Number of Animal Procedures in the UK
Every year the Home Office releases the statistics on animal research for the preceding year. In 2010, the total number of procedures was 3.7 million, this rose to almost 3.8 million 2011. The total number of animals is slightly smaller as some animals were used for more than one procedure. In 1987 the UK changed the way in which it counted animals, from the total number of animals to the total number of procedures. Most of the rises in recent years are a result of rising number of Genetically Modified animals (mainly GM mice) used. These small rises are also set against large rises in R&D spending in the sector as a whole.
Since 1995 spending on research more than doubled whereas the number of procedures has risen by only about 30%.
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As we can see, mice, rats, birds and fish account for 97% of all research in the United Kingdom. Dogs and cats account for approximately 0.1% and primates account for around 0.05%. Invertebrates such as fruit flies and nematode worms are widely used by researchers but are not covered by the Animal Act and are thus not included.
When we look at the other uses of animals in the UK we see that those killed for medical research (and the huge benefits that go with it) are far outweighed by the numbers of fish and chickens eaten, and even by the number of birds and other wildlife killed by domestic cats.
Finally, it is worth remembering the huge benefits brought about by animal research. Here are some (approximate) annual figures of treatment used that were developed through animal research.
Sources:
(1) Home Office: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/other-science-research/spanimals11/spanimals11?view=Binary
(2)http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/the-animals/numbers-of-animals
