Research

Animal Procedures

Animal Procedures 2014 to 2021

Archive

1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021

A breakdown by species of the number of animal procedures at Newcastle University carried out under a Home Office Licence in 2021 from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021:

Type of AnimalNumber of Procedures
Mouse 18798
Rat 235
Macaque 4
Fish

2170

Domestic Fowl 163
Total: 21370

Of the animals listed above, all of the domestic fowl were used in animal welfare research.

Therefore, the total used in medical research was: 21207

The definition of the threshold for regulation is a procedure which causes an animal to experience a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice.

Procedures classified as below the threshold for regulation were: 

Type of AnimalNumber of Procedures
Mouse 8832
Fish 1580
Total: 10412

Therefore, the total number of procedures which were above the threshold for regulation was: 10958

1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020

A breakdown by species of the number of animal procedures carried out at Newcastle University from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020:

Type of AnimalNumber of Procedures
Mouse 21287
Rat 106
Macaque 20
Common Starling 20
Fish

4172

Domestic Fowl 36
Total: 25641

Of the animals listed above the domestic fowl and 30 mice were used in animal welfare research.  Additionally the Common Starlings were used for behavioural research.

Therefore, the total used in Medical research was:  25555

We record numbers of animals which underwent procedures which were below the threshold for regulation.

The definition of the threshold for regulation is a procedure which causes an animal to experience a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice.

Procedures classified as below the threshold for regulation were: 

Type of AnimalNumber of Procedures
Mouse 12760
Fish 3395
Total: 16155

Therefore, the total number of procedures which were above the threshold for regulation was: 9486

 

1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019

A breakdown by species of the number of animal procedures carried out at Newcastle University from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019:

Type of AnimalNumber of Procedures
Mouse 27408
Rat 154
Macaque 20
Common Starling 1
Blue Tit 11
Coal Tit 10
Fish 6099
Domestic Fowl 15
Pig 512
Total: 34230

Of the animals listed above the pigs were used in agriculture research, the Common Starlings, Great Tits and Coal Tits were used in behavioural research and the domestic fowl plus 119 mice were used in animal welfare research.

Therefore, the total used in Medical research was: 33562

We record numbers of animals which underwent procedures which were below the threshold for regulation.

The definition of the threshold for regulation is a procedure which causes an animal to experience a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice.

Procedures classified as below the threshold for regulation were: 

Type of AnimalNumber of Procedures
Mouse 14469
Fish 5453
Total: 19922

Therefore, the total number of procedures which were above the threshold for regulation was: 14308

 

1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018

A breakdown by species of the number of animal procedures carried out at Newcastle University from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018:

Type of Animal

Number of Procedures

Mouse 31505
Rat 962
Macaque 15
Common Starling 29
Blue Tit 8
Coal Tit 8
Fish 7099
Domestic Fowl 525
Total: 40151

Of the animals listed above the 515 Domestic Fowl were used in agriculture research.  The Common Starlings, Great Tits and Coal Tits were used in behavioural research plus 103 Mice were used in animal welfare research.

Therefore, the total used in Medical research was: 39488

We record numbers of animals which underwent procedures which were below the threshold for regulation. The definition of the threshold for regulation is a procedure which causes an animal to experience a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice. Procedures classified as below the threshold for regulation were: 

Type of AnimalNumber of Procedures
Mouse 19535
Fish 5482
Total: 25017

Therefore, the total number of procedures which were above the threshold for regulation was: 15134

1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017

A breakdown by species of the number of animal procedures carried out at Newcastle University from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2017:

Type of AnimalNumber of Procedures
Mouse 32,786
Rat 590
Guinea Pig 1
Macaque 14
Common Starling 135
Great Tit 12
Coal Tit 12
Fish 9,247
Domestic Fowl 348
Rabbit 13
Total: 43,158

Of the animals listed above domestic fowl were used in agriculture research. The Common Starlings, Great Tits and Coal Tits were used in behavioural research.

Therefore, the total used in Medical research was: 42,651

We record numbers of animals which underwent procedures which were below the threshold for regulation.  The definition of the threshold for regulation is a procedure which causes an animal to experience a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice.  Procedures classified as below the threshold for regulation were:

Type of AnimalNumber of Procedures
Mouse 21,583
Fish 7,948
Total: 29,531

Therefore, the total number of procedures which were above the threshold for regulation, or in other words caused pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm was: 13627

Additional statistics for 2017

The number of animals bred for scientific procedures that were humanely killed without being used in procedures during 2017 was:

  • Mice - 4467
  • Rats - 12
  • Fish - 1321

1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016

A breakdown by species of the number of animal procedures carried out at Newcastle University from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2016:

Type of Animal Number of Procedures
Mouse 22,799
Rat 679
Guinea Pig 26
Pig 208
Macaque 13
European Starling 248
Fish 7,131
Domestic Fowl 864
Squirrel 13
Total: 31,981

Of the animals listed above the Pigs and Domestic Fowl were used in agriculture research.  The European Starlings were used in behavioural research and the Squirrels were used in conservation research.

Therefore, the total used in Medical research was: 30,648

We record the numbers of animals which underwent procedures which were below the threshold for regulation. The definition of the threshold for regulation is a procedure which causes an animal to experience a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice. Procedures classified as below the threshold for regulation were:

Type of Animal Number of Procedures
Mouse 14,610
Fish 6,509
Total: 21,119

Therefore, the total number of procedures which were above the threshold for regulation, or in other words caused pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm was: 10,862

1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015

A breakdown by species of the number of animal procedures carried out at Newcastle University from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015:

Type of Animal Number of Procedures
Mouse 22,581
Rat 631
Guinea Pig 55
Pig 273
Macaque 27
European Starling 163
Fish 8,770
Domestic Fowl 832
Squirrel 40
Total: 33,372

Of the animals listed above the pigs and domestic fowl were used in agriculture research and then returned to stock on the farm.  The European Starlings were used in behavioural research and the squirrels were used in conservation research.

Therefore, the total used in Medical Research was: 32,267

We record numbers of animals which underwent procedures which were below the threshold for regulations.

The definition of the threshold for regulation is a procedure which causes the animal to experience a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice.

Type of Animal Number of Procedures
Mouse 16,166
Fish 8,770
Total: 24,936

Therefore, the total number of procedures which were above the threshold for regulation, or in other words caused pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm was: 8,346

1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014

The table below shows the number of animal procedures carried out at Newcastle University:

Type of Animal Number of Procedures
Mouse 20,924
Rat 792
Guinea Pig 89
Pig 195
Macaque 35
European Starling 74
Fish 5,175
Rabbit 17
Total: 27,301

All of the pigs were used in agriculture research and then returned to stock on the farm. The European Starlings were used in behavioural research. Therefore, the total used in medical research was: 27,032

From the start of 2014 we've been able to record numbers of animals that underwent procedures which were below the threshold for regulation.

The definition of the 'threshold for regulation' is a procedure which causes an animal to experience a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equal to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle according to good veterinary practice.

Type of Animal Number of Procedures
Mouse 12,584
Rat 20
Fish 4,925
Total: 17,529

So, the total number of procedures which were above the threshold for regulation, or in other words caused pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm was: 9,772.