Telemetry and animal welfare: practical refinements
P. Hawkins
Research Animals, RSPCA, Horsham, United Kingdom
Telemetry and data logging can be used to refine both experimental procedures and animal housing and husbandry. The primary advantage of these techniques is that interference with 'normal' behavior and physiology can be greatly reduced, thereby improving animal welfare and enabling more valid, reproducible and relevant data to be obtained. Other potential benefits include reducing the number of animals used in individual projects, and the ability to use telemetry data to monitor animal wellbeing more effectively, thereby assisting with the definition and implementation of humane endpoints.
However, implantation surgery and the presence of a telemetry device still have the potential to impair animal wellbeing [1]. It is thus essential that any impact on animals is minimised, while maximising the potential benefits associated with the use of telemetry. The BVA(AWF)1, FRAME2, RSPCA3 and UFAW4 Joint Working Group on Refinement is currently producing a report on refinements in telemetry that aims to help achieve this by setting out current best practice in:
Our poster provides an overview of the Working Group's main findings and recommendations. A list of resources to assist with refinement is also available. 1 British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation; 2 Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments; 3 Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; 4, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare.
References
Paper presented at Measuring Behavior 2002
, 4th International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral
Research, 27-30 August 2002, Amsterdam, The Netherlands © 2002
Noldus Information Technology bv