< Back general-info Information about animal research in New Zealand Previous Next

< Back Animal Research in New Zealand Information on Animal Research in New Zealand for Schools Previous Next

Awards ANZCCART New Zealand provides a range of awards to promote professional development and to recognise those that provide an excellent service towards improving animal welfare in the context of animal use in research and teaching. There are various awards that are applicable for Animal Technicians, AEC members, Researchers, and Students (secondary and tertiary). So please take advantage of this opportunity to nominate someone or apply for an award yourself. New Zealand AEC Member of the Year Award This award has been created by ANZCCART to recognise the excellent service offered to Animal Ethics Committees by their members in New Zealand. As part of this award, ANZCCART provides for the recipient to the annual ANZCCART Conference. View details of the application form and eligibility criteria below: AEC Member Award information .docx Download DOCX • 130KB Nominations are now closed, and will open again in January 2027 . Award recipients 2026 Dr Christine Sumner (SPCA) 2025 Dr Craig Gillies (Department of Conservation) 2024 Dr Jim Webster (AgResearch) 2023 Adrian Bibby (Victoria University of Wellington) 2022 Dr Bruce Dobbs (University of Otago) 2020 Ms Ali Cullum (AgResearch Ltd) and Professor Anthony Phillips (University of Auckland) 2018 Dr Deborah Samson (University of Auckland) and Dr Dave Morgan (Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research) ANZCCART New Zealand Animal Care Award ANZCCART New Zealand has established a national award to recognise the significant contribution made by individual New Zealand-based technicians and research assistants, particularly in regard to the welfare of the animals. For more information, see the awards criteria and nomination form below: Animal-Care-Awards-Criteria-and-Nomination-Form .doc Download DOC • 35KB Nominations are now closed, and will open again in January 2027 . Award recipients 2026 Ms Fiona Matiya (Bioeconomy Science Institute) 2025 Ms Charlotte Morgan (University of Otago) 2024 Ms Charley Hurst (AgResearch) 2023 Mr Geoff Purchas (Massey University) 2022 Mr Aaron Malthus (AgResearch Ltd) 2021 Mr Trevor Watson (AgResearch Ltd) 2020 Ms Brittnee Southland (Massey University) 2019 Mr Jaskirat Kaur (Malaghan Institute of Medical Research) 2018 Technicians of the Large Animal Unit, Vernon Jansen Unit (University of Auckland) 2017 Ms Stephanie Delaney (AgResearch Ltd) ANZCCART New Zealand Secondary Student Essay Competition ANZCCART hopes to inspire students to think critically about the role animal research plays in today’s society and to engage with the difficulties that surround animal use. Building on the NCEA assessment tasks for NCEA Achievement Standards (Biology 2.2, and 3.2), which integrates biological knowledge to develop an informed response to a socio-scientific issue, the ANZCCART New Zealand Secondary School Essay Competition is an opportunity to showcase student work developed in these modules. Applications are now closed. Applications will be invited again in May 2027.. First prize: $150 and second prize: $100. Conditions of entry and other details for the Competition can be found here: ANZCCART-Secondary-Student-Essay-Competition .docx Download DOCX • 172KB Award recipients: 2026 First prize: Claire Yu (Rangitoto College) Claire Yu .pdf Download PDF • 116KB Second prize: Nellie Burns (Mount Maunganui College) Nellie Burns .pdf Download PDF • 96KB 2025 First prize: Isabel Te Hira (Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu) Isabel Te Hira .pdf Download PDF • 124KB 2024 First prize: Millie Ashley (Lynfield College) Animal Research .pdf Download PDF • 118KB Second prize: Candice Liu (St Cuthbert's College) animal research .pdf Download PDF • 79KB 2023 First prize: Brier Chin (Wellington Girls' College) Animals In Research in New Zealand (3) .pdf Download PDF • 90KB Second prize: Hasnula Babaranda (James Hargest College) Babaranda .pdf Download PDF • 138KB 2022 First prize: Oshadha Perera (Southland Boys’ High School, Invercargill) Oshadha 2022 ANZCCART Essay Competition .pdf Download PDF • 114KB 2020 First prize: Hannah Wilson (Rudolf Steiner School) Hannah WIlson 1 .pdf Download PDF • 635KB Second prize: Shruti Sharma (Epsom Girls Grammar School) Third prize: Devanshi Ranjan (Epsom Girls Grammar School) Devanshi Ranjan 3 .pdf Download PDF • 155KB Note: The views and opinions expressed in these essays are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of ANZCCART NZ. ANZCCART New Zealand School Science Fair Prize ANZCCART will support the awarding of an ANZCCART School Science Fair Prize, with the provision of prize money for the best project where, either: Students have undertaken study or research on an animal-based project Animal Ethics approval has been