Welfare Science

Poultry Welfare in Research: 3Rs Application

Application of the 3Rs - Replace, Reduce, and Refine - to poultry research is improving welfare outcomes while maintaining scientific value.

Key Facts

Poultry are among the most numerous animals used in agricultural and biomedical research
Replacement of poultry in some research areas with cell cultures and computational models is advancing
Refinement of housing conditions and husbandry practices improves welfare during research procedures
Reduction strategies including improved statistical power calculations decrease animal numbers needed

Welfare Considerations

Applying the 3Rs to poultry research is a welfare and ethical imperative. Research institutions and funding bodies are increasingly requiring 3Rs justification for poultry use, driving both welfare improvement and methodological innovation.

What You Can Do

Support research funding that requires 3Rs justification for animal use
Engage with laboratory animal welfare organisations developing 3Rs tools for poultry research
Advocate for 3Rs principles to be explicitly integrated into poultry research ethics frameworks