National statistics

Ad hoc data on non-human primates used in experimental procedures for the first time

Updated 17 November 2022

1. Introduction and definitions

Data on the generation and self-sustaining colony status of non-human primates (NHPs) used in scientific procedures to produce the Statistics of scientific procedures on living animals publication has previously been collected to the following definitions:

Generation

Give the generation (maternal line) of each animal:

• F0 - wild caught
• F1 - progeny of wild caught females
• F2 or greater - progeny of captive bred females

Self-Sustaining Colony status

For new world primates (marmosets and tamarins) a self-sustaining colony is a colony that does not contain any wild caught animals, is kept in a way that ensures animals are accustomed to humans and is sustained only using animals sourced from either within or from other self-sustaining colonies

For Macaques (and other old-world primates) a self-sustaining colony is a colony that no longer sources animals from the wild and is sustained only using captive bred animals. In the case of old-world primates however the colony may still contain some wild caught animals provided it is no longer sourcing animals from the wild.

The Animals in Science Committee have raised concerns about differences in definitions between those in the statistics release and those on the data collection form completed by licensed establishments in their wider report on non-human primates. We have reviewed the statistics release and corrected the definitions within as of 17 November 2022.

In order to provide a more comprehensive representation of generations of non-human primates in colonies used in procedures, we have collected data for this ad-hoc release using the following definitions:

Generation

• F0 - wild caught primates
• F1 - first generation of primates bred in captivity, where either mother or father is F0
• F2 (paternal line unknown) - offspring of primates bred in captivity, where mother is F1 or higher, and father is unknown
• F2 - offspring of primates bred in captivity, where both mother and father are F1 or higher

Self-Sustaining Colony status

(a) the colony is kept in captivity in a way that ensures the animals are accustomed to humans
(b) the colony consists only of animals that have been bred in captivity
(c) the colony is sustained only by animals being bred within the colony or animals being sourced from other colonies that meet paragraphs (a) and (b)

2. Headline findings

The summary-level statistics accompanying this ad-hoc release show how this definition change affects the statistics on non-human primates used for the first time in experimental procedures in 2020 and 2021.

As part of this data collection exercise, all establishments which use non-human primates in procedures were contacted. All establishments have confirmed whether the new definitions change their previously submitted data and, where it has, new data has been provided. We have presented the changes to the published data in tables 2 and 3.

Some of the establishments have provided estimates as, while information about colony status could be collected, corroborating this with the primates used in procedures could not be completed within the timeframes set for this ad-hoc data collection.

Data presented in table 1 relates to table 2.3 in the main statistical release and shows the number of primates used for the first time in procedures, in 2020 and 2021.

The data shows that, under the revised definition, some non-human primates could not be classified as second generation bred in captivity (F2) due to the generation status of the father not being known, and some non-human primates could not be classified as from self-sustaining colonies due to the existence of wild-caught animals in some colonies although those colonies may not have sourced animals from the wild in many years.

Tables 2 and 3 show the differences between total figures for the old definitions, and the new definitions. All data presented on changes relate to primates used for the first time in procedures, hence the number of primates is equal to the number of procedures.

In 2020 one primate is now classed as “F2 paternal line unknown”. In 2021 51 primates are classed as “F2 paternal line unknown”. Of these, 39 primates were previously classed as F1, and 12 were previously classed as F2. Generation reporting has changed because previous data collection on generation was only determined by the mother’s lineage. In the latest data collection, the data on the generation reflects both the mother’s and father’s lineage.

In 2020, 540 primates are now classed as being from non self-sustaining colonies, which were previously reported as coming from self-sustaining colonies. For 2021, 1,347 are now classed as being from non self-sustaining colonies which were previously reported as self-sustaining.

Reporting of self-sustaining colony status has changed because colonies containing old-world primates may still contain some wild caught animals even if new animals are no longer sourced from the wild. Under the new data collection definition, colonies containing any wild caught animals are classified as non self-sustaining. Establishments are able to ascertain which of their colonies are self-sustaining or non self-sustaining under the new definition, however as part of this exercise have not been able to fully check this for each procedure returned, hence some of the data provided is estimated.

3. Future publications

Recording definitions will be updated for the 2022 data collection, which will include revisions to the 2021 and 2020 data where necessary. Data will be revised in line with our revisions policy, detailed in the main release

For the 2022 data collection, we will work with establishments to check feasibility of recording to new definitions, and add new steps to our quality assurance processes to ensure alignment between the data collection guidance and published statistics.