The university’s Animal Care Program for Agricultural Animals (ACP-AG), previously known as the Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program (AACUP), was established in 2004 and holds accreditation from the prestigious Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International. This program leverages the knowledge of experienced faculty, academic professionals, and veterinary experts to champion and maintain the highest standards in agricultural animal care through robust Animal Care Programs. Our core mission is dedicated to promoting excellence in every facet of agricultural animal well-being within research and educational settings.
Our Commitment to Superior Animal Care
The central aim of our animal care programs is multifaceted, focusing on several key objectives:
- To guarantee exceptional care and actively foster the health and overall well-being of agricultural animals involved in both research and teaching initiatives.
- To act as a vital resource by offering comprehensive training, educational materials, expert consultation, and specialized technical support to all faculty, students, and staff who are engaged in the care and utilization of agricultural animals for academic and research purposes.
- To stringently ensure full compliance with all pertinent laws, regulations, institutional policies, ethical guidelines, and professional benchmarks that govern the use of agricultural animals in research and teaching environments.
Ensuring Animal Health and Wellbeing: A Collaborative Approach
ACP-AG operates through close partnerships with faculty members, veterinary professionals, and the skilled managers of our agricultural animal research facilities. This collaborative framework ensures that all animals are housed and cared for in strict accordance with the guidelines established in the widely recognized “Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching.” Furthermore, when necessary due to specific biomedical considerations, we also adhere to the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.” The ACP-AG director plays a pivotal role, acting as a key liaison to facilitate communication and coordination among faculty, animal care personnel, livestock managers, students, facility maintenance teams, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and all other stakeholders involved in agricultural animal programs at our institution.
Our Veterinary Care Program, a cornerstone of our animal care programs, delivers essential healthcare and preventative health strategies across all facilities managed by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). Each agricultural animal care unit benefits from a dedicated working committee. This committee comprises the attending veterinarian specializing in agricultural animals, the ACP-AG veterinarian, the ACP-AG Director, the professional manager of the animal care unit, and faculty or staff members who actively utilize animals within that specific unit. This committee structure is crucial for proactively addressing animal health concerns, strategic planning for academic programs, essential facility upgrades and maintenance, refining husbandry practices, and upholding occupational health and safety standards.
Every agricultural animal unit operates under a detailed herd (or flock) health plan. This plan is subject to annual review and revision by the working committee and must receive formal approval from the attending veterinarian for agricultural animals. Similarly, standard operating procedures for the accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and proactive prevention of diseases are also meticulously reviewed and updated each year, ensuring our animal care programs remain at the forefront of best practices.
Consistent and open communication is paramount among all stakeholders. The ACP-AG director conducts regular site visits to all agricultural animal units to promote optimal management and husbandry techniques, identify any facility improvements that are needed, and streamline services for animal users. ACP-AG veterinarians also routinely visit these units to manage emerging animal health issues and carefully review medical records. The IACUC conducts thorough inspections of each unit bi-annually, as mandated by federal regulations. Moreover, ACP-AG veterinarians hold monthly meetings with each unit, and professional livestock unit managers and ACP-AG staff convene quarterly to foster program-wide consistency and improvement in our animal care programs.
Round-the-clock veterinary care is a fundamental aspect of our commitment, available 24/7, 365 days a year. The Farm Animal Reproduction, Medicine and Surgery (FARMS) unit, located within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, provides both emergency and routine veterinary services for animals housed on the Urbana campus. For our outlying stations in southern and western Illinois, we partner with experienced private clinicians to ensure consistent and high-quality care, extending the reach of our animal care programs.
Key Activities of Our Animal Care Programs
The ACP-AG’s comprehensive animal care programs encompass a wide range of critical activities:
- Rigorous oversight of animal husbandry and the daily care protocols for all agricultural animals utilized in research and teaching initiatives.
- Diligent management of animal health and the provision of comprehensive veterinary care across all agricultural animal units.
- Development and continuous refinement of standardized operating procedures (SOPs) specifically tailored for each agricultural animal unit to ensure consistent and optimal care.
- Extensive support and assistance to faculty, students, staff, and all individuals involved in using agricultural animals for research or teaching. This support includes:
- Guidance in the preparation of detailed animal use protocols.
- Pre-review of animal use protocols prior to their submission to the IACUC to streamline the approval process.
- Delivery of targeted training in crucial areas such as animal behavior and pain recognition, aseptic techniques, humane euthanasia methods, and protocol-specific handling, medical, or surgical procedures.
- Provision of expert technical assistance with anesthesia administration, surgical procedures, and other specialized techniques.
- Development of innovative surgical methodologies to improve animal welfare and research outcomes.
- Thorough postoperative evaluation of animals to ensure their well-being and recovery.
- Comprehensive assessments of animal housing facilities to ensure they meet the highest standards of animal welfare and research needs.
- Strategic development of customized solutions to accommodate the specific and evolving needs of researchers and educators working with agricultural animals.
- Proactive dissemination of critical information to animal users regarding all applicable laws, regulations, institutional policies, and ethical guidelines governing the use of agricultural animals in research and teaching.
- Expert advice and support on maintaining accurate and compliant record-keeping practices for animal acquisition, utilization, and disposition.
- Active assistance to the IACUC in monitoring protocol activities and generating detailed reports on animal use within the institution.
Facilities Under the ACP-AG Veterinary Program
Our Veterinary Care Program, integral to our broader animal care programs, extends its health care and health maintenance services to the following facilities:
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
Contact Information
Main Office
Room 275, Large Animal Clinic
1008 W Hazelwood Dr. M/C 004
Urbana, IL 61802
(217) 265-6790 (Phone)
(217) 265-6774 (Fax)
ACP-AG Contacts
Courtney Hayes
Associate Director & Attending Veterinarian for Agricultural Animals
(217) 300-5692
[email protected]
Sara Pearson
Clinical Veterinarian
(217) 300-0896
[email protected]
Kristen Massey
Veterinary Technician III
(217) 265-4962
[email protected]
Christine Stroink Pickering
General Veterinary Technician
(217) 333-2564
[email protected]
