Reduction
Update: May 2020
Reduction, the second of the 3Rs, is the use of methods to minimise the number of animals used. This includes obtaining comparable information from the use of fewer animals and obtaining more information from the same number of animals.
The Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes states:
Reduction
1.21 The number of animals used in a project must be the minimum necessary to achieve the proposed aim(s) and to satisfy good statistical design. The use of too few animals may invalidate the experimental result and result in wastage of animals.
1.22 The number of animals used may be reduced by the appropriate reuse of individual animals. The benefits of reusing animals must be balanced against any adverse effects on their wellbeing, taking into account the lifetime experience of the individual animal. Reuse of animals requires particular justification and specific AEC approval.
1.23 Activities involving the use of animals must not be repeated within a project or between projects unless such repetition is essential for the purpose or design of the project (e.g. sound experimental design, statistical analysis, corroboration by the same or another investigator).
1.24 Reducing the number of animals used should not result in greater harm, including pain and distress, to the animals used.
1.25 All possible steps must be taken to reduce factors that are not part of the experimental design of the project and are known to contribute to variability of experimental results, including the use of animals of known genetic, biological and behavioural background. Reduction of experimental variables may result in reduced animal use.
1.26 Where practicable, tissue and other biological material from animals being killed must be shared among investigators or deposited in a tissue bank for subsequent distribution.
1.27 Breeding of animals must be managed to avoid or minimise the production of excess animals. A new line of animal should not be generated if a similar suitable animal line is available to the investigator. When a new animal line is generated, the colony should be made available as a source for other investigators, as appropriate.