Why multi-strain census forecasting matters
Facility capacity is a shared resource
Most vivaria operate at 70–90% capacity. When three PIs simultaneously expand their colonies, the facility hits 100% before anyone expects it. Multi-strain forecasting lets you see the aggregate impact of all colony decisions — not just your own.
Key planning questions this tool answers:
- When will total cage count peak, and how many cages?
- Which strain is driving the capacity crunch?
- How much will housing cost over the next 12 months?
- If we phase out Strain X, how much capacity does that free up?
- Can we start a new strain without exceeding capacity?
Expansion vs maintenance vs phase-out: Real colonies are always a mix. Some strains are actively expanding for a new grant, others are in steady-state maintenance, and others are being retired. Modeling all three simultaneously gives you a realistic facility forecast.