Numbers and types of animals used in procedures regulated under ASPA at the University of Southampton

The University of Southampton openly shares the numbers of animals used in procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) as part of its commitment to the concordat on openness on animal research in the UK.

The AWERB and researchers at the University consider it essentially important that steps are taken to ensure that animals experience minimal pain and suffering during any experimental process.

The table below shows the reported numbers and rounded percentages of animals used at the University of Southampton under ASPA for the previous five calendar years.

The number of animals used in procedures Under ASPA
Species	2019		2020	2021	2022	2023
Mice	19,787 (97.4%)		14,719 (98.6%)	12,055 (99%)	12,083 (98.2%)	11,151 (98%)
Rats	86 (0.4%)		37 (0.2%)	13 (<1%)	None (0%)	None (0%)
Fish	None (0%)		None (0%)	None (0%)	220 (0.8%)	172 (2%)
Rabbits	None (0%)		None (0%)	3 (<1%)	None (0%)	None (0%)
Chicken Embryos	445 (2.2%)		168 (1.1%)	128 (1%)	None (0%)	None (0%)
Total	20,318		14,924	12,199	12,303	11,323

The table below shows the numbers of animals used at different severity thresholds for procedures under ASPA over the last four calendar years. When each study is finished, the 

experience of each animal is reviewed to see whether severity was ‘sub-threshold’, ‘mild’, ‘moderate’, ‘severe’ or ‘non-recovery’, It is possible that procedures authorised under a project licence could result in below threshold severity. Please find a more detailed description of these categories below:

• Sub-threshold: It is possible that procedures authorised under a project licence could result in below threshold severity. These will be few but will occur when it was considered that a procedure might have caused above-threshold pain or suffering, but in retrospect this did not occur for some, or all of the animals involved.
• Mild: Any pain or suffering experienced by an animal is, at worst, only slight or transitory and minor so that the animal returns to its normal state within a short period of time.
• Moderate: Moderate procedures cause a significant and easily detectable disturbance of an animal’s normal state, assuming that appropriate monitoring systems are in place and that they are used by trained and competent staff.
• Severe: these cause a major departure from the animal’s usual state of health and well-being. It would usually include long-term disease processes where assistance with normal activities such as feeding, and drinking are required or where significant deficits in behaviours/activities persist.
• Non-recovery: when the animal was under a general anaesthetic for the experiment and was not allowed to recover.

Further information on severity threshold can be read here.

Actual severity of animals used in procedures under ASPA
Severity	2019		2020		2021			2022		2023
	Mice	Rats	Mice	Rats	Mice	Rats	Rabbits	Mice	Fish	Mice	Fish
Sub-Threshold	6,783 (34%)	0 (0%)	6160 (42%)	0 (0%)	5065 (42%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	5203 (43%)	0 (0%)	5372 (48%)	0 (0%)
Mild	9,642 (49%)	5 (6%)	5250 (36%)	3 (8%)	4316 (36%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	3906 (32%)	220 (100%)	2851 (26%)	172 (100%)
Moderate	3,124 (16%)	42 (49%)	3157 (21%)	0 (0%)	2474 (21%)	11 (85%)	3 (100%)	2888 (24%)	0 (0%)	2809 (25%)	0 (0%)
Severe	82 (<1%)	0 (0%)	106 (1%)	0 (0%)	128 (1%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	64 (<1%)	0 (0%)	33 (<1%)	0 (0%)
Non-Recovery	158 (<1%)	39 (45%)	46 (<1%)	34 (92%)	72 (<1%)	2 (15%)	0 (%)	22 (<1%)	0 (0%)	86 (1%)	0 (0%)
Total	19,789	86	14,719	37	12,055	13	3	12083	220	11,151	172

The above data is collected and returned to the Home Office at the end of January each year. The figures for the number of animals used in procedures and severity thresholds for the previous year will be updated on this website as soon as possible, once figures have been sent to the Home Office.