OXFORD University has defended its use of animals testing following hundreds of protesters marching in the city to decry the 'cruel' practice.

Read our original story - hundreds march to end 'cruel' animal testing

A statement said in 2018 there were 219,551 procedures carried out using animals by the University but that 81.8 per cent of procedures were classed as 'sub-threshold', non-recovery or mild, including tagging wild animals for conservation research and breeding genetically modified mice.

Oxford Mail:

It went on to say technological advances were offering an increasing range of alternatives to animal research, and added: “We are pleased to say that research on animals only forms a small part of the University’s overall programme of biomedical research.

“The majority of our research is currently carried out using either in-vitro techniques or the study of human beings.

"However, we are not yet at the point where these techniques or computer modelling could entirely replace the need for animal research.

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“While some animal research is still essential for medical progress, any researcher planning to use animals in their research must first show why there is no alternative and what will be done to minimise numbers and suffering.”

It stressed the University was committed to replacing the use of animals with alternative techniques, reducing the number of animals used and refining the way experiments are carried out, to make sure animals suffer 'as little as possible'.

"The University has consistently been at the forefront of innovative and life-saving science, in areas including cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, HIV, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and many more diseases that cause suffering and death.

Oxford Mail:

"Our policy is to minimise the use of animals in research, consistent with our ongoing commitment to make significant advances on important problems of human health.

"Where animal research is necessary, the University provides housing and care that always meets and wherever possible exceeds the legal requirements."

On Saturday around 400 animals rights campaigners marched from Oxpens Park to Oxford University's biomedical sciences building in South Parks Road shouting 'it's not science, it's violence'.