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 24 June - 7 July 2021

Cross-sectoral
  • Animal welfare standards still an issue despite UK FTA (Sheep Central)
  • A hands-on approach to animal welfare (EU Parliament Magazine O/S)
  • Contact tracing in the spotlight as experts warn of major animal disease risk (ABC)
  • ACCC rejects “Certified Humane” trademark application in Australia (Beef Central)
  • Farmers reject 'totally impractical' call to legislate animal shelter standards (ABC)
  • No animal welfare barriers expected in UK free trade deal (Sheep Central)
  • Pain management is quickest route to improved animal welfare (Ruminant Health and Welfare O/S)
  • ‘The customer is ready’: German supermarket chain Aldi to phase out battery farm meat (The Local O/S)
Cattle in beef & dairy production
  • Cow masks? Agricultural company tries methane-absorbing wearable device (Phys.org O/S)
  • Machine learning aids insights into cows' sleep (NZ Herald O/S)
  • The researchers who want to know if cows are getting a good night's sleep (Stuff NZ O/S)
  • UK Sales of sexed dairy semen have doubled over the last two years according to AHDB recent survey of breeding companies (AHDB O/S)
  • Space, exercise may be critical to drylot beef heifer reproduction (AgriLife O/S)
  • British Columbia site becomes North America’s largest robotic milking research facility (Ag Daily O/S)
Pigs in pork production
  • Anaesthesia during castration is mandatory in Germany. How is it being implemented? (Pig 333 O/S)
  • Pork industry says 60,000 piglets could die if farrowing crates are banned (Stuff NZ O/S)
  • Farrowing crates phase-out: Pig farmers anxious about lack of consultation (RNZ O/S)
Sheep in meat & wool production
  • MLA plan to add mulesing and pain relief declarations on eNVDs (Sheep Central)
  • Make animal welfare front page news says NSW Merino breeder (Sheep Central)
  • WoolProducers engages overseas customers to trust Australian wool (Sheep Central)
Poultry in meat & egg production
  • UK supermarkets lag behind on chicken welfare (Poultry World O/S)
  • Blueprint for sustainable egg production – Egg Farmers of Canada (Poultry World O/S)
  • UK animal welfare groups applaud M&S for its higher welfare Oakham Gold chicken (The Poultry Site O/S)
  • A new technology for surveillance of broiler chickens’ welfare is on its way (Aarhus Univ O/S)
  • Egg industry and RSPCA tell politicians to hurry up (Country News)
Animals in transit & at slaughter
  • High court to hear bid to overturn New South Wales hidden camera laws (The Guardian)
  • Misinformed advice from financiers posing risks to food security: Live export CEO (Beef Central)
  • An EU ruling on kosher slaughter tells rabbis how to go about their business (Jewish Telegraphic Agency O/S)
Animals in aquaculture
  • Heated argument (Fish Farmer O/S)
  • Probe launched over claims of ‘sonic torture’ at Scots fish farms (The National O/S)
  • Shrimp stunning initiative wins animal welfare award (The Fish Site O/S)
  • Study reveals valuable insights into farmed salmon health and welfare (The Fish Site O/S)
  • Calls for inquiry into legislated and approved animal deterrents following Tasmanian seal deaths (ABC)
Animals in research & teaching
  • ‘A big step forward’: BASF and Givaudan receive OECD approval on animal-free skin sensitisation and allergen potency testing strategy (Cosmetics Design O/S)
  • Animal Testing: A Needless Cruelty or a Necessary Evil? (Interesting Engineering O/S)
Animals in racing & sport
  • Dead greyhounds listed as 'retired' on Greyhound Racing Victoria website FastTrack (ABC)
  • Senate Revives Legislation to End Cruel Practice of Horse Soring (Animal Welfare Institute O/S)
  • Activists renew calls to end greyhound racing as 400 die despite lockdowns (The Guardian O/S)
  • Hare coursing break through after intense lobbying from rural coalition (CLA O/S)
  • Has there ever been a more craven collapse to a lobby group than this? (Sydney Morning Herald – Greyhound Racing Opinion)
  • NSW government invests in greyhound racing future (Mirage News)
  • Welfare concerns for world’s working equines over Covid-19 pandemic (HorseTalk O/S)
Animals in zoos, aquaria & the wild
  • How fake animal rescue videos have become a new frontier for animal abuse (National Geographic O/S)
  • Feral deer in the headlines: Australia’s ‘slow-moving plague’ is finally being noticed (The Guardian)
  • RSPCA warns soaring numbers of animals risk entanglement in Euros-inspired football nets this year (Newark Advertiser O/S)
  • Research shows similarities in hunters, animal rights advocates (AgriLife Today O/S)
Pets & companion animals
  • Pets seem to have benefited from the pandemic overall, and cats may have benefited the most (ZME Science O/S)
Podcasts & presentations
  • Research Insights Webinar - Increasing the welfare of farm animals (Teagasc O/S)
  • The Pig Edge Podcast (Teagasc O/S)
Policy
  • Laying hen welfare guidelines upgraded in Taiwan (Poultry World O/S)
  • EU Platform on Animal Welfare – Conclusions (EU Commission)
  • EU farming unions voice support for proposed animal welfare labelling system (The Cattle Site O/S)
  • NSA issues stark warning of potential consequences of Australia deal to UK’s sheep industry (Farming Life O/S)
  • Broad support for animal welfare quality mark on foodstuffs (Brussels Times O/S)
Other/Publications
  • RSPCA Science Update July (RSPCA)
  • A dog’s life: James A Serpell and his investigation into the origin story of mankind’s best friend – Interview with James Serpell (Front. Vet Sci.)
  • National plan to allow battery cages until 2036 favours cheap eggs over animal welfare (The Conversation)
  • I listened to animals’ hearts to reveal their hidden emotional worlds (The Conversation O/S)
  • Temple Grandin assesses cyberattack risks facing processing plants (Meat & Poultry O/S)
  • The biggest problem with eating insects isn’t the “ew” factor (Vox O/S)
  • Animal Welfare Award winners: Barilla, McDonalds, Danone, and more (Food Navigator O/S)
  • Our Canine Connection: The History, Benefits and Future of Human-Dog Interactions – Research Topic (Front. Vet. Sci.)
  • Bombail Vincent, Brown Sarah M., Hammond Tayla J., Meddle Simone L., Nielsen Birte L., Tivey Emma K. L., Lawrence Alistair B. Crying With Laughter: Adapting the Tickling Protocol to Address Individual Differences Among Rats in Their Response to Playful Handling. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 2021, 623 . https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2021.677872
  • G.A. Franchi, M.S. Herskin, C.B. Tucker, M. Larsen, M.B. Jensen. Assessing effects of dietary and milking frequency changes and injection of cabergoline during dry-off on hunger in dairy cows using 2 feed-thwarting tests. Journal of Dairy Science, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-20046
  • Gray, H., Friel, M., Goold, C. et al. Modelling the links between farm characteristics, respiratory health and pig production traits. Sci Rep 11, 13789 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93027-9
  • Hall, B.A.; McGill, D.M.; Sherwen, S.L.; Doyle, R.E. Cognitive Enrichment in Practice: A Survey of Factors Affecting Its Implementation in Zoos Globally. Animals 2021, 11, 1721. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061721
  • Hitchens, P.L.; Booth, R.H.; Stevens, K.; Murphy, A.; Jones, B.; Hemsworth, L.M. The Welfare of Animals in Australian Filmed Media. Animals 2021, 11, 1986. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071986
  • Horowitz Alexandra, Considering the “Dog” in Dog–Human Interaction. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 2021, 299. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2021.642821
  • Hunter, L.B., Baten, A., Haskell, M.J. et al. Machine learning prediction of sleep stages in dairy cows from heart rate and muscle activity measures. Sci Rep 11, 10938 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90416-y
  • Tadeusz Jezierski, Irene Camerlink, Rachel S.E. Peden, Jen-Yun Chou, Joanna Marchewka, Changes in the health and behaviour of pet dogs during the COVID-19 pandemic as reported by the owners, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2021, 105395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105395
  • Jorquera-Chavez, M., Fuentes, S., Dunshea, F.R., Warner, R.D., Poblete, T., Unnithan, R.R., Morrison, R.S. and Jongman, E.C. (2021). Using imagery and computer vision as remote monitoring methods for early detection of respiratory disease in pigs. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, Vol 187, 2021, 106283.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2021.106283                  
  • E.E. Lindner, K.N. Gingerich, E.K. Miller-Cushon. Effects of early social contact on dairy calf response to initial social grouping and regrouping, Journal of Dairy Science, 2021, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20435
  • Marquette, G.A., McGee, M., Fisher, A.D. et al. Horn bud size of dairy-bred and suckler-bred calves at time of disbudding. Ir Vet J 74, 17 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-021-00196-0  
  • Marquette, G.A., McGee, M., Fisher, A.D., Stanger, K. & Earley, B. (2021) Effect of age of suckler beef calves on stress indicators and growth performance in response to Burdizzo castration, Journal of Applied Animal Research, 49:1, 221-233, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2021.1935266
  • DJ Mellor & M Burns (2020) Using the Five Domains Model to develop welfare assessment guidelines for Thoroughbred horses in New Zealand, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 68:3, 150-156, https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2020.1715900
  • Randler, C et al Animal Welfare Attitudes: Effects of Gender and Diet in University Samples from 22 Countries. Animals 2021, 11, 1893. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071893

