Rats (and mice) are often the animals of choice to try and model human conditions, treatment and body functions - even though we know that using animals to try and model people fails over 90% of the time.

Mice and rats are commonly used due to their small size, low maintenance (i.e., they are easy to house and care for), short life cycle, and ability to breed quickly (allowing large numbers to be generated for studies).

They also share many of our genes.1 However, that's not surprising. Even cats share many of our genes.2

Rats are used is some of the most gruesome experiments that involve things like force-feeding, poisoning, oxygen deprivation and invasive surgery.

Rats in NZ have been used for:
  • Drug research, including safety and efficiency testing.
  • Teaching purposes in schools, mainly dissections.
  • Investigating ways of killing wild rats. (i.e., research into effective poisons and traps).
  • Medical research, including research into the development of severe diseases (i.e., stroke, diabetes, cancer), modelling neurological disorders (i.e., Schizophrenia, Autism), modelling mood disorders (i.e., example, anxiety, and depression) and research into tinnitus.
  • Drug addiction research including research into the development and suppression of addictions and the impacts of drug use.
  • Basic biological research, including research into digestion, aging, nerve damage, obesity and how the brain functions.

Places that use rats for science in NZ include crown research institutes, private companies and universities. In fact, most universities have their own breeding colonies. Otago University states on its website that they have a dedicated rat testing room in the Behavioural Phenotyping Unit.3

Rats used for science in NZ are sourced from breeding units, public or commercial sources, the wild (captured) and they are imported from overseas.

Discover real-life examples of how rats have been used in NZ below!

Studying selenium metabolism

Cats and dogs were fed diets with different selenium supplementation for three weeks in individual metabolic chambers. A liver biopsy was taken under anaesthesia.

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Monitoring wild cats via GPS collar

Wild cats were caught and fitted with GPS collars. After an average of 9.75 days, there were recaptured to retrieve the collars.

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Testing new toxin against stoats and wild pets

Dogs, cats and stoats were fed different versions of toxic bait. Symptoms and time of death were monitored. Four dogs and two cats survived, but their fate is not stated.

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Testing the efficacy and shelf-life of a toxin

Captive wild cats were used to compare the efficacy of different toxin formulations and the effect of more extended bait storage. Cats were fed the toxin bait or pipette-fed toxin directly as control. Symptom onset and time of death were monitored.

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Investigating how worms spread between lambs and calves

Lambs and calves were infected with worm eggs to see if parasites from cattle can infect sheep.

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Testing a fertility treatment

Cows with fertility problems were treated with hormones for ten days or left untreated. All were then artificially inseminated.

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Testing a supplement for more calcium intake

Pregnant cows were fed with or without a specific feed additive. After birth, all were fed the same diet. Blood samples were taken in the weeks around birth.

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Checking endometritis rates in dairy herds

Some cows in several dairy herds were selected, and their vaginal discharge was measured and sampled. They were then impregnated as per standard agricultural practice.

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Comparing weight gain with different diets

Newborn calves were raised on various milk, pasture, and pellets combinations. They were slaughtered at two years old, and their “quality” was measured.

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Testing pain meds for disbudding

The horn buds of young calves who were slightly sedated were burned off with a hot iron. Half of them received pain meds beforehand, and blood samples were taken before and after. After 24 hours, the second group received pain meds, too.

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Studying Ikeda infection and treatment

Regular blood samples were taken from cows on three different farms. Only some were treated against the parasite. Milk production and fertility were recorded.

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Studying diarrhea infection

New mother cows had blood samples taken. If the sample was negative for a diarrhoea virus, they were sampled again after a while.

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Studying genes for body size

Udders of dairy cows were slightly cut with a scalpel, and a tissue sample was taken with a biopsy needle.

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Testing toxicity of a potential new fertiliser

Pregnant cows were fed a toxic ingredient to see if it is toxic.

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Studying stress around birth

Blood samples were taken from cows with a high or low risk of health concerns after birth.

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Studying genetics of a missing tail

Cloned foetuses were implanted into female cattle to research taillessness. Some of them were killed during pregnancy to examine the foetuses. One tailless animal was killed at age 4, and one of the cloned calves died after birth.

