Severity statistics

The statistics for animal use are based on animals used in regulated procedures.

The definition of a regulated procedure from the legislation is any "procedure applied to a protected animal for a qualifying purpose which may have the effect of causing the animal a level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by the introduction of a needle in accordance with good veterinary practice."

For each procedure a 'severity' is assigned which describes the experience of the animal as categorised below:

• Sub-threshold. These procedures may result in below threshold severity. For example, the procedure was expected to cause pain or suffering equal to, or higher than, that caused by inserting a hypodermic needle but the actual experience was in fact less than this. Examples of this include:
  • The breeding of genetically altered animals under project licence authority but without a harmful phenotype
  • Dispensing medication in food where the animals ate normally and suffered no ill-effects
• Mild. These procedures may cause short-term mild pain, suffering or distress and/or minor changes in well-being or condition. Mild procedures can include:
  • Anaesthesia
  • Non-invasive imaging such as a MRI scan
  • Short term social isolation
  • Taking a blood sample
• Moderate. These procedures may cause short-term moderate pain, long-lasting mild pain, suffering or distress. They can result in a moderate impairment to well-being. Examples include:
  • Surgery under general anaesthetic
  • A modified diet
  • Exposing the animal to something from which they would normally flee
• Severe. These procedures are where it is likely that the animal will experience severe pain, long-lasting moderate pain, suffering or distress and severe impairments to its well-being or general condition. Examples include:
  • Any test where fatalities are expected
  • Testing a device that could cause pain or death were it to fail
  • Breeding animals with genetic disorders that are expected to result in severe and persistent impairment of general condition
• Non-recovery. Where the animal is placed under general anaesthetic before the start of a procedure and is humanely killed without regaining consciousness.

In 2023, the University carried out 139881 scientific procedures involving animals. The actual severities are detailed in the table below.

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Archive 

Severity statistics 2022

Severity statistics 2021

Severity statistics 2020

Severity statistics 2019

Severity statistics 2018

Severity statistics 2017