Technical officer Linda Falconer with a rabbit at one of the animal houses at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Camden. The animal is raising antibodies against specific proteins as part of research into mycoplasma in pigs.

Welfare of animals used in scientific research and teaching has become a topic of growing interest and, sometimes, concern to the wider community.

In NSW, the Animal Research Review Panel (ARRP), a statutory body appointed under the NSW Animal Research Act, advises the government on the legislation regulating the use of animals in research and teaching.

The ARRP has developed guidelines for the housing and husbandry of animals used in scientific research and teaching.

These provide research establishments, institutional Animal Ethics Committees (AECs), government regulators and the public with benchmarks against which housing and husbandry practices can be assessed.

Specific guidelines have been developed on the housing and care of dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs in scientific institutions.

Draft guidelines have been released for rats and new guidelines are under development for mice, pigs and sheep.

The ARRP uses the resources of the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and recognised external authorities on particular species to commission an exhaustive search of published literature relating to the behaviour, husbandry and care of the animals.

Detailed information is compiled on enclosure design, care and management, group housing, environmental enrichment, nutrition and the physical environment - including lighting, temperature, humidity, ventilation and noise.

This information is used to develop evidence-based recommendations for each topic.

Procedures for developing the guidelines are open and transparent and provide an opportunity for public input and comment. Draft guidelines are submitted to external expert referees and are circulated for three months to all accredited animal research establishments for comment.

The draft is also made available to animal ethics committees, animal house managers, animal technicians and researchers.

After consultation, the guidelines undergo final editing and are posted on the Animal Ethics Infolink website www.animalethics.org.au

They can then be used by research establishments and their AECs when planning and designing new animal houses, renovating existing facilities or ordering new equipment for housing animals.

AEC members and DPI inspectors also use the guidelines when doing routine inspections of animal research facilities.

The guidelines are regularly reviewed to ensure they reflect current knowledge and accepted best practice.