Current levels of domestic primate production appear to be adequate for 
several general-purpose species. Colonies of these animals should be 
maintained at their current levels. However, the design criteria pre¬ 
sented above should be incorporated into the operation of these colonies. 
It is recommended that general-purpose production colonies already 
established for Salmiri sclureus (squirrel monkey), be continued 
at their present level. (See appendix B, p. 
Recommendations relating to other species not specifically mentioned 
above can be found in appendix B. 
There have been numerous small breeding colonies of primates in the 
United States for many years. They were maintained by research in¬ 
stitutions to help provide for their own needs, and most of them were 
devoted to rhesus monkeys. Zoos in the United States have also produced 
primates. Until recently, however, whether in the case of the research 
laboratory or the zoological garden, primates were bred as something of 
a sideline and breeding them was not essential. The increasing difficulties 
in obtaining wild-caught primates have caused many of those institutions 
to assign a high priority to captive breeding. As a result, a number of 
zoos and research laboratories possess selected breeding stock of a 
variety of species, good physical facilities, and professional expertise. 
They have excellent potential for increased primate production. 
It is recommended that zoological gardens and research labora¬ 
tories be encouraged to make optimum use of their primate 
colonies for breeding purposes, and that sponsors consider 
support for such breeding programs. 
Some primate species, which are used in very limited numbers or not at 
all, may have undiscovered characteristics potentially important for 
future research. It is possible that, given time, these species may 
become as important to an overall domestic production program as the 
more widely used species. 
It is recommended that the need for each species of primate in 
biomedical programs be continually reevaluated to determine annual 
requirements and that future availability be continually reassessed 
with the domestic production programs adjusted accordingly. 
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