Breeding Colony
The Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) Breeding Colony provides administrative, technical, and husbandry services to investigators who do not have the time, facilities, or resources to manage their own breeding colony.
Although genetically engineered mice are available from commercial vendors, including Jackson Laboratory, Charles River, and ENVIGO, many U-M investigators require additional assistance to maintain their breeding colonies on campus.
The Breeding Colony currently supports over 70 investigators and manages 350+ various strains of genetically engineered and severe combined immuno deficient (SCID) mice through its operation of a Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) barrier environment.
Users must have an approved animal use protocol from the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) prior to utilizing Breeding Colony services.
SCID Colony Information
In order to maintain a SCID colony similar to those offered by commercial vendors, breeder replacement mice must be purchased 2–3 times per year. The frequency of breeder replacement(s) is dependent upon strain and colony size. If a SCID colony is shared between two different laboratories, it is expected that each laboratory shares in the responsibility for purchasing replacement breeders.
All breeding cages are given acidified water (pH ~2.5–3.0) to protect the breeders from opportunistic bacteria. All SCID colonies are also tested monthly for C. bovis.
About the ULAM Breeding Colony
Typical services offered by the Breeding Colony include:
- Setting up breeding consorts
- Maintaining breeding records
- Weaning litters
- Animal identification
- Tissue collection (genotyping purposes)
- Scheduling timed pregnancy/checking copulation plug
Breeding Colony Husbandry Per-Diem Rates
| DESCRIPTION | UNIT | RATE | EFFECTIVE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mice – Breeding Colony Vented | per cage | $ 2.06 | 01/01/2024 |
| Mice – Breeding Colony Static | per cage | $ 2.33 | 01/01/2024 |
| Rat – Breeding Colony | per cage | $ 2.43 | 01/01/2024 |
Breeding Colony Husbandry Hourly Labor Rates
| DESCRIPTION | RATE | EFFECTIVE |
|---|---|---|
| Husbandry Technician Labor Rate/Hour | $ 38.88 | 01/01/2023 |
| Husbandry Technician Labor Rate/Hour Overtime | $ 58.32 | 01/01/2023 |
*Rates subject to change.
Information on other types of animal housing, including containment housing and the ULAM Immunodeficient Mouse Facility, can be found on the Animal Husbandry & Housing page.
Questions?
Contact the ULAM Breeding Colony at [email protected] or (734) 936-1917 for more information on available services, or to schedule a project consultation.