Floor Feeding for Rodents

Adopted by the University Committee on Animal Resources

"Feeders should be designed and placed to allow access to food and minimize contamination with urine and feces" (Guide p. 39). Appropriate feeders should be used as a standard practice. However, sometimes it is necessary to provide small amounts of feed on the floor for a variety of husbandry and animal welfare reasons.

UCAR Approved Conditions for Floor Feeding for Rodents

1. When it is necessary to stimulate rodents to eat or to help animals that have difficulty reaching the feed in elevated feeders.

2. To help animals that may be weak or debilitated due to experimentally induced conditions or spontaneously occurring disease or must have added help in reaching feed.

3. Young rodents, less than 28 days, may require inducement to eat by placing feed on the floor.

4. Sometimes small amounts of moistened feed may be placed on the cage floor to improve the condition or well-being of the animals.

5. Ground or powdered feed may be placed in small dishes or feeders directly on the floor for experimental reasons, to help with rodents incapacitated by malocclusion and for other animal welfare reasons.

6. Any other reason that is justified by the investigator and approved by UCAR. This must be done by submitting a modification form requesting modification of the protocol or describing it in the approved protocol.

UCAR approves the limited use of floor feeding for the reasons stated above. However, the regular practice of floor feeding with no scientific or animal welfare reason is not approved. If you have doubts about the appropriateness of floor feeding for rodents please contact the veterinary staff (x5-2651) or UCAR (x5-1693) for guidance.

2/16/05