This training module applies to all farm animals derived through deliberate human technological intervention, including: dairy and beef cattle dairy.

This training module applies to all farm This training module applies to all farm animals derived through deliberate human animals derived through deliberate human technological intervention, including: technological intervention, including: dairy and beef cattle dairy and beef cattle sheepsheepgoats goats swine swine poultrypoultryhorseshorsesfarmed wildlifefarmed wildlife

Introduce the issues related to the impacts of genetic Introduce the issues related to the impacts of genetic engineering on farm animalsengineering on farm animals

Provide an appreciation for the special care Provide an appreciation for the special care requirements of genetically-engineered farm animalsrequirements of genetically-engineered farm animals

Provide investigators with references and resources for Provide investigators with references and resources for the ethical use of genetically-engineered farm animals in the ethical use of genetically-engineered farm animals in sciencescience

Basic principles of farm animal welfare, fundamental needs, acquisition, routine handling and specialized procedures and termination of scientific use are covered in the CCAC training module on: the ethical use and care of farm animals in science

Overview of genetically-engineered Overview of genetically-engineered animalsanimals

Welfare issuesWelfare issues

Regulations Regulations

Special consideration for potential Special consideration for potential alterations in care and nutritionalterations in care and nutrition

Genetically-engineered animals:Genetically-engineered animals:have a random or targeted genetic have a random or targeted genetic

change (addition, deletion or change (addition, deletion or substitution) due to deliberate human substitution) due to deliberate human technological interventiontechnological intervention

Special considerations:Special considerations:unexpected welfare impactsunexpected welfare impactsethical concernsethical concerns risk to humans, environment, etc. risk to humans, environment, etc.

See CCAC guidelines on: genetically-engineered animals used in science (in prep.) for further information

Pronuclear microinjection of embryos

C. Forsberg

Many potential issues may arise from genetic Many potential issues may arise from genetic engineering; a few examples:engineering; a few examples:high stillborn rates and low short-term survival rateshigh stillborn rates and low short-term survival rateschronic long-term health issues, developmental chronic long-term health issues, developmental

issues, and physiological abnormalitiesissues, and physiological abnormalities

Investigators should be aware that in addition to the intended effects of genetic engineering (e.g., deliberate production of diseases or gene function abnormalities),

unintended effects are also likely

Additional regulations for genetically-engineered animals, as Additional regulations for genetically-engineered animals, as well as their progeny and productswell as their progeny and products

Environmental release and indirect human health impacts of Environmental release and indirect human health impacts of genetically-engineered animals regulated by Environment genetically-engineered animals regulated by Environment Canada and Health Canada under the Canada and Health Canada under the Canadian Canadian Environmental Protection ActEnvironmental Protection Act,, 1999 1999

Animal Feed Division of Canadian Food Inspection Agency Animal Feed Division of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) requires products and by-products to be assessed on (CFIA) requires products and by-products to be assessed on safety of feed to:safety of feed to: livestocklivestock humans (worker/bystander exposure and consumption of products)humans (worker/bystander exposure and consumption of products) environmentenvironment

Records outlining the specifics of Records outlining the specifics of any genetic modification are any genetic modification are necessarynecessary facilitate accurate follow-up care facilitate accurate follow-up care

for health and welfarefor health and welfareshould be in accordance with should be in accordance with

regulatory agency and regulatory agency and institutional requirementsinstitutional requirements

Two separate forms of identification are necessary for Two separate forms of identification are necessary for genetically-engineered farm animalsgenetically-engineered farm animalspermanent (e.g., microchip or tattoo)permanent (e.g., microchip or tattoo)easy to identify and read (e.g., ear tag)easy to identify and read (e.g., ear tag)