applied for and given Correct scientific protocols were followed in the study Students know importance of ethics approval Or: Students have undertaken study or research that would have normally involved the manipulation of animals (as defined in the NZ Animal Welfare Act) but have found a way to find the results without doing so. Students describe what the animal-based project would have looked like and how well the alternative non-animal based project achieved the same goals. Students explain why they chose to replace animals in their project. Email for more information about how to get prize sponsorship . More information about how to apply for Animal Ethics Approval for school science fair projects can be found at the National Association of Science Educators . ANZCCART School Science Fair Award recipients: 2026 Aurora Energy Otago Science and Technology Fair - Leon Thomson 2024 NIWA Wellington Science & Technology Fair - Jedd Rix Aurora Energy Otago Science and Technology Fair - Boon Franzbowden, Hebe Song, & Juliet Lyall Cam Reid Oration The Cam Reid Oration is an initiative introduced by the ANZCCART New Zealand Board in 1995 in recognition of the late Dr Cam Reid's pioneering role in the evaluation and adoption of standards of ethical conduct for animal experimentation in New Zealand. It is awarded at the ANZCCART (NZ) Conference every three years. ANZCCART Fellow ANZCCART (NZ) has created an ANZCCART board observer position for early stage researchers, to both give early stage researchers an opportunity for ANZCCART board experience, but also to inform the Board with their perspectives. The Fellowship is: Award: $3k per year Period: 2 years Conditions: Postgraduate (within 8 years of completion of undergraduate degree) – for people in PhDs or Post Docs. This does not preclude the ability to hold a non-Fellowship position on the Board at a later date. For information about the position, contact: anzccart@royalsociety.org.nz Previous ANZCCART Fellows were: 2023-2025: Morgan Heslop, doctoral student, Massey University 2021-2023: Essie Van Zuylen, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Canterbury Aotearoa New Zealand John Schofield 3Rs implementation award The principles of the 3Rs are a cornerstone of the ethical use of animals in research, testing and teaching (RTT). The Aotearoa New Zealand John Schofield 3Rs Award celebrates achievement in the development and/or implementation of the 3Rs. The Aotearoa New Zealand John Schofield 3Rs Implementation Award was established in memory of Dr John Schofield, a veterinarian and ANZCCART (NZ) committee member who gained national and international recognition for his work advancing the welfare of animals used in research and teaching. Throughout his career, he made significant contributions to the development and implementation of the 3Rs principles, while also supporting others to adopt these practices in research, testing, and teaching. The award recognises individuals who demonstrate similar achievements and commitment to advancing the 3Rs in these fields. A history of the award and its precursor can be found here . The biennial $10k award is jointly offered by the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) and the New Zealand board of the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART(NZ)). Applications for the 2026 award is now open. Applications close on Wednesday 30 September 2026. Please read the Terms of Reference and Application Form linked below before submitting your application. Aotearoa-New-Zealand-John-Schofield-3-Rs-Award-2026-Terms-of-Reference-2 .pdf Download PDF • 152KB Aotearoa-New-Zealand-John-Schofield-3-Rs-Award-2026-Application-form .docx Download DOCX • 149KB Applications or nominations should be sent as an electronic attachment (Word or PDF) to NAEAC via email at naeac@mpi.govt.nz . The most recent winners of the award, in 2024, were Otago Polytechnic and Equibreed ART Ltd, for applying the Three Rs in veterinary nursing and allied animal healthcare training, and developing an in vitro model for understanding, diagnosing and reducing early embryonic death in horses. Previous winners of the award have been: 2022: Neil Ward and colleagues from Information Technology Services, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University for an innovative web-based database application to enable teachers and researchers to share samples for use in research, testing and teaching. 2020: Dr Benjamin Albert (Liggins Institute, University of Auckland) for refining methods for oral nutritional or drug intervention. 