Animal welfare research asks, when is the best time to pair-house calves?
Research from the Animal Welfare Program published in Progressive Dairy explores the best time to pair-house calves. The answer? As soon as possible. The research identified that early pair housing increases solid feed intake and weight gains in dairy calves. Read more
PhD student Michael Brunt awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarship – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement
PhD student Michael Brunt was recently awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarships-Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The award supports Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad. Michael will study at the School […]
Congratulations to November 2019 Animal Welfare Program graduates
The Animal Welfare Program would like to congratulate the five graduates who had a PhD conferred this fall – Dr. Anne-Marieke Smid, Dr. Hanna Eriksson, Dr. Heather Neave, Dr. Jane Stojkov and Dr. Rolnei Daros. Drs. Daros, Smid and Stojkov are shown here with Drs. von Keyserlingk and Weary at the fall graduation ceremony. Please […]
TSA to use more “floppy-eared” dogs, cites Animal Welfare Program research
Dogs are used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at airports nationwide to sniff out explosives and contraband. TSA officials say the agency is increasingly replacing retired pointy-eared dogs like German shepherds with floppy-eared dogs like Labrador retrievers, noting that passengers are generally more accepting of dogs with floppy ears. The TSA cited a 2016 […]
Research investigates public perceptions toward gene modification in dairy cattle
New research from the Animal Welfare Program looked into public perceptions toward genetic modification in dairy cattle. Specifically, the research team used a mixed method approach to investigate if citizens’ attitudes differed depending on the application. In addition, participants were told that the modification was done for different reasons, including improved animal welfare, farm profits, […]
Imagining the ideal pig farm: Animal Welfare professors lead discussion at Pig Welfare Symposium
It’s 2050 and you want to pass the farm down to your grandchildren. In an ideal world, what does that farm look like? During the recent Pig Welfare Symposium, Professors Dan Weary and Nina von Keyserlingk asked focus group participants to share their vision for pork production in 2050. Read more Pascal Debrunner
What Difference Does a Visit Make? Changes in Animal Welfare Perceptions after Interested Citizens Tour a Dairy Farm
The UBC study on animal welfare perceptions following a dairy centre tour is amongst the top 10% most cited PLOS ONE papers published in 2016. Read full article Abstract Citizens’ concerns about farm animal welfare are often dismissed on the assumption that they are not well informed about farming practices. We conducted exploratory surveys of […]
New research finds link between behavioural traits and illness in dogs
New research from the Animal Welfare Program showing a link between behavioural traits and illness in dogs was recently featured in the Vancouver Star. The research found that dogs who were more social to people when taken into the animal shelter were more likely to succumb to upper respiratory diseases. Dr. Alexandra Protopopova, an Assistant […]
New Research: A Lame Vacation Makes for Lame Production
New research in dairy cattle health and behaviour from UBC’s Animal Welfare Program was featured in a news article summarizing some of our recent research looking at the associations between lameness during the dry period, feeding behaviour and transition health. Read more at https://www.dairyherd.com/article/lame-vacation-makes-lame-production.
Research shows prepartum feeding behavior and interactions at feed bunk are associated with postpartum disease in transitioning dairy cattle
New research from UBC’s Animal Welfare Program shows that prepartum feeding behavior and interactions at the feed bunk are associated with postpartum disease in transitioning dairy cattle. Read the article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030219309282 Abstract Hyperketonemia and metritis are common in the weeks after calving. This study tested if feeding and agonistic behaviors before calving were associated […]