 This training module applies to all farm animals used in biomedical research including: dairy and beef cattle dairy and beef cattle sheep sheep goats goats swine swine poultry poultry horses horses farmed wildlife farmed wildlife

 Provide an overview of the special care requirements of farm animals in biomedical research  Establish methodology for selecting appropriate farm animal models, as well as endpoints which address animal welfare while achieving scientific goals  Provide investigators with references and resources for the use of farm animals in biomedical research Basic principles of farm animal welfare, fundamental needs, acquisition, routine handling and specialized procedures and termination of scientific use are covered in the CCAC training module on: the ethical use and care of farm animals in science (2010)

 Biomedical research and other applications  Special considerations and challenges  Model selection  Meeting animal needs  Facility and disease control considerations  Example of biomedical application: Medical devices

 The purpose of utilizing farm animals in biomedical research and science is to address questions concerning human health  Many applications exist, e.g.: neurological research neurological research development and testing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices development and testing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices reconstructive surgery research reconstructive surgery research medical education medical education

Swine e.g., skin grafts or skin testing; reconstructive surgery Calves e.g., ventricular assist devices Chickens e.g., production of antibodies in eggs Photo courtesy of UBC Animal Welfare Program Photo courtesy of O. Zobel Photo courtesy of M. Smit

Scientifically relevant outcomes Good animal welfare + GOAL: Consider that agricultural performance and scientific biomedical outcomes may have no relation Animal selection and management must be flexible, and made on a case-by-case basis

have replacement and reduction alternatives been considered? have replacement and reduction alternatives been considered? has pain and distress been minimized as much as possible? has pain and distress been minimized as much as possible? Refinement what is the minimum number of animals needed in order to achieve statistically relevant results? what is the minimum number of animals needed in order to achieve statistically relevant results? Reduction is it possible to use non-animal models? is it possible to use non-animal models? Replacement

 Husbandry and housing requirements  Availability of information (anatomy, physiology, behaviour)  Suitability to research objectives and experimental conditions  Applicability of resulting data to human physiolo gy  Sentience  Lifespan  Availability in captivity  Tolerance to humans Photo courtesy of M. Smit

 Consider growth and life stage in relation to study requirements  Adult human models need physiological, anatomical or biochemical criteria match need physiological, anatomical or biochemical criteria match issues: maturity, size, long-term studies difficult issues: maturity, size, long-term studies difficult  Pediatric Models shorter time course to adulthood useful for answering questions in research timeframe shorter time course to adulthood useful for answering questions in research timeframe

 Genetic variability farm animals have greater genetic variability than conventional laboratory animals farm animals have greater genetic variability than conventional laboratory animals consequence: increased consequence: increased  Animal Acquisition similar requirements to conventional research animals with additional regulations in some cases similar requirements to conventional research animals with additional regulations in some cases variability in treatment response, may require increased number of animals for scientific significance Photo courtesy of UBC Animal Welfare Program

Housing constraints and isolation Negative welfare impacts Impact interpretation of data  Understanding the needs of animals is necessary to choose an appropriate animal model experimental design should address the infrastructure needed to meet animal needs experimental design should address the infrastructure needed to meet animal needs provide exercise every 7 days (minimum) provide exercise every 7 days (minimum) habituate to handling before study commencement habituate to handling before study commencement Photo courtesy of M. Smit

 Species-specific husbandry  Sanitation and hygiene program to address animal and human health issues dedicated equipment dedicated equipment medical management according to standard veterinary practices medical management according to standard veterinary practices necropsy facilities address zoosanitary issues necropsy facilities address zoosanitary issues  Zoonoses infection control particularly important for “cross-over” agents particularly important for “cross-over” agents

 Two types of devices external: may require animal restraint and confinement external: may require animal restraint and confinement internal: require on-going short and long-term assessment strategies internal: require on-going short and long-term assessment strategies  Size and physiological similarities make farm animals good candidates for testing medical devices such as: ventricular assist devices (cardiovascular research) ventricular assist devices (cardiovascular research) bone implants (endosseous research) bone implants (endosseous research) implanted cerebral stimulators (neural research) implanted cerebral stimulators (neural research)  The testing of medical devices requires careful attention to potential welfare impacts, special care, and endpoint determination

How do in vivo medical devices impact the animal? Animal Welfare Device-Patient Interfaces (e.g., communication with device) Effect of Device (e.g., failure) Device Deployment (e.g., placement inside animal) Performance Instrumentation (e.g., collecting data)

 Prior to in vivo, test in vitro to ensure intended use is appropriate for target species devices must be designed in the context of intended use and the target species devices must be designed in the context of intended use and the target species during design refinement, could use non-survival, anesthetized animal models during design refinement, could use non-survival, anesthetized animal models

 Protocol should include device performance reliability, biocompatibility, device failure and repair strategies  Endpoints should balance the scientific goals and animal welfare, and detail the procedures needed to handle device failure and malfunction minor component – replacement might be an option minor component – replacement might be an option if repair/replacement of component involves major surgery – euthanasia may be the most humane endpoint if repair/replacement of component involves major surgery – euthanasia may be the most humane endpoint For further information on endpoints: CCAC guidelines on: choosing an appropriate endpoint in experiments using animals for research, teaching and testing (1998) CCAC training module on: pain, distress and endpoints

 Farm animals are useful in some biomedical research, as long as the correct model is used  Careful consideration must be given to: balancing animal needs and achieving scientific goals balancing animal needs and achieving scientific goals understanding animal welfare impacts on the specific biomedical research understanding animal welfare impacts on the specific biomedical research Investigators should strive to achieve their scientific goals in line with the best possible animal welfare standards