Animal testing in Northern Ireland rose 29% in 2021 compared to the previous year with 62% of experiments causing severe or moderate suffering.
Figures released by the Department of Health, which oversees the practice, show 61 beagles and 221 pigs were among the animals used in the 29,221 tests registered last year.
According to the legislation, examples of severe suffering include surgery expected to result in severe post-operative pain, inescapable electric shock and inducing toxicity to the point of death. The most harmful tests were carried out on mice, rats, pigs, fish and birds.
