Pricing, holidays, rat feed & strain update
Pricing, holidays, rat feed & strain update
As we head into the end of the year, we are happy to share several important updates, including 2026 pricing details, a rat feed survey, a reminder about our hot weather guidelines, holiday period operations, and new strain tier adjustments.
2026 Pricing
New pricing has now been published on our website, effective 1 January 2026.
Pricing has been reviewed and adjusted on a strain-by-strain basis rather than applied as a blanket increase. Each change reflects the specific demand and maintenance costs associated with that strain. In addition, pricing for males and females has been standardised to ensure consistency across all strains.
These changes will help us continue to sustainably provide high-quality animal models while keeping them available to Australian researchers.
The ordering portal will be updated with the 2026 pricing next week. Any animals already purchased for 2026 will be charged at the 2025 pricing.
Rat feed surveys
Ozgene ARC is evaluating a transition to a new rat feed to support improved animal health and welfare outcomes and to achieve better alignment of animal body weights with published reference data. For now, the mouse diets will remain as they are for all stock strains.
As we explore the rat feed option, we would appreciate your feedback through a short survey to help guide our decision. Your input will help us plan carefully and ensure any future changes best support your research needs.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and for your continued support.
Hot weather guidelines
With warmer weather on the way, this is a reminder of our hot weather shipping guidelines to help keep animals safe and reduce the risk of heat stress during transport.
We work closely with Jetpets, our primary transport provider, and monitor weather forecasts at key points – 9:00 PM lodgement with the airline, 11:00 PM departure from Perth, and arrival at your destination – to guide shipping decisions.
Temperature thresholds at lodgement are as follows:
- Below 29°C – Shipments proceed as planned.
- 29.1–34.9°C – Conditions are reviewed. Shipments will only proceed with customer approval and a signed waiver.
- 35°C and above – Shipments will be postponed until temperatures drop. Affected customers will be notified.
If hot weather is forecast and you would prefer to delay your delivery, please let us know by 9:00 AM AWST the day before dispatch so we can adjust flight bookings.
Holiday period operations
Ozgene ARC will continue normal operations throughout the Christmas and New Year period, except on public holidays.
To assist with planning breeding schedules and animal shipments, we kindly ask all animal facilities to email us at arc@ozgene.com with the dates when you will not be accepting animals. Providing early notice helps us maintain smooth scheduling and ensures the best outcomes for animal welfare.
Strain tier update
Stock strain tiers are reviewed quarterly to ensure they accurately reflect current demand. Based on recent review and reduced demand, the following strains will move from Tier 1 to Tier 2:
