IACUC Learning Module

In addition, these two laws have minimum requirements for aspects such as: housing conditions, sanitation and manure removal from pens, feed and water, humane handling and restraint, veterinary care before, during and after surgery, use of anesthetics, and methods of euthanasia. Routine visits to university farms are made by members of University Animal Care and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee to assure that all areas of the farms are in full compliance.

The University of Arizona is a member of the Association for Assessment & Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) which requires additional training of personnel in occupational health hazards and animal management. Unlike the Federal laws which designate minimum standards, AAALAC seeks to continually upgrade an animal program. Therefore, to remain AAALAC approved, the facility and personnel must provide the highest standards of care, as judged by published information in scientific journals. It is for this reason, that you may be required to make improvements to a housing area, modify a surgical procedure, or otherwise change some aspect which was previously considered to be acceptable.

Farm animals, including horses are fundamentally different from more traditional laboratory animals. One obvious example is their size. The surface-to-mass ratio of a 100g rat is much greater than a 1000kg bull, making the rat much more sensitive to thermal changes than the bull. (Of course, small farm animals and newborns are also sensitive to temperature stresses and any good farmer knows to protect newborns from drafts and extremes of heat and cold). Genetics is an additional consideration. In general, the outbred and hybrid livestock are immunologically "sturdier" than the highly inbred laboratory rat and mouse, allowing them to more readily resist disease agents.

Perhaps the most important difference among animals is the process of domestication. Humans have been able to domesticate only a tiny fraction of the species on earth, despite thousands of years of trying! Many ethical and scientific debates have centered on which "traits" support the process of domestication, but most authors agree that one common theme is "animals which are able to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions and feed sources". It is for this reason that standards written to ensure adequate care for these types of species are not as rigid nor narrow, as those written for more traditional laboratory animals. Some animal activists argue that farm species need restrictive housing guidelines but common sense dictates that if horses have prospered wherever man has settled, from sub-arctic snow fields to steamy jungles, than horses must be able to adapt to a wide range of living conditions.

Few horses are used in comparative research, but they may serve as models for diabetes mellitus, amyloidosis, experimental uveitis, cleft palate, transfusion hepatitis, hepatic coma, Heinz body formation, multiple myeloma, hemolytic anemia, myoglobinuria, cerebellar degeneration, pulmonary emphysema and atelectasis. They are also used in the production of anti-lymphocyte serum.

HORSES HOUSED AT THE UA FARMS

Horses may be used as models for both agricultural and more traditional biomedical research projects. Depending on the nature of the project, these animals may be housed either at the university farms or in one of the animal facilities operated by UAC. For instance, university farms are managed like other farms in the state, so that research results will be directly applicable to livestock production in Arizona. Although certain standards are the same, no matter where horses are kept, there are important differences which must be observed, in order to remain in compliance with Federal laws. (Copies of all laws and regulations are available at UAC).

Housed at university farms and either used for agricultural or biomedical research:

1. Husbandry is provided by students and employees of the Departments of Veterinary Science and Animal Science

2. The The standards to be followed are published in the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide for Lab Animals) and the Animal Welfare Act-Code of Federal Regulations (AWA).

Research staff must provide surgical care at a similar level as that afforded to a human patient, including the strict adherence to aseptic (sterile) surgical techniques, the use of anesthetics, and the administration of post surgical analgesics, that is, drugs to alleviate pain following surgery.

In fact, any experimental procedure which involves pain more than a needle prick, requires analgesics; unless the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approves a scientific exemption. The only time pain relieving drugs are not given is when the IACUC has granted a scientific exemption. It will not be tolerated for staff to provide less intensive care for horses, simply because they are a farm species. For instance, many farmers do not use sterile techniques to castrate; this is not sufficient justification for not using sterile techniques for research projects.

Housed at university farms and used on agricultural projects:

1. Husbandry is provided by students and employees of the Departments of Veterinary Science and Animal Science.

2. Specific requirements are published in the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (Guide for Animals in Ag. Research). These regulations are essentially comparable to conditions found at a well-managed farm.

Summary : Standards to Follow for Horses Kept at the University of Arizona

Biomedical Project	Agricultural Project	uac housing	farm housing	Applicable Standards are Written in:
U		U		Guide for Lab. Animals + AWA
U			U	Guide for Lab. Animals + AWA
	U	U		Guide for Lab. Animals + AWA
	U		U	Guide for Animals in Ag. Research

This module was designed primarily for horses housed at university farms since the majority of research is agricultural in nature.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) - Composed of scientists from throughout the university departments, non-scientist faculty members, university veterinarians and community members. Federal law requires the IACUC to: review protocols, establish policies and procedures to ensure care is in accordance with Federal law and AAALAC standards, monitor the entire animal use program and to inspect housing areas at least every six months.

University Animal Care (UAC) - Implements IACUC policy, provides training, provides veterinary service and provides monthly inspections of facilities and animals.

Farm Animal Veterinarian - Oversees routine and emergency veterinary care, provides diagnostic resource, performs experimental surgery, formulates herd health programs, assists investigators in writing animal protocols, aids in protocol review and assists in correction of protocol deficiencies.

Veterinary Care - To prevent, control and treat illness or injuries. To provide anesthetic support, as well as surgical and post surgical care. To provide guidance on veterinary management issues such as: quarantine period, vaccination schedules, drug usage, and experimental surgery.

Animal Management - To provide the appropriate shelter, diet, and trained personnel to identify problems.

Animal handlers must know the normal behavior of the animalas well as knowing the possible side effects of the experiment.

Important Phone Numbers for University Farms
U of A Resident Director	626-5522
Horse Unit Supervisor	318-7023
Sheep & Beef Unit Supervisor	318-7027
*University Animal Care emergency numbers may be requested by calling 621-1330.

IACUC Learning Module - Horses

INTRODUCTION