The applicants behind an animal testing centre on the outskirts of Canterbury have hit back at a campaign to block it.

VetQuest, a veterinary research agency, has submitted plans to Canterbury City Council to turn a nursery in Stodmarsh Road into a research facility for animal feed and medicines.

If approved, cows, sheep, pigs and poultry would undergo three to six-month trials of feed, vaccines or pharmaceutical products.

It is understood that during the trials, the animals would be kept in nine-square metre metal pens without access to fields to roam and graze.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has launched a petition against the application, describing the conditions as a “barren, prison-like environment.”

It also says that drug and vaccine trials could lead to animals suffering “dangerous and potentially lethal” health effects.

However, VetQuest maintains its work is necessary to improve the range of food and medical products farmers can use to keep their livestock healthy.

Some of the feed supplements being tested will seek to reduce the use of antibiotics in agriculture, which is feared to be creating a growing threat to human health by spreading resistance to life-saving drugs.

They also say it is common for farm animals in the UK to be housed indoors for part of the winter, due to weather, and that the number of animals involved in testing at any one time would be ‘figures of 10s’.

VetQuest’s animal health consultant Jo Cocker said: “As with human diets, the diets of farm animals change and improve over time and it is important that new crops and food supplements are palatable and suitable for farm animals when they are kept under normal farm settings with the high standards of UK agriculture.

“Evaluating palatability of diets for cattle and sheep will form a major part of the work at the new farm facility.

“It is important to note that all veterinary products and feed ingredients to be evaluated will already be known to be safe including for use in animals and therefore will not pose any danger to the animals, staff or the environment.

“The facility is not for research on human products and does not involve work on laboratory animals or dogs and cats.

“All animals at the new farm will have free access to fresh, clean water and will graze on the farm’s fields or, particularly in winter, will be housed on deep straw bedding and given feed such as hay.”

Ms Cocker also says the health and welfare of all animals at the site will be monitored by trained and experienced staff and veterinarians.

The facility is expected to create three to four new jobs.

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk.