A selection of animal welfare news from around the world

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Please note that the articles below do not reflect opinions of TAWC. Although we aim to provide comprehensive coverage, there are likely articles that we’ve missed.

O/S = Overseas source
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News 28 July - 10 August 2022

Cross-sectoral
  • Marketing and animal welfare: key to success in South Africa (Farmer’s Weekly O/S)
Cattle in beef & dairy production
  • Welfare group urges farmers to limit transport during extreme heat (The Cattle Site O/S)
  • Animal welfare measures affect the profitability of Swedish milk, beef production (The Cattle Site O/S)
  • Gene-edited cattle can provide future answers to today’s challenges (Farm Progress O/S)
  • Siestas for cows: UK farmers seek new ways for cattle to beat the heat (The Guardian O/S
Pigs in pork production
  • Good feeding: A principle to assess on-farm swine welfare (Pig Progress O/S)
Poultry in meat & egg production
  • USDA wants to reinstate organic welfare standards; could benefit food safety (Food Safety News O/S)
  • Pressure on retailers to sign up to Better Chicken Commitment (Poultry World O/S)
  • Free range chickens die faster than caged (The OZ)
  • What you know about “free range” egs is wrong (The OZ)
  • Broiler welfare compared under different production systems (Watt Poultry O/S)
  • Updated layer welfare training video series now offered (Watt Poultry O/S)
  • Improving bird welfare during transit (Poultry World O/S)
  • The Egg-Tech Prize seeks to revolutionize global egg production by offering up to $6 million in prizes to develop a technology that determines an egg’s sex before it hatches (FFAR O/S)
  • Moves to enhance laying hen breeding wins philanthropic financial backing (Poultry World O/S)
Sheep in meat & wool production
  • SAFE for Animals hits out at NZ Ministry for Primary Industries for 'inadequate' investigation into eight dead rotting sheep (NewsHub O/S)
Animals in transit & at slaughter
  • Non-EU live exports to have vet on board ships (Independent.ie O/S)
  • Dr. Temple Grandin uses Seaboard Triumph Foods for animal handling training. (SwineWeb O/S)
Animals in aquaculture and wild caught
  • Startup has high hopes for massive, mobile fish farm (The Fish Site O/S)
Animals in research & teaching
  • Händel Animal Welfare Prize 2022 for the use of alternatives to animal experiments in research on tumors and barrier organs (Eureka Alert O/S)
  • How Sound Induces Pain Relief in Mice (Geneng News O/S)
  • ANZCCART Survey on Community Attitudes (ANZCCART)
  • Opinion: Hold Animal Use Committees Accountable for Their Failures (The Scientist O/S)
  • Animal rights groups condemn crude oil experiments on sparrows (The Ferret O/S)
Animals in racing, sports & work
  • This surgical procedure to impregnate greyhounds in Australia is a major animal welfare issue (The Conversation)
  • StrideSAFE trial hailed a success (Racing.com)
  • NZ High Court Sends The Question Of Rodeo Back To The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (Scoop O/S)
  • 'Free The Hounds': Animal activists calling for a total ban on greyhound racing amid concerns over animal welfare (SBS)
  • Rodeo proponents say the animals are well-cared-for athletes. Opponents disagree (Monterey County Weekly O/S)
Animals in zoos, aquaria & the wild
  • London Zoo's bizarre handbag enclosure highlights 'unforgivable' cruelty (Yahoo News O/S)
  • Wild Horse Populations Exploding, No One-Size-Fits-All Remedy Available (Paulick Report O/S)
  • Faroe Islanders Slaughter an Estimated 100 Bottlenose Dolphins (AWI O/S)
  • House Introduces Legislation to Phase Out Public Display of Captive Whales (AWI O/S)
  • Big Cat Public Safety Act passes the U.S. House of Representatives on International Tiger Day (HSUS O/S)
  • Hardware giant Bunnings urged to strip popular product from shelves (Perth Now)
  • CSIRO recommends double-strength mouse baits after report finds dose used to protect crops ineffective (The Guardian)
  • Elephants on the move: 263 elephants translocated in Malawi (IFAW O/S)
  • Animal lovers protest against zoo amid clash of narratives over animal welfare (Times of Israel O/S)
