Welfare of the animal

The starting point for animal welfare are the 3Rs of Reduction, Refinement and Replacement (read more at the 3Rs Centre and on the webpage Animal welfare). 

We encourage the R of Refinement as much as possible, for example by promoting the use of tubes (instead of tails) or the 3-finger fixation method for mice, enlarging housing and providing targeted training for animals. 

In addition, we encourage the development of better checklists for humane intervention and endpoints, so that there is more clarity about the humane endpoints of animals in an experiment.

We facilitate breeding evaluation discussions between the breeding coordinator and the researcher involved in order to better coordinate the breeding of laboratory animals. This minimises breeding surpluses (animals that remain from breeding because they do not have the right genetic modification or gender) and keeps the breeding lines healthy.

There are also some great examples of departments where staff have taken initiatives to promote animal welfare. For example, the department Farm Animals has created an overview of what has been done in terms of replacement, reduction and refinement, which has been shared and displayed in the department. In Pharmacy, a researcher proactively discusses the next research steps with the AWB and contributes ideas about refinement, both for his own research and for research by others within his project license. 

The Women and Babies Division of UMC Utrecht socialises rats to make them more adoptable. And within the Department of Animals in Science and Society at Utrecht University, teaching animals are trained and, where possible, additional housing is provided. Research is also being conducted with the aim of improving the housing of rats. Posters with Golden Rules for handling animals have been put up in various departments of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Do you have an example of such an initiative in your department? Let us know via info.ivd@uu.nl.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss anything related to animal welfare. You can also contact the Meldpunt professioneel handelen en dierenwelzijn.