2018: Massey-SPCA Desexing Clinic Global 3Rs Awards Programme The Global 3Rs Awards program recognizes significant innovative contributions toward the 3Rs of animal research to advance ethical science, by any researcher in academia or industry in any area of biology. Up to four Global Awards (North America, Europe, Pacific Rim, and the Rest of World) are made in the amount of $5,000 (USD) each. Award nominations must be based on a primary research paper that advances any of the 3Rs and is published in a peer-reviewed journal in the last three (3) years. These may include modifications to existing research techniques or any innovative research approach including, but not limited to: improvements to whole-animal models, tissue-based models, molecular techniques, analytic and computational models, study design or technique refinements, and translational medicine applications. For more information see: here The Ron Kilgour Memorial Trust Student Travel Award The Ron Kilgour Memorial Trust (RKMT) was established as a memorial to the late Dr Ronald Kilgour to organise, promote and foster activities in relation to research and teaching in the areas of ethology, behaviour, social values and personal, social and agricultural development and associated international relations. The RKMT accepts applications from students, within New Zealand, who are currently enrolled in a graduate degree (Honours, MSc or PhD) and are studying in the area of animal behaviour and welfare. The award will provide partial or full funding to attend and present their research at a relevant congress (e.g., ISAE, IEC or similar). Selection will be based on the potential impact of the students’ research toward improving animal welfare and on financial need. The award has the following objectives: To increase the profile of animal behaviour and welfare as a scientific discipline. To encourage students to investigate issues in animal behaviour and welfare. To provide students the opportunity to attend a conference to present their research and increase their profile by providing networking opportunities with other scientists working in the field. Email for application details . Discontinued awards ANZCCART Tertiary Essay Competition The student winner of the inaugural 2014 ANZCCART Essay Competition was Katherine Reid (Massey University), for her essay entitled Conversations to Improve Animal Welfare in Research and Teaching . The student winner of the 2018 ANZCCART Essay Competition was Alysha Mckeeman (University of Otago), for her essay entitled Moral Status and Obligations to Animals in Research . The student winner of the 2019 ANZCCART Essay Competition was Caitlin Morton-Burns (University of Canterbury), for her essay entitled Openness of animal research as a limitation to scientific endeavour . ANZCCART Communication Competition The purpose of the competition was to inspire New Zealand entrants to facilitate openness about the use of animals in research and teaching.. Award recipients 2025 First prize Oshada Perera (student, University of Otago) Openness in the Use of Animals in Research - communication competition .pdf Download PDF • 127KB 2020 First prize (Secondary school): Oshadha Perera (Southland Boys’ High School) Oshadha Perera .pdf Download PDF • 104KB 2020 First prize (general entry): Meg Brasell-Jones for “ Connectivity/Reciprocity ” Note: The views and opinions expressed in these communication examples are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of ANZCCART NZ.

About Us About Us ANZCCART (Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching) is two independent organisations in each of Australia and New Zealand committed to providing leadership in addressing ethical, social, cultural and scientific issues relating to the use and welfare of animals in research and teaching. We have a shared Vision, Mission and Role in society. ANZCCART’s VISION To be the leading source of information and advice concerning the ethical, social, cultural and scientific use of animals in research and teaching. MISSION STATEMENT ANZCCART’s corporate mission and objectives are to promote: Informed open discussion and debate within the community when considering ethical, social, cultural and scientific issues relating to the use of animals in research and teaching, by providing a neutral forum. Excellence in the use and welfare of animals supplied for or used in research and teaching. Responsible scientific use of animals. The 3Rs principle of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement as they apply to the use of animals for scientific purposes. Strategic partnerships to contribute to the education and training of scientists, students, animal care staff, members of Animal Ethics Committees, and the broader community. ANZCCART’s ROLE ANZCCART seeks to achieve these objectives, first by providing an ongoing focus to the social, ethical, cultural and scientific issues involved, second by providing a forum for discussion of these issues and third by facilitating access to relevant specialist advice and resources. Further, through its publications and activities ANZCCART is a source of information for the general public about how animals are used in research and teaching in Australia and New