Transparency data

Animal usage by APHA under Animals (Scientific Procedures ) (ASPA) Act 2020

Updated 25 July 2024

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is a signatory to the Concordat on Openness in Animal Research and has committed to providing opportunities for the public to find out about our research that uses animals.

This table provides the number of animals used in studies that were completed in 2020 and the reasons for their use.

It excludes breeding mice and transgenic breeding mice, where the modification to their DNA has had no effect on their health or welfare.

APHA has codes of practice, working procedures and training programmes to define and enforce the high standards the agency must have for this type of work.

You can find more information in the Ethics Committee's section of the Research at APHA page

Species	Numbers	Reasons for use
Badgers	32	Study of badger’s ecology and epidemiology as well as vaccines. In response to the control of TB in badgers
Cattle	724	Most of the cattle were used for the licencing of vaccines for the protection of cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and to benefit global animal health. A small number were used in the development of a cattle vaccine against bovine TB and atypical forms of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). This is related to protecting animal health and the human food. chain A small number were used on an ongoing basis as blood donors providing negative control blood for our in-vitro work.
Domestic fowl	439	The majority were used in avian influenza and Newcastle disease research as part of National and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reference laboratory activities. A small number were used for provision of antigen, antisera and negative control material for animal health tests
Eggs over 2/3rds incubation	1012	Research into avian influenza and Newcastle disease as part of National and OIE reference laboratory activities and other avian disease diagnosis.
Ferrets	69	Research into avian Influenza and COVID-19 for the protection of human health.
Horses	10	A small number were used on an ongoing basis as blood donors providing negative control blood for in-vitro work.
Mice	3,330	Research into TSEs in support of the National and OIE reference laboratory activities. Research into rabies in support of national reference laboratory activities and their research into potential treatments for the disease.
Pigs	221	Used for the licencing of vaccines for protection of pigs against FMD, influenza studies for protection of animal and human health and understanding the immunology of protection in Classical Swine Fever and African Swine Fever A small number were used on an ongoing basis as blood donors providing negative control blood for in-vitro work.
Rabbits	162	Production of antisera for tests to protect animal and human health.
Sheep and goats	65	The majority were used for research into TSE transmission and identification with two being used for parasitology work relating to protecting animal health. A small number were used on an ongoing basis as blood donors to provide negative control blood for our in-vitro work.
Stoats and squirrels	28	Assess wildlife management techniques.
Swans	32	Research into avian influenza in support of National and OIE reference laboratory activities.
Wild Boar	19	Research into African Swine Fever as part of our work to protect animal health.