Animal experiments: Figures and Statistics

Rodents, chickens, and other livestock animals are the types of animals that are typically used for experiments at the University of Hohenheim. In 2022, around 85 percent of the animals used in experiments were used in animal experiments with a low severity classification. Around 9 percent of the experimental animals were used for experiments in which the animals are killed, for example in order to remove their organs for research purposes.

A more detailed overview of the scope of animal experimentation at the University of Hohenheim can be found in the official experimental animal report. There, the university reports each experimental animal that was used in an experiment or which was killed for the purpose of organ removal.

Some experimental animals – especially livestock animals – are used repeatedly for experiments over a period of several years.

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The most commonly used experimental animals according to the 2022 experimental animal report were chickens, followed by sheep, mice, rats, and frogs.

With chickens, the University of Hohenheim investigates the make-up of ideal feed and evaluates new feed sources as alternatives to imported grain (environmental protection and lower use of resources), as well as the basics of interactions between the animal and microbiome in the digestive tract. The question of how to prevent feather pecking (animal welfare) is also one of the research questions that were addressed.

With mice, the university looks at human nutrition (especially for disease prevention / health), immune reactions, and other biological issues.

Many other studies on farm animals do not require the use of experimental animals because data from farms or slaughterhouses is used.

Drawing blood from lambs to promote the breeding of robust pasture-fed lambs or fitting EEG sensors to pigs to evaluate new, non-invasive methods: Experiments like these are not very stressful for the animals. In the animal experiments registered in 2022, around 85% of the animals were used in experiments like these.

Experiments with a mid-level severity classification are e.g. those in which wild dormice are caught and marked.

In 2.6% of the experimental animals reported in 2022, the animal did not recover consciousness, e.g. after an experiment was carried out under anesthesia. A further 8.8% of laboratory animals were killed in order to remove organs or tissue such as muscles, nerves or digestive organs for research.

How stressful an experiment is for an animal is defined in EU Directive 2010/63/EU, Annex VIII “Severity Classification of Procedures,” where the criteria are illustrated with practical examples.

In the animal experiments registered in 2022, around 95% of the animals were used in research.

Around 1.76% of the animals were used for experiments in student education and training. These include two compulsory courses in the Biology and Agricultural Biology Bachelor’s degree programs. A further 1.6% were used in professional education and training.

The category “animal experiments for other purposes” is for e.g. experimental animals that are used to maintain specially bred colonies. These are e.g. mice that are genetically engineered so that they can serve as models for many human illnesses to research causes of diseases and treatments.

Overview of registered experimental animals in 2022

 

Severity classification

SpeciesNumberMildModerateSevereVital signs cannot be recovered
Euthanized for organ/tissue removal
Domestic chickens3,7263,695010021
Sheep7407400000
Mice642152160730293
Rats1640000164
Clawed frogs13521001104
Other rodents22220000
Gerbils18160020
Pigs660000
Cows330000
Total5,4564,65516017142482

 

Reason for experiments

SpeciesNumberResearchTeachingProfessional training/
education
Other
Domestic chickens3,726360413118
Sheep740739010
Mice642420857958
Rats164164000
Clawed frogs135131400
Other rodents2222000
Gerbils
1816200
Pigs66000
Cows30030
Total5,4565,1029286176

Source for graphics and table: Experimental animal report 2022

Unusable (so-called “surplus”) experimental animals

Animals for animal experiments at the University of Hohenheim are purchased from specialized laboratory animal breeders or bred at the University itself.

In some cases, there are very specific breeding objectives for this breeding, as a laboratory animal can often only be used for an animal experiment if it has certain characteristics. This is particularly true in the case of genetically modified mice which are predisposed to particular diseases, for example. However, there are also animal experiments for which, for example, only male or female animals can be used.

If the breeding of laboratory animals also produces offspring that cannot be used for an animal experiment due to their characteristics or sex, these are referred to as surplus laboratory animals.

The University of Hohenheim has established a series of measures to avoid surplus animals as far as possible.