Conferences, Seminars & Events

  • DIARY HOLD – Animal Welfare Horizons 2021, Brisbane, December 1st To be confirmed (TAWC)
  • DIARY HOLD – The National Primary Industries Animal Welfare Strategy 11th Annual Forum, Brisbane. December 2nd (to be confirmed) – Express interest on NAWRDES Webpage
  • Canine Science Forum 2021. Virtual meeting 6-9 July. Details HERE
  • National Livestock Wellbeing Seminar – July 13. Details TBA Register HERE
  • ANZCVS Scientific Series Animal Welfare Chapter Conference – Wed 21 July (Register)
  • ANZCCART Conference 2021 – “Openness in Animal Research”. 25-27 July, Queenstown, NZ. (ANZCCART)
  • Australian Dairy Farmers Dairy Beef Online Forum, 29 July, 9am AEST. Speakers.  (Register).
  • Graham Centre Livestock Forum. 30 July. (Graham Centre for Ag Innovation)
  • 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. (WC11)
  • 2021 Animal Welfare Foundation Discussion Forum (Virtual). 15 September. (AWF)
  • One Welfare World Conference – Virtual. 15-16 Sept 2021. (OneWelfareWorld)
  • 12th International Working Dog Conference, Oct. 12-14 (IWDC 2021)
  • LIVEXchange, Nov 10 – 11. Darwin. (LIVEXchange)
  • Australasian Pig Science Association Conference. 15 – 18 November. (APSA)
  • 2nd Australian Biosecurity Symposium, 1-3 December, Gold Coast. (Details)
  • European Assn of Zoos and Aquaria first Animal Welfare Forum. 21 – 24 March 2022,The Netherlands. (EAZA)
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