Celebrating Success in Animal Welfare
JMICAWE co-sponsored, with SRUC, a day of talks, discussion
and demonstrations of animal welfare research to mark World Animal Day on 4th
October. The theme for the event was ‘Celebrating Success in Animal Welfare
Science’, focusing on the achievements in improving animal welfare that have
been realised over the last 50 years or so of active research in the area.
‘Of course there is
still much to be done, but it is worth pausing to reflect on the achievements
and improvements in the lives of animals that has occurred through the
application of 50 years of animal welfare science,’ said Professor Cathy
Dwyer, Director of JMICAWE, on opening the meeting.
Talks covered a range of topics including application of
research to reduce confinement in pregnant, farrowing and lactating sows,
cage-free systems for laying hens, developments in positive welfare, welfare of
working equids, combining animal and human welfare improvements in sub-Saharan
African small ruminant production and tickling rats. During lunch time there
was an opportunity to learn more about the applications of new technology to
assessing animal behaviour and welfare, and to visit the clinical skills labs
at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. The day was attended by over
200 students, staff and government, policy and NGO representatives. The
feedback has been universally positive, with several actively anticipating the
next event, and recordings of the presentations will be available via the
JMICAWE website very soon.
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