Zealand. ANZCCART New Zealand Established as a standing committee of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, the Board of ANZCCART New Zealand comprises representatives from the research, animal welfare, animal ethics and education communities. ANZCCART New Zealand is an advisory organisation that provides guidance and information to a wide range of stakeholders, including Animal Ethics Committees (AEC), scientists, teachers, regulatory authorities, granting agencies, government, animal welfare organisations, the media, and the general public. ANZCCART New Zealand promotes and supports the commitment to the principles embodied in the New Zealand legislation regulating the use of animals in research, testing and teaching in New Zealand ( Animal Welfare Act 1999, Part 6 ). AIMS Our primary aims are to: Promote open discussions around the social license for, ethical and cultural considerations related to, and scientific validity of the use of animals in research and teaching. A pillar of this is the ANZCCART Openness Agreement on Animal Use in Research and Teaching. Encourage the highest standards of care, consideration and responsible use of animals for research and teaching purposes. . Act as a focal point for information and advice concerning the ethical and scientific use of animals in research and teaching. Advocate for the "Three Rs" – replacement, reduction and refinement of animals in research and teaching – as a guiding principle. Identify, enable, and enhance strategic partnerships that develop capacity by contributing to and supporting the education and training of scientists, students, and the broader community. Support the development and inclusion of mātauranga Māori in relation to the care and use of animals in research and teaching, and alignment of policy and practice with the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. VALUES In pursuing our aims, we are guided by the following values: Rigour: We apply rigorous standards to our discussions and recommendations, ensuring that they are based on the best available evidence and informed by the perspectives of all relevant stakeholders. Openness: We are committed to transparency and openness in our processes, fostering an environment where challenging and informed debate can take place. Responsiveness: We aim to respond effectively to emerging ethical, social, cultural, scientific issues and developments relating to the use and welfare of animals in research and teaching. Inclusiveness: We actively engage with diverse stakeholders, including the research, animal welfare, and education communities, to ensure that our work is comprehensive and well-rounded. Collaboration: We work collaboratively with various organisations, institutions, and individuals to achieve our objectives and contribute to a more responsible and compassionate future for both animals and humans. Partnership: We support and affirm the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including the bicultural partnership it establishes between tangata Tiriti and tangata whenua, in all our aims and work. History of ANZCCART ANZCCART, the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching, was established on the 1st of January, 1993, as a result of a collaborative effort between the Australian Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ACCART, established in May 1987) and various New Zealand authorities, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (now known as the Ministry for Primary Industries) and the Royal Society of New Zealand (now Royal Society Te Apārangi). In New Zealand, this followed decades of efforts by the Society to promote and progress the humane use of animals in science. The Australia-New Zealand collaboration aimed to address the growing need for ethical and scientific guidance in the use of animals for research and teaching purposes in both countries. In New Zealand, ANZCCART operates as a committee of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, maintaining strong connections with its Australian counterpart. New Zealand formed a standing committee of the Royal Society and joined ACCART to form ANZCCART in 1993. The joint name was to emphasise united efforts in promoting the ethical use of animals in research and teaching across both nations.This partnership has allowed the organizations to share resources, expertise, and knowledge while working towards common goals. For a comprehensive understanding of ANZCCART's history, we recommend reading the article “ Reflections on the use of animals in research, testing and teaching in New Zealand – a historical perspective. ” by Dr David Bayvel et al. (2011). (PDF, 653 kb, 4 pages) This article offers valuable insights into the development of ANZCCART and the progress made over the years in improving the ethical and scientific use of animals in research, testing, and teaching in both Australia and New Zealand.

