IACUC Policy 560 - Live Animals Used as Feed Sources

Effective Date: August 20, 2025 (revised version; originally adopted on June 15, 2022)

I. Policy Purpose

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, states that “live food sources need to be maintained and managed to ensure a steady supply and the health and suitability of the organism as food” (pp. 84–85). In accordance with the Association of Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International, procedures for maintaining and managing live foods should not undermine the integrity of the organism as food or contribute to sanitation issues. The following policy describes procedures for using live prey as a food source.

II. Policy Definitions

Prey species: vertebrate or invertebrate species fed to vertebrate species as part of regular or experimental husbandry practices. Examples of prey species include fish, mealworms, crickets, Hyalella, shrimp, Artemia sp. larva, and crustaceans.

III. Policy Statement

In aquatic systems, particularly in fish rearing or maintaining amphibian or reptile species, the use of live foods is common. For many cephalopod species, live prey is the only known method of feeding. Prey species need to be treated ethically and legally, and the feeding regime should suit the lifestyle, natural diet, and developmental stage of the animals.

IV. Procedures

If a proposed study includes the use of vertebrate prey species, then the prey species must have its own IACUC approved protocol. Investigators using any live prey species should ensure that animals are fed a complete diet to avoid nutritional deficiency.

If a proposed study includes the use of invertebrate prey species and housing for the prey species will exceed 24 hours, then the IACUC protocol application must include a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the prey species. The IACUC will review the SOP along with the other submitted protocol application documents. The SOP must include the following provisions for terrestrial invertebrate prey species:

• An appropriate diet, available ad libitum.
• A hydration source, either free water or gel, ad libitum.
• A secure enclosure to prevent escape.
• Enough room in the enclosure to prevent trampling and predation.
• Scheduled regular cleaning and maintenance of the prey species enclosure.
• Adequate ventilation for the type of prey animal, size of the enclosure, and number of prey individuals.
• Appropriate light/dark cycles as recommended for the prey species.
• Appropriate temperature and humidity as recommended for the prey species.

For organisms kept under non-terrestrial or other conditions, the standards shall be appropriate for the species.

V. References

Fiorito, G., Affuso, A., Basil, J., Cole, A., de Girolamo, P., D'Angelo, L., Dickel, L., Gestal, C., Grasso, F., Kuba, M., Mark, F., Melillo, D., Osorio, D., Perkins, K., Ponte, G., Shashar, N., Smith, D., Smith, J., & Andrews, P. L. (2015). Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research -A consensus based on an initiative by CephRes, FELASA and the Boyd Group. Laboratory animals, 49(2 Suppl), 1–90. https://doi.org/10.1177/0023677215580006

National Research Council. (2011). Guide for the care and use of Laboratory Animals (8 eds.). The National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12910/guide-for-the-care-and-use-oflaboratory-animals-eighth