Cost for UI goat hunt: Maybe $10K

University of Iowa officials estimate that the 10-day hunt for an escaped research goat is likely to cost the institution less than $10,000 in terms staff time, business continuity and related expenses.

This is the first time the university has lost a research animal in recent memory, said Stephen Pradarelli, strategic communications director for the UI Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development.

The goat, nicknamed William during his period of liberation, had been acquired by the university from a local provider in September, Pradarelli said via email. He was a small part of a multiproject, multiyear study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, according to information on a federal research website.

The research involved potentially painful procedures, but Pradarelli said that all procedures in the study were done under anesthesia, and post-procedural pain relief was provided to the animals.

The goat escaped Jan. 29 while officials were taking him to a vehicle at the UI Research Park in Coralville. The animal spent 10 days roaming the local area, garnering attention from homeowners who spotted him and followers of a Twitter account in his honor, before UI police recovered him.

UI has suspended the specific protocol for the research project involving the goat while the incident is investigated by compliance staff and members of UI's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Funding for the research project, which is in its ninth year, is $1.4 million, a small portion of which covers the protocol involving the goat, Pradarelli said. The project's funding is not affected by the suspension.

In response to the goat's escape, UI compliance staff and animal care committee members are reviewing all relevant policies, practices, procedures, personnel and training by the lab, as well as associated facilities and equipment.

UI has about about $111 million of active public and private research funding associated with research projects that involve the use of vertebrate animals. The funding covers many other activities beyond the use of animals.

The university reports that it uses about 70,000 vertebrate animals in research. The vast majority — as much as 99.5 percent — are mice, rats, fish, frogs and pigeons. There are 14 goats.

UI officials have turned down requests to relocate the goat to one of several animal sanctuaries specializing in former research subjects. The goat, they say, remains involved in federally funded research.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has called for an investigation of UI's handling of the goat, arguing that the animal's escape was the result of violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Reach Jeff Charis-Carlson at 319-887-5435 or jcharisc@press-citizen.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffcharis.