Animal Welfare Day

The Animal Welfare Committee organises an annual training day, usually in late February, to provide induction and training of Honours students, higher degree students, technicians, laboratory staff and other students or staff members who wish to obtain training in matters relating to animal welfare. This is a whole-day activity. There is no attendance charge and a free lunch is provided. Shorter versions of the program may be offered at other times during the year.

The Animal Welfare Day usually covers the following topics:

• philosophical and ethical arguments of experimentation using animals
• animal care and use
• experimental techniques and design
• identification and alleviation of animal stress, pain and distress
• operation of the Animal Welfare Committee
• minimising the use of animals for experimentation
• responsibilities for researchers under the Act and Code of Practice
• how to apply for approval to conduct an experiment involving animals (this session takes the form of a workshop).

Refer to the 2009 Animal Welfare Day page for Advance notice of date and how to register. 

Refer to the Mid-year Animal Welfare Day page for futher information. 

Refer to the 2008 Animal Welfare Day page to download the Programme and presentations from the day. 

Refer to the 2007 Animal Welfare Day page to view presentations from the day.

Training in Experimental Procedures and Animal Care

Animal House Supervisors should be consulted if training is required in the conduct of particular experimental techniques and procedures, or animal handling, feeding or general care.

Animal House staff are qualified and trained in these areas. They are also aware of all experiments being conducted in their Schools, and can suggest names of researchers working in similar fields if specialist advice is required for a particular experiment.

Animal House Supervisors are responsible for supervising the conduct of experiments on all animals issued by the Animal House or held by researchers, and for the general care and handling of such animals. They should therefore be the first point of reference for any queries or problems.