  • California banned the sale of kangaroo leather years ago. Lawsuits contest its continued presence (LA Times O/S)
Pets & companion animals
  • Animal rescue group finds 45 cats in Townsville house after owner hospitalised (ABC)
  • New figures reveal increase in dog cruelty since start of the pandemic (RSPCA UK O/S)
  • Mars Petcare Researchers Develop New Quality of Life Assessment to Evaluate the Wellbeing of Dogs (Cision O/S)
  • Animal shelters overwhelmed as more and more people surrender their pets (CNN O/S)
  • The Netherlands introduces new Positive List for mammals (EuroGroup for Animals O/S)
  • Being attuned to horse behavior the key to better welfare, scientist says (HorseTalk O/S)
Podcasts & presentations
  • Podcast: Precision livestock farming (Pig Progress O/S)
  • How can we make animals smile? Researchers from UQ are finding out (ABC)
Policy
  • Spain beefs up animal welfare laws (The Olive Press O/S)
  • Animal welfare faces ‘clear and present danger’ from post-Brexit trade deals, study warns (The Independent O/S)
  • Swiss factory farming ban to be decided at the ballot box (Swissinfo O/S)
Other/Publications
  • Animal Welfare in New Zealand (AHDB O/S)
  • Bumblebees CAN feel pain: Study shows insects can suppress their withdrawal reflexes in exchange for a sweet treat - suggesting they experience discomfort and 'should be included in animal welfare laws' (Daily Mail O/S)
  • Can artificial intelligence really help us talk to the animals? (The Guardian O/S)
  • “Forget They Are an Animal” (Current Affairs O/S)
  • Pig to human heart transplants are the future. Are we ready for it? (The Guardian O/S)
  • Why did Animal Rebellion pour out milk at Harrods? (Surge O/S)
  • Arndt, S, Goerlich, V, van der Staay, FJ. A dynamic concept of animal welfare. The role of appetitive and adverse internal and external factors and the animal's ability to adapt to them. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2022.908513/abstract
  • Leigh Atkinson, Rebecca E. Doyle, Andrew Woodward, Ellen C. Jongman. Behavioural reactivity testing in sheep indicates the presence of multiple temperament traits. Behavioural Processes, Volume 201, 2022, 104711. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376635722001280
  • Leigh Atkinson, Rebecca E. Doyle, Andrew Woodward, Ellen C. Jongman. Exposure to humans after weaning does not reduce the behavioural reactivity of extensively reared Merino lambs. Behavioural Processes, Volume 201, 2022, 104709. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376635722001267
  • Brunt, M.W., Kreiberg, H. & von Keyserlingk, M.A.G. Invertebrate research without ethical or regulatory oversight reduces public confidence and trust. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 9, 250 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01272-8
  • Christley, R.M.; Murray, J.K.; Anderson, K.L.; Buckland, E.L.; Casey, R.A.; Harvey, N.D.; Harris, L.; Holland, K.E.; McMillan, K.M.; Mead, R.; Owczarczak-Garstecka, S.C.; Upjohn, M.M. Impact of the First COVID-19 Lockdown on Management of Pet Dogs in the UK. Animals 2021, 11, 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010005
  • Coutant Mathilde, Malmkvist Jens, Kaiser Marianne, Foldager Leslie, Herskin Mette S. Piglets' acute responses to procaine-based local anesthetic injection and surgical castration: Effects of two volumes of anesthetic. Frontiers in Pain Research, 3, 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpain.2022.943138
  • Ingrid C. de Jong, Bram Bos, Jan van Harn, Pim Mostert, Dennis te Beest. Differences and variation in welfare performance of broiler flocks in three production systems. Poultry Science, Volume 101, Issue 7, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101933
  • Farber, J.L. Just because you can, should you?. Lab Anim 51, 207 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-022-01023-x
  • Franchi GA, Larsen MLV, Winters JFM, Jensen MB and Pedersen LJ (2022) Investigating the effects of two weaning methods and two genetic hybrids on play behavior in weaner pigs (Sus scrofa). Front. Anim. Sci. 3:909038. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2022.909038/full
