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IG011: Guideline for Transferring Animals from Agricultural to Biomedical Facilities

IACUC Guideline Number: IG011, Endorsed By: IACUC, Approval Date: 5/11/2023, Version: 4

1) The Principal Investigator (PI) and the Farm manager/vendor should identify the species of choice and specific animals prior to transfer of animals to biomedical facilities.

2) Timeline for notification of Campus Animal Resources (CAR) to initiate large animal transfer into facilities:

  • Approximately 6 weeks prior to transfer of animals into the facility, the PI will alert DL.MSUFarmVet@msu.edu and carinfo@msu.edu to the number of animals that will be needed for studies. This will allow CAR adequate time to prepare pens in housing rooms and establish medical files, etc. to the number of animals that will be needed for studies.
  • Animal health and medical information must be received to DL.MSUFarmVet@msu.edu for each animal to be transferred. Animals cannot be transferred until all health history information is reviewed and approved by CAR veterinarians.
  • Appropriate animal diet must be identified that will meet nutritional objectives and should be requested at time of CAR notification to allow for processing at farm sites or to order from food vendor; content analysis to be conducted by PI for lots milled on

3) Animal health pre-requisites for large animal housing in biomedical facilities:

  • Vaccination/health history from farm/vendor
  • Deworming history and any fecal analyses (egg counts)
  • Record of medical treatments provided historically/currently.
  • Prophylactic antibiotic regimen, if needed, to treat outbreaks of disease related to shipping stress
  • Results of Q Fever testing (for ruminants) at least 2 weeks prior to the move into CAR facilities

4) Animal descriptors that must accompany delivery of each animal:

  • Individual identification (e.g. tag, tattoo)
  • Breed
  • Age
  • Body Weight
  • Sex
  • Expected gestation stage and delivery due date (if applicable)

5) Animals showing overt signs of disease (respiratory signs, lameness, diarrhea, neurological abnormalities) may be rejected from entry to the biomedical building and returned to the farm/vendor for replacement.

6) Animal medical records will be maintained within CAR and a physical exam will be conducted by CAR veterinary staff upon arrival of the animal to the

7) Follow-up fecal analyses may be conducted by CAR within 1 week of movement into animal facility if physical exam findings are suggestive that more testing is needed.

Species Specific Expectations

Sheep:

  • Appropriate vaccination program is expected, including Clostridium perfringens C & D, and Clostridium tetani (including ewes in last month of pregnancy and lambs). All other vaccinations will be based on origin history and risk assessment.
  • Program for appropriate internal and external parasite treatment:
    • History of fecal analysis upon arrival from the vendor
    • Mucous membranes (using FAMACHA system of scoring) will be completed upon arrival examination. Any animal scoring  >3 will have a fecal analysis repeated.
    • If fecal egg count is > 1000 eggs per gram of Strongyle sp., a course of dewormer(s) treatment will be administered. During cooler weather months, treatment may be administered if fecal egg count is > 500 eggs per gram Strongyle sp.
  • Foot assessment prior to shipment.
  • Q fever test for individual animals (send for IFA/ELISA test to MSU VDL; IDEXX Laboratories is an option). Sheep must have Q fever serology (ELISA or IFA test) results completed at least 2 weeks prior to the move from the farm/vendor to the biomedical

Swine:

  • An appropriate vaccination program is expected and will be evaluated based on origin and expected housing. Vaccination programs will be evaluated (e.g. swine influenza) on a case-by-case basis.
  • Program for appropriate internal and external parasite treatment if the vendor has no established protocols in place.
    • Fecal sample will be collected and analysis completed for internal parasites.
    • If fecal results indicate worm burden, deworm and move after 5-7
    • Evidence of external parasites will be based on clinical evaluation of pigs upon arrival (scabies!).
  • Foot assessment prior to shipment.
  • Biomedical facility entry limitations for research personnel and/or visitors:
    • With travel outside the US & Canada, persons should not be permitted into MSU agricultural animal facilities for a minimum of 7 days after travel, per institutional
    • With exposure to domestic or Canadian non-MSU agricultural species, particularly swine and poultry, persons should not be permitted into MSU facilities for a minimum of 48 hours, per institutional recommendations.

Note: If there is a need to access the facilities sooner than the above limitations, a risk evaluation can be done by veterinary and facility staff, on a case-by-case basis, to minimize any disruption in research/other work.