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Efficacy of motion-activated sprinklers as a humane deterrent for urban coyotes
Brynn McLellan, 2019 AABI graduate (recipient of Medal in Applied Biology), recently published her research from her undergraduate thesis project. The manuscript “Efficacy of motion-activated sprinklers as a humane deterrent for urban coyotes” is now available online in the journal Human Dimensions of Wildlife. Brynn’s work was a collaborative effort with the Stanley Park Ecology […]
Barriers to implementing best-practices in US animal shelters
A new UBC AWP open-access paper has been published! This article looks at barriers to implementing best-practices in US animal shelters: memory, opposing opinions, lack of resources, and a procedural drift effect in which the protocol was changed across time. A Multi-Site Feasibility Assessment of Implementing a Best-Practices Meet-And-Greet Intervention in Animal Shelters in the […]
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 […]