ANZCCART Conference 2001 Joint ANZCCART/NAEAC Conference on 28-29 June 2001 Held at the Novotel Tainui Hotel, Hamilton, New Zealand NB: this page was written in advance of the conference Exploring the relationships between ourselves, animals, and the environment is the theme of the conference jointly organised by the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) and the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC). Issues to be addressed include the interdependence and interconnectedness of all life, the images of science and scientists, relevant legislation, dealing with new technology, fish research, and what could and should statistics or the popular media tell us. In understanding these relationships and challenging our beliefs, this conference will help to map the intricate connections between humans, animals, and the environment. It will therefore be valuable to anyone interested in how we learn, communicate, and evolve the relationships between ourselves and the natural world. This conference will be of special interest to those involved in education, in science in both the public and private sectors, and to those interested in teaching, animal welfare, the environment, ethics, and the communication and regulation of community expectations. The programme will provide both local, Australian, and international perspectives. ANZCCART aims to provide leadership in developing community consensus on ethical, social, and scientific issues relating to the use of animals in research and teaching. NAEAC provides independent advice to the Minister of Agriculture on policy and practices relating to the use of animals in research, testing and teaching. Programme Thursday, 28 June 8.15 am Registration 8.45 am Opening Session 1 Primary and secondary education Focus: To consider how our interaction with animals and the environment has changed and how we might develop better interactions through education 9.00 am Cam Reid Oration: Learning, animals and the environment — an animal rights perspective Mr Gary Reese, Compassion in World Farming, London; former member of SAFE, Auckland (by videoconference) 9.40 amInfluences on learning Mrs Barbara Benson, Dunedin College of Education 10.20 am Morning tea 10.50 am Consequences of the continuity between the human and biological worlds Professor David Penny, Massey University 11.30 am Science in the classroom Mr Peter Trim, Independent consultant 12 noon Lunch Session 2 Tertiary education and research and teaching Focus: To consider the influences which impinge on the acceptability of animal-based research, testing and teaching and how we might acknowledge and incorporate them 1.00 pm Public perception of scientists: Frankenstein and Einstein Professor Frank Griffin, University of Otago 1.40 pm The next generation of scientist Dr Catherine Morrow, AgResearch Ruakura 2.20 pm Alternatives and the future Professor Bruce Baguley, Auckland Cancer Society Research Institute 3.00 pm Afternoon tea 3.30 pm The Animal Welfare Act 1999 – impacts and issues Professor John Marbrook, Deputy Chair NAEAC 4.10 pm Skeletons and sovereigns in the cupboard — learning from history Dr Mark Fisher, AgResearch Poukawa Friday, 29 June Session 3 Future challenges Focus: To consider the challenges that we could use to build an appropriate learning environment for our interaction with animals and nature 8.30 am Moving forward with the media Dr Mark Matfield, Research Defense Society, UK (by videoconference); Dr Kay Weavers, University of Waikato 9.25 am Democratically modified science Ms Ronda Cooper, Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment 10.05 am Morning tea 10.25 am The next Animal Welfare Act Hon Pete Hodgson, Minister of Research, Science and Technology 11.10 am Fish as experimental animals Good for science and fish? Dr John Baldwin, Monash University, Melbourne 11.40 am “Back off man, I’m a scientist” Dr David Scobie, AgResearch Lincoln 12.20 pm Lunch Session 4 Care and regulation Focus: To consider how society should move forward in dealing with the regulatory aspects of animals and the environment. 1.00 pm Dealing with the emerged technologies Dr Judy McArthur-Clark, Biozone, UK 1.40 pm Living with the legislation Dr Donald Hannah, ERMA NZ 2.20 pm Care beyond regulation Dr Barbara Nicholas, Christchurch 3.00 pm Close of conference Conference details Venue The 2001 ANZCCART conference was held jointly with the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC). The venue is the Novotel Tainui Hotel, Alma Street, Hamilton — located on the banks of the Waikato River in the Central Business District of Hamilton.

