Building approval for new laboratory animal stalls

The University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart expects better animal husbandry and better research conditions through the approval of two new test stables by the state of Baden-Württemberg. The approved new buildings are intended to replace several old buildings on the Unterer Lindenhof in Eningen. They are financed by the university building program "Perspective 2020". The construction cost is 8,1 million euros, the barn sizes are 520 and 1.400 square meters.

With the building permit, the state complied with the request of the university to prefer the buildings to other building projects in Hohenheim because of the urgency. "For example, we asked the state to postpone the renovation of Hohenheim Castle in the heart of our campus until after 2018 in favor of the animal stables," says Rector Prof. Dr. Stephen Dabbert.

There are two reasons for the urgency: "On the one hand, we have a very strong research group in the field of animal nutrition, which we also want to support with better infrastructure," explains the Rector. "On the other hand, we are reacting to changes in the Animal Welfare Act that would not have been possible with the aging old buildings."

Important infrastructure for prominent research associations

In detail, there are two construction measures:

- a new 1.400 square meter poultry complex for EUR 5,4 million. The new building is intended to completely replace the previous poultry farm from the 1970s.
- a 520 square meter farrowing pen for 2,7 million euros. The new stables are being built on the future demolition site of an old free stall barn for cattle from the 1960s.

The research work of the University of Hohenheim in the field of pigs/poultry includes questions on animal nutrition, animal breeding, requirements and welfare of animals in animal husbandry, including special questions such as avoiding feather pecking in chickens, the renaissance of dual-purpose chickens or alternatives to painful piglet castration.

The new infrastructure is of particular importance for the DFG research group P FOWL (FOR 2601). In it, animal scientists from the University of Hohenheim conduct basic research on phosphorus utilization and the importance of phosphorus for animal health and behavior.

"In view of the worldwide scarcity of phosphorus reserves, this is an explosive topic in many respects," explains Rector Prof. Dr. dabbert The German Research Society is therefore funding the work of the research group for three years with around 2 million euros.

Improved management of laying hens, quail and pigs
In addition to research, both construction measures also focus on improving the husbandry of the test animals.

"In the two stables, we house the farm animals in a contemporary way and according to the latest standards," emphasizes Finance Minister Edith Sitzmann.

"On this basis, the connections between the well-being of the animals and food quality at the highest level can be researched," adds Science Minister Theresia Bauer.

University hopes for early solution for small animal house in need of renovation
Prof. Dr. Dabbert approved the building permit as a "significant building block for research projects worth millions" and thanks the state for its willingness to take the university's priorities into account in the construction planning. The University of Hohenheim is therefore optimistic about another urgently needed construction measure - the renovation of the central small animal house.

"I am very grateful to the state ministries for their flexibility and am confident that we will soon find a solution for the small animal house that will allow us to reconcile good animal husbandry and important research interests," said the Rector. The small animal house is primarily used for keeping mice, the second most common experimental animal after laying hens. They would be used for research work on nutrition, health promotion, the immune system and other basic biological research.

Animal experiments are important for university-wide research priorities
Animal experiments are of great importance for the University of Hohenheim. The main research areas “bioeconomy” and “global food security” also include animal production and animal products. In the same way, the research focus on health sciences is currently still dependent on research on animals.

In the laboratory animal report, the university reported a total of 6.070 animals on which an animal experiment was completed last year. The most common experimental animals reported were chickens (3.971), followed by mice (1.730), pigs (152), cattle (89), frogs (47), rats (31) and goats (6). In 81% of cases, these were animal experiments with a low degree of severity (e.g. taking blood samples). 4% were of moderate severity (eg keeping a chicken in an individual cage for several days to collect excrement). 15% were classified as so-called "animal experiments without restoring vital functions" (e.g. killing animals to remove organs or tissue such as muscles, nerves or digestive organs).

The university provides insights into the Hohenheim guidelines for animal experiments, animal experiment statistics, research, teaching, keeping of laboratory animals and practiced alternatives to animal experiments www.uni-hohenheim.de/tierversuche