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Studying Ikeda (parasite) infection

Blood samples were taken from dairy cows and their calves directly after birth before separating them. After four months, the calves were sampled again.

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Studying Osteoporosis in cows

Young female cattle who had given birth for the first time were sent to slaughter. Half of them had broken bones for between 2 and 10 days. Blood samples were taken before slaughter, and bones were collected after.

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Testing a tuberculosis vaccine

Male calves were infected with bacteria. Two groups were vaccinated before or after the infection, and the third group was left untreated. All were killed and dissected 13 weeks later.

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Testing feeding plans for better immunity after calving

Pregnant cows were fed either a bit too much or a bit too little. Blood samples were taken before, at, and after calving. Researchers also took liver samples with a 20-cm biopsy needle and vaginal samples with a small brush and a scoop at these dates, except for the date of birth.

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Analysing Greyhound race injury statistics

Historical data on Greyhound races between 2014 and 2019 were analysed. Injuries and deaths were investigated.

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Using bones of euthanised shelter dogs

Cadavers of dogs killed at an animal shelter were donated. Holes were drilled into leg bones and fitted with screws.

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Investigating farm dogs for four years

Working farms dogs were examined regularly for four years. Health problems and fate were recorded.

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Transplanting faeces as diarrhoea treatment

A dog with diarrhoea was treated with laxatives and warm water before a faeces sample from a healthy dog was inserted into his colon. Samples were taken before and after.

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Testing the eyes of working dogs

Eye examinations were performed on working sheep dogs. Medication for pupil dilation was given, and faeces samples were taken from most dogs.

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Analysing dog movements

Colony dogs were prepared with reflective markers and an activity collar. Their movements on a treadmill at various speeds were recorded.

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Testing the effect of diet on farm dog performance

Working dogs were fed a diet very high or very low in carbohydrates. Their blood glucose and activity were monitored three times over four days each.

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Testing a parasite treatment

After a pilot study with just one dog, six more were given an experimental parasitic treatment. Regular blood samples were taken through a catheter.

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Teaching dogs to smell out catfish

Five pet dogs were trained over several months to identify catfish and goldfish smell in water samples.

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Testing different combinations of pain meds

Eight dogs are treated with four different combinations of the test drugs in random order with two-week breaks in between. Two catheters are placed in leg veins (for drug injection and blood samples). For the test, dogs are fasted for 12 hours and anaesthetised. EEG is recorded with electrodes near the brain to measure response to electric shocks. Regular blood samples are taken for 8 hours.

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Studying medical data of cat and dog CT-imaging

Medical data from cats and dogs were gathered, and animals that had been euthanised for other reasons were examined.

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Teaching dogs to smell out koi carps (2019)

Three pet dogs were trained over several months to identify koi carb smell in water samples.

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Testing working dogs for internal parasites

Faeces and blood samples were taken from working farm dogs.

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Testing fluid management of dogs during anaesthesia

Dogs were anaesthetised. Their heart activity was measured while hey were injected with calculated amounts of fluid.

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Trying to make rat poison unattractive for dogs

Dogs were fasted overnight and then given two food bowls with different kinds of repellent on one of them.

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Surveying respiratory disease in racing Greyhounds

Laboratories sent in serum samples of dogs for analysis. Additionally, 17 racing Greyhounds were tested.

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Studying how viruses spread in fish

Fish were caught with nets and killed.

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Using fish to study the impacts of Climate Change

Fish were either bought or caught and killed so that they could be dissected.

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Overfeeding Zebrafish to learn about obesity

Normal and transgenic zebrafish were fed normally or way too much. The fish were taken out of the water for glucose tests and blood samples.

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Studying gut bacteria in fish

Nine fish were caught by underwater spearing and killed so that samples could be collected from their digestion tracts.

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Studying the sleep of sharks

Sharks were caught and kept in outside tanks. For the experiments, they weren't fed for at least 4 days, of which they spent 3 days in a measuring chamber not much bigger than the shark. Oxygen consumption and behaviour were continuously recorded for the last 24 hours.

