Animal care programs are crucial for upholding ethical standards and ensuring the well-being of animals in research and teaching environments. Organizations like the Animal Care Program for Agricultural Animals (ACP-AG), formerly the Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program (AACUP), exemplify best practices in this domain. Established in 2004 and accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International, ACP-AG provides a robust framework for promoting excellence in agricultural animal care, drawing upon the expertise of faculty, professionals, and veterinarians. While ACP-AG focuses on agricultural animals, its principles and operational structure offer valuable insights applicable to various animal care settings, including rodent-focused programs, which are fundamental in many areas of scientific research.
The core mission of any effective animal care program, including those designed for rodent animal care program, revolves around several key objectives:
- Ensuring the highest standards of care and promoting the health and well-being of animals used for research and teaching purposes. This encompasses providing comfortable housing, proper nutrition, and minimizing stress.
- Offering comprehensive training, educational resources, expert consultation, and technical assistance to all personnel involved in animal care and use. This ensures that best practices are consistently applied and that everyone is equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills.
- Maintaining strict compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, institutional policies, and professional guidelines pertaining to animal use in research and teaching. This includes ethical considerations and adherence to established standards of animal welfare.
Ensuring Animal Health and Wellbeing: A Holistic Approach
A cornerstone of effective animal care programs, whether for agricultural animals or within a rodent animal care program, is a proactive and collaborative approach to animal health and wellbeing. ACP-AG’s model of collaboration between faculty, veterinarians, and animal research unit managers is highly effective. This interdisciplinary collaboration ensures that animals are managed and housed according to established guidelines, such as those found in the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching and, when relevant, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. These guides provide detailed recommendations on housing, husbandry, veterinary care, and environmental enrichment, all of which are adaptable to different species, including rodents.
The structure of working committees within ACP-AG, comprising veterinarians, directors, unit managers, and faculty, offers a valuable framework for any animal care program. These committees are crucial for addressing animal health concerns, planning academic activities, improving facilities, refining husbandry procedures, and ensuring occupational health and safety for personnel. In a rodent animal care program, similar committees can be established, focusing on the specific needs of rodent species, such as appropriate caging, enrichment, and health monitoring protocols tailored for rodents.
Herd or flock health plans, as utilized by ACP-AG and reviewed annually, are essential for preventative care. These plans, adaptable for rodent facilities as well, should outline standard operating procedures for disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Regular reviews and revisions ensure that these procedures remain current and effective, reflecting the latest advancements in veterinary medicine and animal care practices.
Effective communication among all stakeholders is paramount. Regular visits by program directors and veterinarians to animal units, as practiced by ACP-AG, are vital for monitoring animal conditions, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring the smooth operation of the program. Similarly, in rodent facilities, regular health checks and facility inspections are crucial. The monthly meetings between veterinarians and unit staff, and quarterly meetings with livestock unit managers and ACP-AG staff, facilitate ongoing communication and proactive problem-solving, which are equally applicable to rodent animal care program management.
Round-the-clock veterinary care availability is a non-negotiable aspect of a responsible animal care program. The 24/7 veterinary service provided by the Farm Animal Reproduction, Medicine and Surgery (FARMS) unit at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, as referenced by ACP-AG, sets a high standard. Rodent facilities must also ensure continuous access to veterinary expertise for both routine and emergency care, often requiring specialized training in rodent medicine.
Key Activities of a Comprehensive Animal Care Program
The activities undertaken by ACP-AG highlight the breadth of responsibilities encompassed by a comprehensive animal care program. These activities translate effectively to rodent animal care program and other animal research contexts:
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Animal Husbandry and Care Oversight: Ensuring consistent and high-quality daily care, including feeding, watering, cleaning, and environmental enrichment tailored to the species’ needs, is fundamental. For rodents, this includes species-specific housing and enrichment.
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Veterinary Health Care Management: Providing preventative and therapeutic veterinary care, disease surveillance, and health monitoring programs is essential for maintaining animal wellbeing and the integrity of research. Rodent health monitoring often includes specific pathogen screening.
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Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Development and Implementation: Establishing clear, detailed SOPs for all aspects of animal care and use, from handling and restraint to euthanasia and waste disposal, ensures consistency and minimizes variability. Rodent SOPs should be specific to rodent handling and procedures.
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Faculty, Student, and Staff Support and Training: Providing comprehensive support and training is crucial for promoting best practices and ethical animal use. This includes:
- Assisting with the preparation of animal use protocols to ensure ethical and regulatory compliance.
- Pre-reviewing protocols to streamline the IACUC review process and improve protocol quality.
- Delivering training on essential topics such as animal behavior, pain recognition, aseptic techniques, euthanasia methods, and species-specific handling and procedures, including those relevant to rodent animal care program.
- Offering technical assistance with anesthesia, surgery, and other procedures, including specialized techniques for rodents.
- Developing and refining surgical methods to minimize invasiveness and improve animal welfare.
- Conducting postoperative evaluations to ensure animal recovery and address any complications.
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Animal Facility Assessment: Regularly assessing animal facilities to identify areas for improvement in terms of animal housing, environmental control, and safety is vital. Rodent facility assessments should consider specific rodent housing requirements and biosecurity measures.
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Strategic Accommodation of Research and Teaching Needs: Developing flexible strategies to meet the diverse needs of researchers and educators while upholding animal welfare standards is essential. This may involve adapting housing or procedures to specific research protocols.
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Information Dissemination: Keeping animal users informed about relevant laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines ensures compliance and promotes ethical animal use. This includes updates on rodent-specific regulations and best practices.
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Record Keeping Guidance: Providing advice on maintaining accurate and comprehensive records for animal acquisition, use, and disposition is crucial for accountability and regulatory compliance. Rodent records should include detailed breeding and health histories.
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IACUC Assistance: Supporting the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in monitoring protocol activities and reporting on animal use is a key function of any animal care program.
Facilities Supporting Animal Care Excellence
ACP-AG oversees facilities within both the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine. While these facilities are designed for agricultural animals, the principle of dedicated and well-maintained animal facilities is universally applicable. A robust rodent animal care program similarly requires specialized facilities designed to meet the unique environmental, housing, and biosecurity needs of rodents. These facilities must be equipped to maintain strict environmental controls, manage waste effectively, and prevent disease transmission, ensuring a healthy and stable research environment.
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
Conclusion: Building Robust Animal Care Programs
The ACP-AG model provides a comprehensive framework for establishing and maintaining excellent animal care programs. By focusing on collaboration, comprehensive veterinary care, detailed procedures, continuous training, and proactive oversight, organizations can ensure the highest standards of animal welfare in research and teaching. While the specific focus of ACP-AG is agricultural animals, the underlying principles and operational strategies are readily adaptable to other animal care contexts, including the critical area of rodent animal care program. By adopting these best practices, institutions can strengthen their commitment to ethical animal use and enhance the quality and reliability of their research endeavors.
Contact Information
Main Office Room 275, Large Animal Clinic 1008 W Hazelwood Dr. M/C 004 Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 265-6790 (Phone) (217) 265-6774 (Fax)
ACP-AG Contacts Courtney Hayes Associate Director & Attending Veterinarian for Agricultural Animals (217) 300-5692[email protected]
Sara Pearson Clinical Veterinarian (217) 300-0896pearso12@illinois.edu
Kristen Massey Veterinary Technician III (217) 265-4962[email protected]
Christine Stroink Pickering General Veterinary Technician (217) 333-2564[email protected]