< Back Researchers Information for New Zealand Researchers and Tertiary Education Previous Next

General resources Resource links about ANZCCART and animal welfare in New Zealand The following resources about ANZCCART and animal welfare in New Zealand are available: Animal Research Saves Lives (ANZCCART resource) (PDF, 1.8 MB, 14 pages) Animal welfare in NZ (Ministry of Primary Industries) Animals in research, testing, and teaching | NZ Government ANZCCART Annual Report (PDF, 1.5 MB, 46 pages) ANZCCART Newsletters A Culture of Care - A Guide for People Working with Animals in RTT (PDF) SPCA New Zealand The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) website The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) website What is ANZCCART (2026)(ANZCCART resource) (PDF, 428 kb, 1 page) Resources for media Understanding Animal Research (UK website) Animal Welfare Act 1999 (Parliamentary Council Office website) Guide to the Animal Welfare Act (Ministry for Primary Industries website) The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) website The National Animal Welfare Committee (NAWAC) website SPCA New Zealand Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (resource database hosted by Johns Hopkins University) European Animal Research Association Resource links about the use of animals in research, testing or teaching in New Zealand What is ANZCCART? (2026 ANZCCART resource, PDF) National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) website National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) website Animal welfare in NZ (Ministry for Primary Industries) Guide to the Animal Welfare (Ministry for Primary Industries) Animal Research Saves Lives (ANZCCART resource) (PDF, 1.8 MB, 14 pages) Three Rs Poster (2026 ANZCCART resource) (PDF, 6.7 MB, 1 page) ANZCCART Newsletters Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (resource database hosted by Johns Hopkins University) SPCA New Zealand Culture of Care (A NAEAC guide for people working with animals in research, testing and teaching) (PDF, 428 kb, 6 pages) Ethical guidelines for School students (2026 ANZCCART resource) (PDF, 108 kb, 1 page) Ethical guide for Tertiary students in laboratory classes involving the use of animals and animal tissues (2026 ANZCCART resource) (PDF, 1 page) Resources about the Three Rs Download Three Rs Poster (2026 ANZCCART resource) (PDF, 6.7 MB, 1 page) Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing Norecopa resources about the 3Rs Statistical design for animal welfare. We strongly recommend the resources on designing animal experiments provided by Michael Festing . ANZCCART NZ 3Rs publications The Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) have produced a series of booklets on the application of the three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) in the use of animals in research and teaching. Organ-on-a-chip and Organoids (2026) Cell-based Disease Models (replacement) (2019) Computer Assisted Learning (replacement) (2021) Mannequins and Dummies (replacement) (2021) Alternatives to shellfish toxicity testing (replacement) (2018) Fireflies to the rescue (reduction) (2019) Mathematical models (reduction) (2022) Tissue sharing (reduction) (2024) Simple ingenuity (refinement) (2019) Non-Invasive Methods (refinement) (2018) Living syringes (refinement) (2018) Oil emulsified gels (refinement) (2022) Resource links on alternatives to using animals in research, testing or teaching 9th World congress on alternatives and animal use in the life sciences (conference website) Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (resource database hosted by Johns Hopkins University) Altex, alternatives to animal experimentation (journal website) EU reference laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM) European society for alternates to animal testing ICCVAM (US committee advancing alternatives to animal testing) Korean centre for the validation of alternatives to animal testing (KoCVAM) Physicians committee for responsible medicine, alternatives to animal testing Incorporating new approach methodologies in the development of new medicines (NC3Rs) Non animal models - CSIRO a report assessing the potential of non animal models in Australia

ComPass Animal Welfare Training This free online course covers the Australian Code and NZ Animal Welfare Act 1999. Successful completion of Phase one of the course and its quiz fulfills the mandated basic training needs of researchers and teachers using animals as well as members of Animal Ethics Committees (AEC) in Australia and NZ (except AEC members in Victoria who are required to complete the Animal Welfare Victoria training). The aim is to standardize and augment the training offered for animal users in research and teaching throughout Australasia by offering this free online interactive and resource-rich course to all who need this training. For the course link and more information (Australian website) .

Animal welfare What is animal welfare and whose welfare is considered? Animals are recognized as sentient beings in New Zealand law. This means they have sufficiently complex nervous systems to support flexible and adaptive behaviour and, importantly, a range of different experiences and feelings that they can interpret as good/positive or bad/negative. In New Zealand, animals considered to be sentient are mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, octopus, squid, crabs, lobsters and crayfish (see Information about animal research in NZ for more information). The welfare of an animal depends on its mental state – the negative or positive experiences it is having at a particular point in time. Negative experiences might include pain, discomfort, breathlessness, nausea, fear, anxiety, hunger, thirst and even loneliness, frustration or boredom, depending on the kind of animal. Good experiences might include feelings of pleasure, comfort, safety and companionship, again depending on the kind of animal. The animal’s mental