Understanding Cage Cards: Essential Elements for Animal Care

Cage cards are the unsung heroes of laboratory animal facilities. You might not think about them often, but these little cards contain key information that governs the day-to-day care and handling of research animals. So, what exactly do these cards include? Let’s pull apart the essential details, taking a closer look at what’s on those cards, and more importantly, what’s not.

First off, we need to clarify that cage cards are not merely decoration. They serve a crucial function in ensuring that animal care aligns perfectly with approved research protocols. When you see a cage card, you’ll typically find essential points like the protocol number, the investigator’s name, and the source of the animal. That’s the nitty-gritty information helping ensure that everything runs smoothly in the research lab.

Now, let’s break down those components. The protocol number is vital because it links directly to the study's formal documentation outlining how animals should be treated throughout the research. It’s like a roadmap for animal care, ensuring every step of the protocol is honored. Isn’t it reassuring to know there’s a structured approach to how research animals are handled?

Next on the list is the investigator's name. This is pretty straightforward: identifying who’s responsible for the animals facilitates easy communication and accountability. When things go awry—because let’s face it, they sometimes do—it’s important to know who to reach out to. It’s all about teamwork and safeguarding animal welfare, making it easier for everyone involved to keep track.

And then we have the source of the animal. This matters more than you might think. Knowing where the animal comes from helps researchers maintain traceability and understand any relevant health or genetic history. It’s like having a family tree for your test subjects, which can be incredibly useful as experiments unfold.

Now, here’s where it gets a little tricky. While it might be tempting to include every bit of administrative information on a cage card, one piece of info that doesn’t belong is research budget information. Yep, that’s right! Budget data might be crucial for the higher-ups but is generally viewed as administrative and doesn’t get a spot on the cage card. Why? Because it doesn’t affect daily care or animal welfare. It’s sort of like going to a restaurant and finding the daily specials are written on napkins—great if you need to order, but not necessarily relevant for managing the cooks!

So, think of cage cards as functional tools focused entirely on animal care and research management. Keeping extraneous details off the cards ensures that caregivers aren’t overwhelmed with unnecessary information. All in all, understanding what goes on a cage card—and what doesn’t—can have a huge impact on both the quality of research conducted and the welfare of the animals involved. Next time you’re in a lab, take a moment to appreciate these small but mighty cards that play such a large role in the research game!