Need to find a non-copyrighted picture

In addition to following species-specific In addition to following species-specific guidelines, special consideration should be guidelines, special consideration should be given to:given to:biosecurity measures to prevent accidental biosecurity measures to prevent accidental

release of genetically-engineered farm animals release of genetically-engineered farm animals (e.g., transporting such animals separately from (e.g., transporting such animals separately from conventional farm animals)conventional farm animals)

physiological impact of any genetic modifications physiological impact of any genetic modifications (e.g., immunosuppression) (e.g., immunosuppression)

At least two physical barriers are required At least two physical barriers are required when confining genetically-engineered farm when confining genetically-engineered farm animalsanimals

Maintain secure confinementMaintain secure confinementlimit access to authorized personnel onlylimit access to authorized personnel onlyscreen and log all visitors and vehiclesscreen and log all visitors and vehiclesadhere to any additional regulationsadhere to any additional regulations

Providing care tailored to the special needs of Providing care tailored to the special needs of genetically-engineered farm animals is important for genetically-engineered farm animals is important for both good animal welfare and for achieving scientific both good animal welfare and for achieving scientific goalsgoals higher levels of monitoring required to identify unanticipated higher levels of monitoring required to identify unanticipated

welfare concernswelfare concerns

Care and nutrition of genetically-engineered farm Care and nutrition of genetically-engineered farm animals will be heavily dependent on the:animals will be heavily dependent on the: impact of specific genetic engineering methods (e.g., a impact of specific genetic engineering methods (e.g., a

transgene introduced may alter physiology)transgene introduced may alter physiology) intended end use of animals or their products (e.g., alteration to intended end use of animals or their products (e.g., alteration to

conventional feeding practices may be required)conventional feeding practices may be required)

PHYSIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS ALTERED BY GENETIC MODIFICATION

CHANGES IN DIGESTION AND ABSORPTION AND UTILIZATION OF NUTRIENTS

POTENTIAL DEFICIENCIES AND TOXICITIESE.G., ANIMALS KEPT INDOORS MAY REQUIRE VITAMIN D

SUPPLEMENTATION

UBC Animal Welfare Program

Considering the intended end use of genetically-Considering the intended end use of genetically-engineered farm animals will help dictate any engineered farm animals will help dictate any necessary changes to feeding regimenecessary changes to feeding regime

alteration to conventional feeding alteration to conventional feeding practices (e.g., pesticide-free feed practices (e.g., pesticide-free feed to animals producing to animals producing pharmaceuticals in their milk)pharmaceuticals in their milk)

offspring of animals used for offspring of animals used for producing products within their milk producing products within their milk will need adapted feeding programswill need adapted feeding programs

revealing special needs and/or problems stemming from specific genetic revealing special needs and/or problems stemming from specific genetic engineering methodsengineering methods

developing special care methods for animals in the same applicationsdeveloping special care methods for animals in the same applications determining relevant endpointsdetermining relevant endpoints

Three grower hemizygous Enviropigs

Dr. C. Forseberg

Systematic wellness assessment helps Systematic wellness assessment helps to identify potential effects of genetic to identify potential effects of genetic engineering on physiological state; engineering on physiological state; potential indicators of issues:potential indicators of issues:

changes in behaviourchanges in behaviour abnormal physical changesabnormal physical changes

Careful observation helps mitigate Careful observation helps mitigate adverse welfare consequences by:adverse welfare consequences by:

See CCAC training module on: pain, distress and endpoints (2003)

for further information regarding endpoints

Genetic engineering may have adverse effects on farm Genetic engineering may have adverse effects on farm animalsanimals

Special consideration should be given to:Special consideration should be given to: regulations, identification and transportationregulations, identification and transportation meeting special care and nutrition needs of the genetically-meeting special care and nutrition needs of the genetically-

engineered farm animals based on the exact modifications made engineered farm animals based on the exact modifications made and intended end useand intended end use

Paying attention to the special needs of genetically-Paying attention to the special needs of genetically-engineered farm animals will result in improved scientific engineered farm animals will result in improved scientific outcomes outcomes

Investigators should strive to achieve their scientific goals in line with the best possible animal welfare standards