University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DIVISION OF ANIMAL RESOURCES and
AGRICULTURAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE PROGRAM

Section 3

The Division of Animal Resources

The Division of Animal Resources (DAR) was established as an administrative unit of the Graduate College to facilitate implementation of policy and to provide professional skills and services to the campus. The Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program (AACUP) is an offshoot that was formally initiated in July 2004. Whereas DAR previously served all animal units and animal users at UIUC, the new system allows AACUP to focus on agricultural animals and DAR to focus on traditional laboratory animals. The AACUP and DAR work in conjunction with the IACUC to ensure an effective animal care and use program for UIUC.

The DAR and AACUP assure compliance with the applicable standards, laws, and regulations by overseeing programs of animal care through the animal care units. In addition, DAR directly manages the laboratory animal facilities on campus which are located at:

• Beckman Institute
• Burrill Hall
• Edward R. Madigan Laboratory
• Medical Sciences Building
• Morrill Hall
• Psychology Building
• Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building
• Institute of Genomic Biology (completion Fall 2006)

The veterinary care program of the AACUP is staffed by veterinarians with expertise in each of the agricultural species in the UIUC system. The Attending Veterinarian for Agricultural Animals, the coordinator of the AACUP, a veterinary technician, and a secretary are housed in the AACUP office, which is located in 200A of the Large Animal Clinic of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The Coordinator of the AACUP also maintains an office in room 116 of the Animal Sciences Laboratory in the Department of Animal Sciences in the College of ACES.

The agricultural animal research and teaching units are operated by the College of ACES and the College of Veterinary Medicine and are served by the AACUP. These agricultural animal facilities are:

• Beef Cattle and Sheep Field Laboratory
• Dixon Springs Agricultural Center (DSAC; beef and swine units)
• Equine Research and Teaching Unit
• Imported Swine Research Laboratory (ISRL)
• Large Animal Clinic (LAC)
• Lincoln Avenue Dairy
• Orr Beef Research Center
• Physiology Research Laboratory (PRL)
• Poultry Research and Teaching Unit
• Surgery and Obstetrics Laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine (SOL)
• Swine Research Center (SRC)
• Veterinary Medicine Research Farm (VMRF)

The DAR and AACUP are responsible for assuring that the care of animals used in research and teaching is professionally sound and that high standards of humane treatment of animals are observed. The functions and authority of the DAR and AACUP include:

1. Working closely with the VCR, College Deans, and the IACUC to provide ongoing and strong leadership for the campus animal care and use program.
2. Advising the administration, faculty, and animal care units with regard to regulations, guidelines, and professional standards pertaining to animal care and use, including providing guidance and expertise regarding proper animal environment, housing and management, physical plant and biosafety.
3. Interpreting and aiding complaince with all federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines concerning the utilization of animals in research and teaching activities.
4. Acting as a liaison with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the IACUC, and regulatory, funding, and accreditation agencies concerning animal welfare and use activities.
5. Providing high quality care and promoting health and well-being of agricultural and laboratory animals used for research and teaching, which includes the assurance of appropriate veterinary care consistent with regulatory and accreditation expectations. Providing training programs for campus faculty, staff and students involved in the care and use of agricultural and laboratory animals as required by federal law.
6. In cooperation with the Division of Environmental Health and Safety administer the UIUC Plan for Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research and Teaching Animals.

last updated: February 16, 2006