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Infecting fish larvae as a potential model for humans

Zebrafish larvae were injected with bacteria to test how their immune system responds. This was repeated to test how well the immune system reacted and how long the effect lasts.

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Finding a “growth gene” in snappers

Snappers were caught from the wild and bred. Around eighty-thousand of their offspring were hatched and raised. At regular “grading” events, injured and deformed fish were disposed of. At just under a year old, around twenty-two-thousand were left and transported to a sea pen, where they were raised to 17.5 months old before harvesting.

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Testing how much fat you can feed fish

Fish in aquaculture were divided into groups and fed diets with different fat content. Fish were anaesthetised and faeces samples squeezed out of them.

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Testing fish for mercury contamination

Wild fish were caught, measured and frozen to be analysed.

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Measuring how stress affects fish

Fish were exposed to chronic stress for four weeks, while 57 non-stressed animals were kept as a control. Signs of stress were noted. At the end of the experiment, all were chilled to death.

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Exposing fish to herbicides

Zebrafish were kept in tanks that were contaminated with different herbicide concentrations for 10 days. They were then mated to herbicide-exposed or control fish. Both generations were tested on behavioural changes at around 4 months of age. 24 fish per treatment were killed and dissected.

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Testing supplements as protection from toxins in over 1,000 fish embryos

Embryos were harvested and kept in Petri dishes for toxicity and treatment tests. Embryos were treated with an antioxidant, a gold salt or both on the first day, and abnormal development was measured on day 5.

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Studying effects of drying rivers on mudfish

Water depth and quality were measured at 24 different sites. Several traps for fish and invertebrates were set at 8 visits, sampling and mostly killing the caught animals (including 15 individuals of the endangered Kōwaro).

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Studying bacterial spread in fish larvae

Bacteria were genetically modified and made fluorescent. Zebrafish were bred, and their larvae were infected with the bacteria. The fish were killed for analyses or used for live imaging under a microscope (and then killed, most likely).

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Investigating effects of invasive fish removal

Using fyke nets and electrofishing, fish were caught on four occasions. Fish were marked with fin clippings around one big removal event where 3 tonnes of fish were caught. In recaptures a week after each marking event, invasive fish caught were killed after the examination.

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Studying fish life cycles

Fish were sedated and their blood and ovarian tissue were sampled three times.

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Developing a model for thermal stress in humans

Guinea pig pups were lightly anaesthetised, connected to devices measuring heart activity and breathing, and wrapped in a temperature-controlling blanket. Their body temperature was either forcefully raised or dropped.

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Testing how too much fructose is bad during pregnancy

Female guinea pigs were mated; some were fed additional sugary water until birth. The pups were used for several glucose tolerance tests and X-rays. All pups were killed in the end.

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Testing a seizure medicine for preterm babies

Pregnant guinea pigs were induced to give birth early, to test medication on their pups.

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Testing the effects of sedatives

Young guinea pigs were treated with different sedatives. Their heart rate and blood pressure were measured before and during each treatment.

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Testing a refined way of anaesthesia in guinea pigs

Guinea pigs were made to inhale anaesthetic gases. Different probes were inserted and attached to the animals to measure responses.

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Studying the effect of fructose during pregnancy

Guinea pigs were fed either normally or supplemented with fruit sugar before and during pregnancy until birth. Mothers and pups were tested for glucose tolerance.

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Studying the effects of meth

Guinea pigs were injected with sedatives, caffeine, and later meth. Under anaesthesia, their livers were cut out before they were killed.

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Studying preterm birth effects on the brain

Pregnant guinea pigs were grouped to give birth normally or be induced early. The pups were put through behavioural tests and then killed for dissection.

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Studying trauma and treatment of cochlear implants

After destroying their hearing with noise, guinea pigs were fitted with cochlear implants. Treatment success was tested before they were killed.

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Testing the measurement of pupil reflexes in Alzheimer’s research

Guinea pigs were repeatedly flashed in the eyes with a phone light to record the pupil responses.

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Teaching animal researchers

A range of animals is used to teach researchers handling and experimental methods.

