General Information
Husbandry Services
General Information
The primary duty of the CRF staff is to provide the daily husbandry and care of research animals. This includes cleaning and basic maintenance of the animal facilities. Texas State’s Facilities Services maintains the environmental systems (e.g. air handling, heating, cooling, plumbing, and lighting) and does other maintenance (e.g. painting, repairs, and new construction) at the request of the facility manager.
Researcher Provided Care
Minimum husbandry and care requirements are set by federal regulation and policy. Husbandry and care of live vertebrates in the CRF is done by trained animal care staff. Researchers or teaching faculty/staff may be permitted to assume husbandry and/or daily care of animals once trained by the CRF staff and approved by the IACUC.
Animals, like humans, tend to be conservative and do not appreciate irregular, unpredictable occurrences. Unless it conflicts with your study design, you should establish a regular schedule for:
- Feeding routines
- Cleaning routines
- Sanitation procedures
- Experimental procedures
Animal caging/housing is an important aspect of a good animal care facility and program. The following are required features of appropriate animal caging/housing:
- Facilitate animal well-being, meet research requirements, and minimize experimental variables.
- Space must be adequate -- permitting freedom of movement and normal postural adjustments and provide an appropriate resting place.
- Provide a comfortable environment (species specific).
- Escape proof.
- Easy access to food and water.
- Adequate ventilation.
- Meet animals' biological needs.
- Keep animals dry and clean.
- Avoid unnecessary physical restraint.
- Protect animals from known hazards.
- Provide ability to observe animal (at least once every 24 hours).
You should make an effort to provide environmental enrichment for your animals when it will not interfere with research, teaching or testing objectives. There are many publications available on environmental enrichment in a variety of species. The CRF staff or veterinarian can help you select appropriate enrichment products for your animals.
Facility Access - User Access
Access to the facilities is limited to CRF and Veterinary staff, Facilities personnel, IACUC members performing required duties, and personnel on approved IACUC protocols being conducted within the facility. There are several things that must be completed before you can be granted access:
- Complete CITI or AALAS Learning Library online training and be added as personnel to an animal use protocol (Note: Additional training may be required prior to conducting specific activities but will not hold up facility access authorization.)
- Complete Occupational Health & Safety Program requirements
- Attend a CRF orientation session. These occur on an as-needed basis. Contact the CRF manager to schedule an appointment.
Animal Facility access is a privilege that comes with responsibilities
- All CRF users are expected to immediately report facility problems or safety issues to the facility manager.
- Immediately report sick, injured, or dead animals to the CRF staff.
- Request permission from the CRF manager prior to bringing unauthorized persons into the CRF.
- Never share your ID prox card with anyone.
- Only enter the animal facilities when you have specific work to conduct there. Do not use it for non-animal related activities without permission from the CRF manager.
- TXST expects that all authorized CRF users will assist the facility staff and campus police in maintaining the security of our animal facilities by immediately reporting any unauthorized (known or suspected) access to the facility.