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

News 4 – 17 March 2021

Cross-sectoral
  • MSU researchers receive $1 million grant to make livestock farming network (WLNS.com O/S)
  • RSPCA Assured reports soaring accreditations and recognition (The Grocer O/S)
  • UK’s Ruminant Health & Welfare group identifies priority areas for 2021-2023 (The Cattle Site O/S)
  • Veganuary inspires up to 1.5 million Brits to try vegan or veggie diet (The Grocer O/S)
Cattle in beef & dairy production
  • New lameness initiative cuts costs and improves welfare for dairy cattle (The Cattle Site O/S)
  • Alternative Meats Bringing Uncertain Future For Cattle Farmers (Forbes (O/S)
Pigs in pork production
  • Pig farmers in limbo over farrowing crates (StuffNZ O/S)
  • Pigs Have One Alarmingly Human Trait That Has Scientists At A Loss (Honest to Paws O/S)
Poultry in meat & egg production
  • Cage-free legislation is a logistical nightmare for retailers (Watt Poultry O/S)
  • Supermarket adopts measures beyond Better Chicken Commitment (Poultry World O/S)
  • McDonald’s sustainability director says customers can expect more from RSPCA-approved chicken menu (News.com.au)
Sheep in meat & wool production
  • Nuffield scholar says put sheep meat and wool ‘under one roof (Sheep Central)
  • Call to add pain relief status to National Wool Declaration (Sheep Central)
Animals in transit & at slaughter
  • Agriculture Minister David Little slams live exporters ‘fearmongering’ over regulation fees (QLD Country Life)
  • Cattle stranded on ship to be destroyed in port as second vessel returns to Spain (Guardian O/S)
  • Wellard posts $2m half-year loss after live export trade tightens (QLD Country Life)
  • Live exports ban would have significant effect on farmers – exporter (NZ NewsHub O/S)
Animals in aquaculture
  • New Ways To Assess Stress in Fish Are Urgently Needed in Aquaculture (Research Outreach O/S)
Animals in research & teaching
  • Scientists vs. Animal Welfare Activists in the 1920s (JStor Daily O/S)
  • Germany Finds New Method to Replace Animal Testing (One Green Planet O/S)
Animals in racing & sport
  • BHA ready to throw open racing’s stable doors in wake of Elliott scandal (The Guardian O/S)
 
Animals in zoos, aquaria & the wild
  • Chinese ‘polar bear hotel’ opens to full bookings, criticism (CNN O/S)
  • World Animal Protection welcomes corporates embracing wildlife-friendly tourism (WAP O/S)
  • Cuttlefish Show Impressive Ability to Exert Self-Control (Smithsonian Magazine O/S)
  • Meet the animal welfare scientist who is reimagining zoos (CBC CA O/S)
  • About wild dogs (Pestsmart)
 
Pets & companion animals
  • RSPCA VIC backs harder family violence pet law (Yahoo News)
  • Call for national puppy farm, animal cruelty laws as breeders eye NSW’s more lenient rules (ABC)
Podcasts & presentations
  • Thinking and communicating about farm animal welfare: “de-polarizing” stakeholder views – Beth Ventura (Univ Minnesota O/S)
  • The importance of observation in cattle handling. (ADHB O/S)
  • Cattle handling webinar with Temple Grandin (ADHB O/S)
 
Policy
  • Dutch meat industry seeks to improve animal welfare with new code (Pig333 O/S)
  • Congress just passed the COVID relief package with funding for activities that would improve animal welfare (HSUS O/S)
  • NZ’s failing animal welfare system is letting responsible farmers down (The SpinOff NZ O/S)
  • Rabobank: California’s Prop 12 a call to lead on animal welfare (Meat+Poultry O/S)
  • UK Government urged not to rush into banning farrowing crates (Pig World O/S)
 
Other/Publications

Conferences, Seminars & Events

  • DIARY HOLD – Animal Welfare Horizons 2021, Brisbane, December 1st (TAWC)
  • DIARY HOLD – The National Primary Industries Animal Welfare Strategy 11th Annual Forum, Brisbane. December 2nd – Further details to be announced. Express interest on NAWRDES Webpage
  • Wool Producers “Trust in Australian Wool” campaign launch.18 March 7.00pm AEDST (Wool Producers)
  • Getting to Zero Webinar. Foster Care, Covid and Technology. March 18 1.00pm AEDST (G2Z)
  • National Livestock Wellbeing Seminars – Topic TBA – 13 April 1.00pm AEST (Univ Adelaide)
  • Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Recent advances in animal welfare science VIII. 29-30 June. (UFAW)
  • 54th Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology (on-line). 2 – 6 August. (ISAE 2021)
  • 8th International Conference on The Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level. 16-19 August – Virtual Conference. (WAFL)
  • 11th World Virtual Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences 22-27 August 2021. (WC11)
  • One Welfare World Conference – Virtual. 15-16 Sept 2021. (OneWelfareWorld)
  • LIVEXchange, Nov 10 – 11. Darwin. (LIVEXchange)
  • Australasian Pig Science Association Conference. 15 – 18 November. (APSA)
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