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Investigating mechanisms slowing down the heart rate

Young guinea pigs were injected with blood thinner before being anaesthetised and dissected.

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Testing a device to assess hearing

Young guinea pigs were anaesthetised, electrodes placed under their skin, and their brain's response to sound was measured. All guinea pigs had one ear damaged, some both ears, before all were killed.

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Studying changes in the inner ear due to inflammation

Guinea pigs were injected into the ear with bacteria. Medical scans were done after injecting chemicals, and most were killed for dissection.

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Studying the effects of medication on memory

Guinea pigs were force-fed different drugs and later tested in a water maze before some were killed. Another group was exposed to carbon dioxide and decapitated.

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Studying how anaesthetics affect intestine movement

Guinea pigs and rats were anaesthetised, then dissected, and then killed, in that order.

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Researching scoliosis genes

Transgenic mice with a specific gene defect were mated. Pregnant mice were at several time points. The unborn babies were taken, skinned, and gutted to stain their skeletons for better pictures.

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Studying hormone influences on obesity and fertility

Transgenic mice were bred to have diabetes symptoms. Together with control mice, they were fed a normal or a high caloric diet and compared for their fertility over 150 days.

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Testing a new stroke treatment

Mice were squeezed into plastic cones, and test drugs were dripped on their nose. An artificial stroke was caused by injecting a chemical into their brain. Before and after, mice had to perform behavioural tests. All were then killed to take their brains.

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Testing another new stroke treatment

Mice were operated on several times. They were made to experience an artificial stroke, were later injected with a possible treatment, and then were injected with a marker. The mice had their memory tested before they were killed.

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Testing prostate cancer drugs

Mice were anaesthetised, and their prostate was injected with cancer cells or a control solution. A 42-day treatment course started three weeks later with different treatment drugs and control solutions. In the end, all mice were killed.

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Testing a heart attack treatment

Mice were trained to eat jelly and then subjected to an artificial heart attack. They received either a new drug or a control substance. Regular heart ultrasounds were performed before they were killed and dissected.

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Studying ovary problems caused by testosterone

Transgenic mice were implanted with a capsule containing either hormones or not. Vaginal smears were done for several weeks, and serial blood tests were performed twice. In the end, all mice were killed.

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Testing an Autism treatment on transgenic mice

Mice were genetically modified to show "autism-like" symptoms. Together with control animals, they were either fed normally or with a high-zinc diet. Invasive behavioural tests were performed. At least some, likely all, were killed.

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Comparing transgenic mice and humans

Mice were anaesthetised, and their body composition was measured several times. Their grip strength and balance were tested with lab equipment. In the end, all mice were killed.

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Testing a new stroke drug for better dexterity

Transgenic mice were anaesthetised, and an artificial stroke was caused. They then received either a test drug or a control solution. After recovery, their food was limited to test their fine motor skills every other week. After two months, they were killed.

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Testing migraine drugs

Mice were injected with potential migraine drugs and anaesthetised. Ultrasound imaging of their ears was taken. One ear was rubbed with capsaicin to record the increased blood flow and compare different drugs, doses, and time points.

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Killing rats and mice for tissue

Rats and mice were anaesthetised, and their necks were broken. Their tissue was then used for research.

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Studying Alzheimer’s and stroke symptoms

One group of transgenic mice were bred and killed at either four or 12 months of age by flushing their hearts. Another group was anaesthetised and caused to have a stroke. They were killed the same way.

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Testing Alzheimer’s treatment on mice

Transgenic and “normal” mice were injected with a special protein and a chemical to mark new brain cells that may have been produced.

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Testing a new Alzheimer’s drug

Newborn mice were killed to collect brain tissue. Adult mice were used to test drug reactions. They were anaesthetised twice; to inject the drugs and to flush their hearts and take their brains.

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Testing if anaesthesia affects the sleep–wake cycle when combined with light treatment

Mice were kept on a 12-hour light/dark cycle and then switched to total darkness. During this time, they were exposed to light once, either with or without anaesthesia. The effect on their activity cycles was monitored. In the end, all were killed.

