 |
7310 |
6082 |
4281 |
5047 |
3401 |
|---|
| Guinea Pig |
40 |
59 |
75 |
89 |
140 |
14 |
21 |
|---|
| Syrian Hamster |
0 |
32 |
16 |
0 |
41 |
149 |
32 |
|---|
| Other Rodent |
40 |
106 |
148 |
206 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Rabbit |
88 |
19 |
124 |
36 |
40 |
30 |
36 |
|---|
| Ferret |
11 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Pig |
78 |
54 |
44 |
36 |
40 |
13 |
6 |
|---|
| Sheep |
592 |
388 |
456 |
319 |
9 |
54 |
158 |
|---|
| Cattle |
379 |
80 |
20 |
68 |
69 |
109 |
11 |
|---|
| Domestic Fowl |
141 |
851 |
387 |
410 |
454 |
150 |
0 |
|---|
| Zebra Fish |
2691 |
4863 |
3509 |
5142 |
4437 |
4799 |
2849 |
|---|
| Other Fish |
536 |
84 |
80 |
35 |
187 |
4312 |
43 |
|---|
| Xenopus |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
Number of animals used for a scientific or educational purpose below the 'lower threshold' at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½
| Species | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|
| Mouse |
265 |
254 |
358 |
329 |
685 |
379 |
|---|
| Rat |
202 |
250 |
357 |
300 |
127 |
127 |
|---|
| Guinea Pig |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Rabbit |
7 |
4 |
41 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|---|
| Pig |
64 |
84 |
30 |
28 |
18 |
12 |
|---|
| Sheep |
8 |
4 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Cattle |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Domestic Fowl |
574 |
227 |
417 |
200 |
203 |
10 |
|---|
| Xenopus |
12 |
12 |
12 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
|---|
What were the reported severity limits (by species) of the procedures carried out by the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ in 2020?
Severity of Procedures by Species in 2020 for the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½
| Species | Sub-Threshold | Non-Recovery | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
|---|
| Mouse |
3413 |
80 |
4839 |
4106 |
119 |
|---|
| Rat |
0 |
246 |
1003 |
2242 |
4 |
|---|
| Guinea Pig |
0 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Hamster - Syrian |
0 |
0 |
16 |
15 |
1 |
|---|
| Rabbit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
36 |
0 |
|---|
| Pig |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
|---|
| Sheep |
0 |
0 |
106 |
52 |
0 |
|---|
| Cattle |
0 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
0 |
|---|
| Zebra Fish |
2573 |
0 |
276 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Other Fish |
0 |
0 |
43 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
What were the reported severity limits (by species) of the procedures carried out by the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ in 2021?
Severity of Procedures by Species in 2021 for the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½
| Species | Sub-Threshold | Non-Recovery | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
|---|
| Mouse |
2481 |
28 |
5450 |
5064 |
21 |
|---|
| Rat |
0 |
234 |
2221 |
2359 |
10 |
|---|
| Guinea Pig |
25 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Hamster |
0 |
0 |
52 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Rabbit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Pig |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Sheep |
0 |
0 |
93 |
18 |
0 |
|---|
| Cattle |
0 |
0
|
124 |
27 |
0 |
|---|
| Zebra Fish |
1669 |
0 |
365 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Other Fish |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
What were the reported severity limits (by species) of the procedures carried out by the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ in 2022?
Severity of Procedures by Species in 2022 for the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½
| Species | Sub-Threshold | Non-Recovery | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
|---|
| Mouse |
3005 |
21 |
4378 |
6961 |
66 |
|---|
| Rat |
0 |
32 |
1652 |
2658 |
5 |
|---|
| Guinea Pig |
0 |
49 |
12 |
8 |
0 |
|---|
| Hamster |
0 |
0 |
24 |
17 |
7 |
|---|
| Rabbit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Pig |
0 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|---|
| Sheep |
0 |
0 |
100 |
26 |
0 |
|---|
| Cattle |
0 |
0
|
50 |
24 |
0 |
|---|
| Zebra Fish |
3274 |
0 |
719 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Other Fish |
0 |
0 |
32 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
What were the reported severity limits (by species) of the procedures carried out by the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ in 2023?
Severity of Procedures by Species in 2023 for the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½
| Species | Sub-Threshold | Non-Recovery | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
|---|
| Mouse |
3994 |
31 |
3161 |
4027 |
7 |
|---|
| Rat |
0 |
26 |
2500 |
1846 |
31 |
|---|
| Guinea Pig |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Hamster |
0 |
0 |
127 |
17 |
0 |
|---|
| Rabbit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Pig |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Sheep |
7 |
0 |
83 |
19 |
0 |
|---|
| Cattle |
0 |
0
|
138 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Zebra Fish |
5373 |
0 |
778 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Other Fish |
0 |
0 |
0 |
343 |
0 |
|---|
What were the reported severity limits (by species) of the procedures carried out by the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ in 2024?
Severity of Procedures by Species in 2024 for the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½
| Species | Sub-Threshold | Non-Recovery | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
|---|
| Mouse |
109 |
7 |
2094 |
150 |
1 |
|---|
| Rat |
0 |
15 |
398 |
122 |
1 |
|---|
| Guinea Pig |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Hamster |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Rabbit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Pig |
0 |
12 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|---|
| Sheep |
0 |
0 |
50 |
24 |
0 |
|---|
| Cattle |
0 |
0 |
112 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Zebra Fish |
5379 |
0 |
1310 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Other Fish |
0 |
0 |
62 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
What were the reported severity limits (by species) of the procedures carried out by the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ in 2025?
Severity of Procedures by Species in 2025 for the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½
| Species | Sub-Threshold | Non-Recovery | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
|---|
| Mouse |
199
|
35 |
2709 |
575 |
19 |
|---|
| Rat |
0 |
0 |
416 |
276 |
11 |
|---|
| Guinea Pig |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Hamster |
0 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Rabbit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Pig |
0 |
0 |
52 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Sheep |
0 |
0 |
105 |
38 |
0 |
|---|
| Cattle |
0 |
0 |
252 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Zebra Fish |
7444 |
0 |
1184 |
0 |
0 |
|---|
| Other Birds |
0 |
0 |
85 |
0 |
0 |
|---|