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 […]
Published symposium review explores methods to assess emotions in dairy cattle
A symposium review from the Animal Welfare Program published in the Journal of Dairy Science explores the methods used to assess affective or “emotional” states in dairy cattle. Read the study Abstract Affective states, which refer to feelings or emotions, are a key component of animal welfare, but these are also difficult to assess. Drawing […]
Research looks at how pain control impacts memory of painful experiences in calves
A new study from the UBC Animal Welfare Program was published in Biology Letters – looking at how a painful procedure and the use of pain control strategies impacts the memory of the experience in dairy calves. Read the study Abstract Pain in animals is typically assessed using reflexive and physiological responses. These measures allow […]
Research explores social relationships and personality of calves
New research out from UBC’s Animal Welfare Program explores the emotions, social relationships and personality traits of calves. Some calves exhibit preferential relationships that are driven in part by how optimistic they are. Read the article The research was also featured on an episode of the tv show La semaine verte. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvVS_ZYeKco
AWP students present their research at the ADSA annual meeting
Animal Welfare Program students gave 7 presentations at the American Dairy Science Association meeting in Cincinnati this past week. Pictured here are some of our students with Dan Weary and some friends from the UBC’s dairy reproduction research group and Alumni of the Animal Welfare Program.
UBC Dairy Education and Research Center Open House: July 20, 2019
The UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre is world renowned for its innovative dairy research. With our research we aim to improve the lives of dairy cows in practical ways. We also study how to optimize dairy cattle reproduction on farms. Did you know that calves can be optimistic as well as pessimistic? And that […]
Animal Welfare Program hosts national meeting
Prof. David Fraser and graduate student Devon Wilson hosted a national meeting in Vancouver on April 30-May 1. The meeting brought together 17 experts on the marketing of dairy calves — animals that are born on dairy farms but are then sold to other farms that raise them for slaughter. The meeting included dairy farmers, […]
AWP in the News: Dairy Herd Management Reports on a recent study investigating competitive behaviour of cattle at the water trough
To see the report, follow this link!
Please join our panel discussion on the future of animal welfare!
Update!! For those who would like to link to the event online, it can be found through the Blue Jeans Network using the following information: To join the meeting on a computer or mobile phone: https://bluejeans.com/450910159?src=calendarLink Phone Dial-in +1.888.240.2560 (US Toll Free) +1.866.226.4650 (US Toll Free) Global Numbers: https://www.bluejeans.com/premium-numbers Meeting ID: 450 910 159 Room […]
Julia Lomb Starts as a Post Doctoral Fellow in the Animal Welfare Program
I grew up in Germany where I received my veterinary degree in 2008, and practiced as a dairy vet for 4 years. In 2013, I joined UBC’s Animal Welfare Program, first as an international student scholar, then as PhD student in 2014. During my PhD I investigated how healthy and sick dairy cows differ in […]