18 Feb 18 Feb 2021_old
Posted at 15:56h
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A selection of relevant animal welfare news from around the world
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Note: The text below is taken direct from linked content and does not reflect opinions of TAWC.
O/S = Overseas source
News 4 – 17 February 2021
Cross-sectoral
- UK food retailer Waitrose unveils new mobile animal welfare app (The Pig Site O/S) and Waitrose
- Once we have lab-grown meat, will we still need animal advocacy? (Fast Company O/S)
- Tactics used by animal activists threaten livestock operations (AgriNews O/S)
- World must switch to plant-based diets to halt biodiversity crisis, say experts (Independent O/S)
- The perils of intensive farming (Engineering and Technology O/S)
Cattle in beef & dairy production
- Arla looks to create ‘happy cow measure’ for dairy herds (Farming UK O/S)
- ADHB cattle handling webinar with Temple Grandin (ADHB O/S)
- Farmer wellbeing linked to cow health (Farms.com O/S)
- Outlook on the Vegan Cheese Industry in North America to 2026 – Key Drivers and Restraints (Yahoo O/S)
Pigs in pork production
- The long road toward loose housing of lactating sows (Pig Progress O/S)
- Pigs can play videogames, scientists discover (The Conversation O/S)
- Mass depopulation on pig farms, what does science say? (Pig Progress O/S)
- Charges dropped against animal rights activist who secretly filmed Iowa pigs being killed (Aberdeen News US O/S)
Poultry in meat & egg production
- New study finds cage-free egg-laying hen mortality declines over time (Eureka Alert O/S)
- The Ugly Secrets Behind the Costco Chicken (New York Times O/S)
Sheep in meat & wool production
- Taking Stock: Wool industry focused on contentious issue (The Land)
- Wool brokers oppose Victorian dingo re-introduction proposal (Sheep Central)
Animals in transit & at slaughter
Animals in aquaculture
- America’s largest animal welfare organisation launches aquaculture standards (The Fish Site O/S)
- £3.3bn: the ‘hidden’ cost of salmon farming in Scotland (The Ferret O/S)
- Stepping up aquatic animal welfare (The Fish Site O/S)
- Fish welfare: Transparency in salmon farming “extremely weak” and legislation needed, report flags (Food Ingredients 1st O/S)
- Vegan Charity Exposes Welfare Issues And ‘Severe Overcrowding’ On UK Trout Farms In Investigation (Plant Based News O/S)
- Fish Without the Catch: Seafood Alternatives Are on the Rise (Sentient Media O/S)
Animals in research & teaching
- Understanding Animal Research is a UK not-for-profit organisation that explains why animals are used in medical and scientific research. Funded by universities, professional societies, industry and charities.
- AgriThinking: Navigating the maze of laws on animal welfare in agribusiness research (Lexology)
- Surrogacy method to aid welfare in poultry research (The Poultry Site O/S)
- Stem cell study could curb need for animal tissue (The Pig Site O/S)
Animals in racing & sports
- New whip rules to be trialled this weekend (JustHorseRacing)
- NSW greyhound racing stronger than ever after animal welfare wakeup call (News.com.au)
Animals in zoos, aquaria & the wild
- Human noise affects animal behaviour, studies show (The Guardian O/S)
- Zoos struggling in pandemic as group says government hasn’t done enough (BBC O/S)
- Sheep farmers attack new attempt to reintroduce lynx (Farming UK O/S)
- Scientists Find a Simple Way to Make Your Cat Hunt Less Wildlife – Change Its Diet (Science Alert O/S)
- Feral camels rounded up in Australian outback and sold online for weed control (The Guardian)
Pets & companion animals
- Detailed horse welfare indicators made available in vast repository (Horsetalk NZ O/S)
- 5 ways to help your pet through lockdown and reverse the trend of pet abandonment (Waltham PetCare O/S)
- Dog Training, Animal Welfare, and the Human-Canine Relationship (Companion Animal Psychology O/S)
- Pets are helping us cope during the pandemic—but that may be stressing them out (National Geographic O/S)
- Curious Kids: how can we tell if an animal is happy without a wagging tail? (The Conversation)
- House Renews Effort to Protect Children and Animals from Abuse (Animal Welfare Institute O/S)
- Waltham Foundation Funding Application Call
Podcasts & presentations
- ADHB cattle handling webinar with Temple Grandin (ADHB O/S)
- Presenting climate science to Australia’s Zoos – Some welfare content. (Vets for Climate Action)
- Thinking and communicating about farm animal welfare: “de-polarizing” stakeholder views and why this matters, by Dr. Beth Ventura, University of Minnesota. Wednesday, February 24th, 2021 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM Eastern Time Zone Canada. (University of Guelph)