  • Nicole M. Furgala, Carly M. Moody, Hannah E. Flint, Shannon Gowland, Lee Niel. Veterinary background noise elicits fear responses in cats while freely moving in a confined space and during an examination. Behavioural Processes, Volume 201, 2022, 104712. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376635722001292  
  • Gibbons Matilda, Sarlak Sajedeh and Chittka Lars 2022Descending control of nociception in insects?Proc. R. Soc. B.2892022059920220599.  https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.0599
  • Hevern, ME., Welfare worries: a preliminary, cross-sectional study of general practice, small animal veterinarians perceptions and management of canine and feline behaviour problems. Aust Vet J. 2022; 1– 11. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13168
  • Hose, K., Nagel-Riedasch, S., Schenkel, J. et al. Use surplus laboratory animals as animal feed. Lab Anim (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-022-01035-7
  • Leconstant Charlène, Spitz Elisabeth. Integrative Model of Human-Animal Interactions: A One Health–One Welfare Systemic Approach to Studying HA. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.656833
  • Lou, M.E.; Porter, S.T.; Massey, J.S.; Ventura, B.; Deen, J.; Li, Y. The Application of 3D Landmark-Based Geometric Morphometrics towards Refinement of the Piglet Grimace Scale. Animals 2022, 12, 1944. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151944
  • Karen L. Luke, Tina McAdie, Bradley P. Smith, Amanda K. Warren-Smith. New insights into ridden horse behaviour, horse welfare and horse-related safety. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 246, 2022, 105539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105539
  • Mao Axiu, Giraudet Claire S. E., Liu Kai, De Almeida Nolasco Inês, Xie Zhiqin, Xie Zhixun, Gao Yue, Theobald James, Bhatta Devaki, Stewart Rebecca and McElligott Alan G. 2022Automated identification of chicken distress vocalizations using deep learning modelsJ. R. Soc. Interface.192021092120210921. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2021.0921
  • Cassandra N. Reedman, Todd F. Duffield, Trevor J. DeVries, Kerry D. Lissemore, SarahJ.J. Adcock, Cassandra B. Tucker, Sarah D. Parsons, Charlotte B. Winder. Effect of plane of nutrition and analgesic drug treatment on wound healing and pain following cautery disbudding in preweaning dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 105, Issue 7, 2022, Pages 6220-6239. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222002909
  • Schmutz, A., Spofford, N., Burghardt, W. et al. Development and initial validation of a dog quality of life instrument. Sci Rep 12, 12225 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16315-y
  • Tobin CT, Bailey DW, Stephenson MB, Trotter MG, Knight CW and Faist AM (2022) Opportunities to monitor animal welfare using the five freedoms with precision livestock management on rangelands. Front. Anim. Sci. 3:928514. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2022.928514

Conferences, Seminars & Events

  • European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming & International Conference on Precision Dairy Farming, 29 Aug-2 Sept University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Vetmeduni)
  • The 55th Congress of the International Society of Applied Ethology, 4 – 8 Sept 2022. N Macedonia. (ISAE)
  • One Health Downunder Symposium 2022, 12th – 13th September 2022 (Univ Qld)
  • Growing Beef from Dairy Conference. 15th September 2022. Attwood, Victoria. (MLA)
  • US Poultry Live production, welfare and biosecurity seminar. 21st – 22nd September, Nashville TN USA (US Poultry)
  • 2022 Animal Welfare Symposium & Workshop hosted by University of Otago 21st October (ANZLAA)
  • 77th WAZA Annual Conference, 23 – 27 October, Tenerife. (Details)
  • International Animal Behaviour Twitter Conference 2023 18 -19th January 2023. https://www.animbehav2023.com/?s=09
  • evokeAG. 21st – 22nd February, Adelaide. (evokeAG)
  • RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2023. Quit horsing around: Advancing horse welfare in Australia. Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 February 2023. Online. (RSPCA)
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