Share thisStop and think for a moment about the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and requirements that come into play within your animal facility — HVAC, light, disinfection, feeding, watering, animal protection, employee protection, cross-contamination, documentation…the list goes on and on. As an accredited research organization, you have made the commitment to uphold standards that result in a happier and healthier environment for your study subjects.
Now, stop and think about whether the methods you use to transport animals measure up to those same standards mentioned above. Some will be able to say yes, others will say no.
As the tools for proper animal facility management have evolved over the years, so too have the tools for proper animal transportation. Animal facilities now enjoy one of the greatest luxuries available in any business today—CHOICE. You may now choose between isolators and racks, automated or manual watering and feeding systems, food, filtration, etc. Similarly, you may now choose between various methods and materials when shipping or receiving animals to or from virtually any facility in the world.
Crating
Without question, the most important component of successful transport is proper crating. Virtually every breeder of rodents in the world today offers their transport crates for sale. Each company offers its own unique list of crate features and benefits. In some cases, the crates that they ship their production animals in can be autoclaved and re-used. Some features to keep in mind when selecting the crates for your next shipment should include rigidity, ventilation, reusability, compartmentalization, clear-lid or opaque lids, and security. Both Taconic Farms and The Jackson Laboratory offer reusable transport crates. Charles River Laboratories, Harlan, and Simonsen Laboratories offer disposable transport crates. Specialized transport crates are also available from Charles River and Transport Container Corp. Consult with each company’s local representative for construction specifics and pricing.
Next in line for consideration when packing your rodents for transport are proper food and moisture sources. Always put at least one extra day’s worth of nutrition in the crates, even if the animals are only moving across town. Remember that just because the animals left your facility at 10:00 a.m. and were delivered across town at 11:00 a.m., that they were not necessarily unpacked immediately upon arrival. While some may laugh at the idea of placing water bottles in transport crates, many shippers still do this. Whenever possible, utilize a moisture source that is a gel. SE Lab Group, Charles River Labs, Transport Container Corp., and Harlan all offer gel-based moisture sources. While gel will offer the necessary hydration source, it is not nutritionally complete and must be supplemented with dry rodent feed. Properly supplied, crated, and transported, rodents regularly survive up to ten days in transit.