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Studying the digestion of kiwifruit

Pigs were surgically fitted with an outside access to their intestine. Faeces were collected through anal stimulation, and samples were taken from the intestine for six-hour periods.

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Testing feed supplements for their performance

Pigs were fed diets with different organic acids added. At a specific weight, they were slaughtered to collect samples.

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Comparing the digestion of egg white in different forms

Pigs were acclimated to eating egg whites of different textures. After being deprived of water for two hours, they were fed again and then killed in intervals over six hours.

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Testing ways of injecting nicotine

Pigs were anaesthetised and injected with nicotine through different methods. Blood samples were taken for two hours before the pigs were killed.

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Measuring brain response to tail-docking

Piglets were bought at one to fifteen days old and anaesthetised. Their tails were cut off while measuring brain activity, and then they were killed.

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Testing how cooking affects beef digestion

Pigs were fed ground beef for three days, either raw or cooked. They were then killed to cut out a part of their intestine.

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Trialling a method to measure intestine fermentation

Young pigs were fed a test diet for two weeks while confined in metabolic chambers. After that, they were killed with an anaesthetic injected into the heart.

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Testing how to gas piglets

Piglets were gassed plastic box to record their behaviour and vital signs.

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Testing the accuracy of heart activity measurements

Pigs were anaesthetised, their open chests were equipped with electrodes and closed again. After measurements, the hearts were stopped, images were taken, and the hearts were removed.

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Testing cholesterol absorption from baby formula

One-week-old piglets were kept in metabolic crates and fed baby formula for three weeks. They were then anaesthetised and killed to be dissected.

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Studying the digestion of protein through serial slaughter

Ninety young pigs were housed individually for 13 days; their diet contained kiwi fruit and beef. All were killed to be dissected.

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Studying the inner functions of the heart

Pigs were anaesthetised and their chests were cut open. Electrodes were inserted into their hearts so measurements could be taken before their hearts were removed.

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Testing the effect of pain killers during tail docking

Piglets were anaesthetised and their tails were removed using different methods. During these procedures, the heart and brain activity of the pigs were measured.

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Testing if pigs spread kauri tree sickness

A group of pigs was fed infected kauri roots for one day, and their faeces were collected for a week. Over 270 wild pigs were shot, and their stomach contents was sampled.

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Trialing xenotransplantation for diabetes

Four pigs were used to harvest cells for transplantation into humans.

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Studying sow and piglet behaviour in crates and pens

Sows and their newborn piglets were put in tightly confined crates or pens with slightly more room and their behaviour was observed.

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Comparing effects of anaesthetics on breathing and heart rate

Guinea pigs, rabbits and rats were anaesthetised, and a tube was put into their windpipe through the neck. They were made to breathe anaesthetic gas.

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Investigating how worms spread between lambs and calves

Lambs and calves were infected with worm eggs to see if parasites from cattle can infect sheep.

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Using sheep to try and model how well humans will heal after dental surgery

Sheep had healthy teeth pulled out and the sockets treated in different ways to compare how well the body will heal after a tooth is removed when left untreated vs using a bone graft.

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Preclinical testing of a gene therapy for Batten disease

Sheep with and without a specific gene mutation were checked and scanned regularly for nine months. Affected sheep received gene therapy at different ages. Treated sheep were killed.

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Testing if blocking a cell signal can prevent foetal brain injury

Pregnant sheep were anaesthetised, and the foetuses fitted with electrodes. The umbilical cord was blocked for most of them, and half were treated with a test drug. Mothers and unborn lambs were killed three weeks later.

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Testing the combination of drugs for congestive heart failure treatment

Sheep were anaesthetised and subjected to surgery. Electrodes were used to pace their hearts faster while testing the effect of different drugs.

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Testing the best way to deliver gene therapy drugs

Sheep were anaesthetised. Their heads were drilled into, and their brains injected with test drugs. They were killed after three weeks.

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Testing the potency of pneumonia vaccines for sheep

Lambs were vaccinated twice and regular blood samples were taken for 34 weeks, to test different pneumonia vaccines for sheep.

