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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jessica MartinORCiD, Dr Matthew Leach, Dr Jasmine ClarksonORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Rodents remain the predominant mammalian species used for biomedical research and must be humanely killed upon completion of the scientific work. Across the UK, cervical dislocation is reported as the most common method for humanely killing laboratory rodents. Cervical dislocation involves the separation of the vertebrae at the top of the spine and can be achieved manually or mechanically (e.g. using a tool). There is no standardised method for achieving consistent cervical dislocation in the desired location, and no dedicated tool specifically designed, validated and commercially available to achieve accurate and effective dislocation. Previous work has highlighted inaccuracy in method application, and as such, has the potential to risk animal welfare at killing. The aim of this work was to identify the techniques used by personnel across UK institutions for performing cervical dislocation using an online questionnaire. We found marked inconsistencies in technique and the use of tools to aid the application. Mice are predominantly killed via manual operation (i.e. without the aid of a tool), while rats are more often killed using mechanical aids. A wide range of improvised tools (i.e., not designed for killing) were reported, including pens, scissors, and cage scrapers. Further, there was little or no consensus on which physical actions are essential for a successful dislocation (i.e. a stretch and/or a twist), and a lack of reported institutional standard operating procedures. Further work is needed to establish validated methods and clear standards to ensure this common method is applied humanely and consistently.
Author(s): Martin JE, Leach MC, Clarkson JM
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Animal Welfare
Year: 2026
Volume: 35
Online publication date: 29/04/2026
Acceptance date: 24/03/2026
Date deposited: 10/04/2026
ISSN (print): 0962-7286
ISSN (electronic): 2054-1538
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2026.10087
DOI: 10.1017/awf.2026.10087
Data Access Statement: The supplementary material for this article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2026.10087. All data and respective analyses files are freely available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19677806.
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