state is influenced by its perception of both its physical health and its environment. How can we understand an animal’s welfare state to make improvements? Often in research, it is necessary to perform procedures that may cause animals to experience negative states like fear, pain, nausea, or breathlessness. In addition to compromise during procedures, animals may also experience compromise in their home environment, during day-to-day husbandry and handling, preparation for, as well as recovery from, the procedure. An animal may be more likely to experience welfare compromise because of its age, physical state, particular type or breeding. When using animals in research, testing, and teaching, we have a responsibility to promote good welfare, meaning minimizing welfare compromise due to negative experiences and enhancing welfare by providing opportunities for positive experiences. The people responsible must consider the ways that their use of, or interaction with, the animals may impact their welfare. Another way to think about this is to ask “What mental states will the animal experience in this situation, in this physical condition or due to this procedure?”. We can understand the degree to which welfare is compromised by evaluating the quality, likelihood, severity/intensity and duration of any and all negative experiences; we do this using observable or measurable indicators of mental states, including behavioural, physiological and neurophysiological measurements. Likewise, we can understand the degree of welfare enhancement, primarily by evaluating animal’s behavioural responses to opportunities that arise or we provide. One model we can use to organize investigations of welfare and the evidence for an animal’s mental experiences and its overall welfare state is the Five Domains Model. This is an internationally recognised welfare assessment framework developed in New Zealand. It reflects modern understanding of animal welfare by breaking down the factors that influence welfare into four categories (Domain 1 Food and water; Domain 2 Physical environment; Domain 3 Health and physical status; Domain 4 Behavioural interactions) and includes the associated mental experiences in a fifth category (Domain 5 Mental states). With care, the Model can be used for any species in any context. It allows the user to apply their own knowledge of the animal species to identify potential sources of welfare compromise and opportunities for welfare enhancement. How can we improve the welfare of animals used in RTT? The Three Rs The Three Rs provide guidance on ways to minimize welfare compromise for animals used in RTT by avoiding animal use altogether (Replacement), reducing the number of animals that might experience welfare compromise whilst still achieving the purpose of having used them (Reduction) or reducing the likelihood, severity and/or duration of negative mental experiences arising due to the ways animals are used and managed (Refinement). Providing opportunities for positive experiences, while continuing to minimise negatives, is another way to refine animal use. For more information about the Three Rs see NC3Rs . Minimizing welfare compromise (Refinement) depends on what the problem is for the animal. Importantly, animals must be conscious to be having any mental experiences, including pain, so using general anaesthesia to make an animal unconscious is one way to reduce welfare compromise during a procedure. Pain can also be alleviated or reduced by using drugs that block or reduce pain signals (local anaesthetics or analgesics). However, pain-relieving drugs won’t reduce hunger, thirst, breathlessness, nausea, fear or loneliness. So, the remedy must be appropriate for the problem, and the effectiveness of the intervention should be evaluated using methods like those described above. For example, fear due to human-animal interactions can be reduced by avoiding or refining handling procedures, while anxiety might be relieved by manipulating animal housing or social groupings. Likewise, such changes in animal housing and management can provide animals opportunities for positive experiences. Promoting these feelings wherever possible can enhance the welfare of animals, as well as making them easier to handle and work with. Resources for minimizing welfare compromise: Beausoleil, N., & Mellor, D. (2015). Introducing breathlessness as a significant animal welfare issue. New Zealand Veterinary Journal , 63 (1), 44–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2014.940410 Resources for enhancing welfare: ·Baumans, V. (2005). Environmental Enrichment for Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits: Requirements of Rodents, Rabbits, and Research. ILAR Journal , 46 (2), 162–170. https://doi.org/10.1093/ilar.46.2.162 Rault, J.-L., Waiblinger, S., Boivin, X., & Hemsworth, P. (2020). The Power of a Positive Human–Animal Relationship for Animal Welfare. Frontiers in Veterinary Science , 7 . https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.590867 Resources for understanding animal welfare and its assessment: Mellor, D. J. (2017). Operational Details of the Five Domains Model and Its Key Applications to the Assessment and Management of Animal Welfare. Animals, 7(8), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani7080060 Mellor, D. J., Beausoleil, N. J., Littlewood, K. E., McLean, A. N., McGreevy, P. D., Jones, B., & Wilkins, C. (2020). The 2020 Five Domains Model: Including Human–Animal Interactions in Assessments of Animal Welfare. Animals, 10(10), 1870. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101870 Littlewood, K.E.; Beausoleil, N.J.; Mellor, D.J. Updating the Five Provisions: Aligning Welfare-Focused Care with the Five Domains Model. Animals 2026 , 16 , 1927. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16121927

< Back ANZCCART Conference 2001 ANZCCART Conference 2001 Previous Next

< Back Animal Welfare Principles The Three Rs Previous Next

< Back Awards Awards Previous Next