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Testing the effects and wash-out of painkillers

Lambs were treated with different painkillers or no painkillers at all before tail docking and castration. Their behaviour was monitored.

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Developing “hyperimmune” milk

Sheep were injected with Covid-19 vaccines to see if they produced milk that could be marketed to consumers as providing immunity against certain diseases.

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Studying the genetics of Batten disease on chimeric lambs

Sheep foetuses were removed. After swapping cells between them, they were inserted into other ewes. Lambs born were subjected to X-rays and, at one to three years old, were bled out for dissection.

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Testing pacemaker adjustments

After causing them heart failure, sheep were surgically fitted with pacemakers and measurement devices. Those who survived the procedures were killed after six months.

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Studying methane emission and meat quality

Lambs were tested and killed to assess the relationship between methane emissions, carcass weight and meat quality. Almost 2,000 were put through emission measurements. Over 17,000 were slaughtered.

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Studying the effect of chemicals in normal and high blood pressure

Sheep were surgically fitted with a clip around an artery and compared with others without clips. Measuring devices were added before injecting different chemicals into the hearts of the conscious sheep.

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Comparing success of muscle repair surgery with or without weeks of delay

Sheep were anaesthetised and one side of a pelvis muscle was detached. After several weeks, the muscle was repaired. How well the sheep then walked was noted before all were killed.

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Comparing different designs of dental implants

Sheep were anaesthetised. One leg bone was exposed and fitted with several implants. After 12 weeks, all were killed.

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Trying to model human brain injuries

To study changes in different areas of the brain after brain injuries. Sheep were used to study the effects of traumatic brain injuries in humans.

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Investigating intestine movements

Young pigs and NZ White rabbits were anaesthetised. A part of their intestine was pulled out far enough to record its movements and signalling.

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Harvesting rabbit and pig eyes for lab tests

The eyes of slaughtered rabbits and pigs killed for experiments were used to analyse the structure of the cornea.

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Causing sinusitis in rabbits as a model

NZ White rabbits were anaesthetised, and a sinus tract in their nose was blocked for four weeks to cause sinusitis. After another ten weeks with regular samples, they were killed.

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Testing a new vaccine

NZ White rabbits were injected with a new vaccine type several times before being killed.

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Harvesting eyes for lab tests

The eyes of pigs and rabbits killed for experiments were used to analyse the structure of the cornea.

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Testing the toxicity of some substances

Young NZ White rabbits were force-fed different doses of toxic substances. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after killing them at set time points (or to end their suffering).

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Using a new imaging technology

One NZ White rabbit and rats were killed, and their eyes were removed to use for the study.

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Measuring contractions in exposed rabbit uteruses

Pregnant rabbits were anaesthetised, and their uterus was exposed. Measurements were taken while contraction-inducing injections were given. Then they were all killed for dissection.

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Mapping wave patterns of the small intestine

NZ White rabbits were anaesthetised, their intestines were used for electrode mapping, and then they were killed.

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Studying presence of a virus in rabbits

Wild rabbits were shot, caught by dogs or trapped to test them for virus strains. The infectious solution was then fed to NZ White rabbits in a lab to kill them later.

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Harvesting rabbit colons for lab tests

NZ White rabbits were anaesthetised, a part of their intestine was cut out, and then they were killed.

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Harvesting rabbit bladders for lab tests

NZ White rabbits were anaesthetised, their bladder was cut out, and then they were killed.

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Testing an antimicrobial eye medication

NZ White rabbits were treated with Manuka honey solution in one eye and a control solution in the other eye for five days. Different values like tearing and irritation were measured.

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Using muscles of dead rabbits for imaging

Two NZ White rabbits were killed to use for detailed muscle imaging.

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Measuring jaw bone growth in young rabbits

Young rabbits were anaesthetised and had holes drilled into their jawbones to implant small pieces of metal. X-ray scans were made, and the rabbits were killed.

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Testing the welfare impact of pindone toxin

Three groups of young NZ White Rabbits received pindone-toxin pellets on different schedules. Any rabbit still alive after three weeks was killed.

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