- The future of food: An AgCatalyst virtual event. 25 Feb 2pm AEDST (CSIRO)
- Eurogroup for Animals podcast episode: Launch of the World Federation for Animals (EuroGroup for Animals O/S)
Policy
- Scottish Animal Welfare Commission: statement on animal sentience (Scottish Govt O/S)
- Heat Stress A Priority During Busy Year For Animal Welfare Work (Scoop NZ O/S)
- Victorian Government accused of being too slow to adopt measures to keep activists off farms (ABC)
- PAN wants Animal welfare to be taught in schools (Portugal NewsOnline O/S)
- RSPCA UK Thrilled as Animal Welfare Bill Moves to Next Stage (Everything Horse UK O/S)
Other/Publications
- Review of smallholder groups and networks in Australia (AHA)
- Survey for beef and sheep farmers affected by 2019–20 bushfires https://fvas.unimelb.edu.au/news/survey-for-beef-and-sheep-farmers-affected-by-201920-bushfires
- Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of pigs Ed. Sandra Edwards. https://shop.bdspublishing.com/store/bds/detail/workgroup/3-190-89133
- Wildlife Research represents an international forum for the publication of research and debate on the ecology, management, and conservation of wild animals in natural and modified habitats. The journal combines basic research in wildlife ecology with advances in science-based management practice. (CSIRO Publishing)
- Publications by members of International Society for Applied Ethology. Access full-text copies of recent applied ethology papers published by members of the ISAE. (ISAE)
- Why Aren’t More Veterinarians Vegan? (Sentient media O/S)
- Louise Scanlon, Pru Hobson-West, Kate Cobb, Anne McBride & Jenny Stavisky (2021) Homeless People and Their Dogs: Exploring the Nature and Impact of the Human–Companion Animal Bond, Anthrozoös, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08927936.2021.1878683?s=09&
- Maria Camila Ceballos, Karen Camille Rocha Góis, Aline Cristina Sant’Anna, Françoise Wemelsfelder, Mateus Paranhos da Costa. Reliability of qualitative behavior assessment (QBA) versus methods with predefined behavioral categories to evaluate maternal protective behavior in dairy cows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2021, 105263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105263
- Croney Candace C., Boysen Sarah T. Acquisition of a Joystick-Operated Video Task by Pigs (Sus scrofa). Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 2021. P 142 https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631755
- Cecchetti et al., 2021. Provision of High Meat Content Food and Object Play Reduce Predation of Wild Animals by Domestic Cats Felis catus. Current Biology 31, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.044
- Schuck-Paim, C., Negro-Calduch E. and Alonso, W.J. (2021). Laying hen mortality in different indoor housing systems: a meta-analysis of data from commercial farms in 16 countries. Scientific Reports, 11, 3052. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-81868-3#citeas
- Hemsworth, P.H. (2021). Cage production and laying hen welfare. Animal Production Science. Online early. https://doi.org/10.1071/AN19609
- Schuck-Paim, C., Negro-Calduch, E. & Alonso, W.J. Laying hen mortality in different indoor housing systems: a meta-analysis of data from commercial farms in 16 countries. Sci Rep 11, 3052 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81868-3
- Hempstead Melissa N., Shearer Jan K., Sutherland Mhairi A., Fowler Jennifer L., Smith Joseph S., Smith Jodi D., Lindquist Taylor M., Plummer Paul J. Cautery Disbudding Iron Application Time and Brain Injury in Goat Kids: A Pilot Study. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 2021, p192. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.568750
Conferences, Seminars & Events
- RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2021. 18/19 Feb on-line. – FELINE FUTURES: Exploring Humane Domestic Cat Management in Australia. Feline Futures
- DIARY HOLD – The National Primary Industries Animal Welfare Strategy 11th Annual Forum, December 2nd – Details to be announced. Express interest on NAWRDES Webpage
- “Animals as Legal Beings” Webinar to Feature Law Professor Maneesha Deckha. Feb. 19 1pm US EST. Animals as legal beings Webinar
- US Dairy Calf and Heifer Association webinar-Consumer Perceptions and Animal Welfare Considerations. Mar 9, 2021 01:00 PM Central time US/Canada. (DCHA)
- Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Recent advances in animal welfare science VIII. 29-30 June. (UFAW)
- 8th International Conference on The Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level. 16-19 August – Virtual Conference. (WAFL)
- LIVEXchange, Nov 10 – 11. Darwin. (LIVEXchange)
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