Transparency data

Animal usage by APHA under Animals (Scientific Procedures) (ASPA) Act 2021

Updated 25 July 2024

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

This table provides the number of animals used in studies that were completed in 2021 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	66	Study of badger’s ecology and epidemiology as well as vaccines. In response to the control of TB in badgers.
Camelids	17	These were used influenza disease research as transnational access under EU funded project VetBioNet.
Cattle	739	Licencing of vaccines for protection of cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease to benefit global animal health. A small number were used in the development of cattle vaccine against bovine TB and research into atypical forms of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). These experiments protect animal health and the human food chain. A small number were also used on an ongoing as blood donors providing negative control blood for in-vitro work.
Domestic fowl	314	The majority were used in avian influenza and Newcastle disease research as part of National and (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	922	Research into avian influenza and Newcastle disease as part of National and OIE reference laboratory activities and other avian disease diagnosis.
Ferrets	24	Influenza and COVID-19 for protection of human health.
Game birds	170	These were used influenza disease research as transnational access under EU funded project VetBioNet.
Horses	4	Production of antibodies of which 3 were rehomed and one euthanased as not able to be rehomed.
Mice	2,087	Research into TSEs in support of the national and OIE reference laboratory activities using a panel of transgenic mice. Research into potential vaccines and treatments for the disease for rabies.
Pigs	318	• licencing of vaccines for pigs • influenza studies for protection of animal and human health • understanding the immunology of protection in Classic Swine Fever for the protection of animal health A small number were used on an ongoing as blood donors providing negative control blood for in-vitro work.
Rabbits	233	Production of antisera for tests to protect animal and human health.
Sheep	45	Split between research into TSE transmission to protect human and animal health and an ongoing as blood donors negative control blood for in-vitro work. Two were used for parasitology work relating to protecting animal health.
Squirrels	83	Wildlife management techniques.
Swans	42	Avian Influenza antibodies in wildlife.
Stoats	11	Wildlife management techniques.
Rats	40	Wildlife management techniques.