An innovative approach to nonhuman primate management with RFID tracking.

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ABSTRACT An Innovative Approach to Nonhuman Primate Management with RFID Tracking The Emory National Primate Research Center (EPC) maintains a specific pathogen free (SPF) rhesus macaque breeding colony of approximately 2500 animals that supports a rich research portfolio of over $55 million in nonhuman primate grants in FY22 alone. This large SPF rhesus breeding colony is maintained in large indoor/ outdoor social groups at the EPC Field Station and has been managed to increase production over the past 10 years to meet the high demand for research assignments. The successful colony growth has placed pressure on personnel resources to support the growing breeding colony. In an effort to streamline operations, save on personnel expenses and enhance animal welfare, the EPC is proposing to implement a novel RFID tracking tunnel system in the large breeding compounds to passively track individual monkeys and perform census counts without disruption of the social groups. Integrating this proposed RFID tracking system to replace the current manual census counts will significantly improve operational efficiency and allow personnel time to focus on other breeding colony management objectives resulting in increased production in the colony. This increased production will support the research projects at the EPC as well as the national demand for NHPs for research.