Live sheep exports will be among topics discussed at a University of Queensland professional development conference in Brisbane tomorrow, Friday, July 8.
The University’s Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics in the School of Veterinary Science is holding the conference at Hillstone, Brisbane (formerly the St Lucia Golf Links Clubhouse) from 9am to 4.15pm.
Leading experts in animal welfare and ethics will attend the conference, which aims to focus attention on key issues facing animal welfare and ethics.
Guest speakers will include Manager of the Animal Welfare Unit at the Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Dr Peter Thornber, who will discuss national and international developments in animal welfare; and RSPCA president Dr Hugh Wirth, discussing the role of Non-Governmental Organisations in improving animal welfare in Australia. Australia Zoo celebrity Steve Irwin will give a video address on wildlife welfare and conservation.
Topics will also include the ethics of stockmanship, aged horse management, xenotransplantation (transplantation of an organ of one species of animal into the body of another species) and public attitudes to food-producing animals.
Abbreviated abstracts of some conference papers are attached. Further information about this research or other Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics activities can be found at www.uq.edu.au/cawe
Media wishing to attend the conference can contact Dr Nicki Cross (telephone 0754 601 368 or mobile 042 9968 766) or Jan King at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 1120).
ABBREVIATED ABSTRACTS FROM SOME PAPERS TO BE PRESENTED
The ethics of stockmanship
Paul H. Hemsworth
Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne and Department of Primary Industries, Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia.
Much has been done to improve genetics, nutrition, health and housing of livestock but efforts to target the stockperson, who performs such a key function, has just begun. The role and impact of the stockperson should not be underestimated: to do so will seriously risk the welfare (and productivity) of livestock.
Future developments in animal welfare provision for land-based livestock industries
J.C. Petherick
Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, PO Box 6014, Rockhampton, Qld 4702, Australia
The general community and consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the care and management of the livestock that have produced the food and fibre products that they buy and these concerns are playing an increasingly important role in purchasing behaviour. It is, thus, imperative that producers are able to assure the community that livestock welfare is of the highest standard.
The Development of Welfare in the Pastoral Industries
Amanda Parker, AgForce
Australia’s pastoral industries are significant contributors to our economy and to all communities both rural and urban. Highlighting the size and importance of Australia’s pastoral industry is not an attempt to justify its existence or the current way things are done but recognizes how critical it is that we get issues like animal welfare right. The ultimate goal is animal welfare practices that are of the highest standard in productive, profitable agricultural enterprises.
Determining Alternate Methods for Measuring the Welfare of Exported Sheep and Cattle
M. Pines, C. Petherick, J. Gaughan and C. J.Phillips
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343
Mortality is currently the principal welfare indicator for live export, but with current levels being very low, and mortality only measuring extreme events, there is a need for additional indicators of welfare. We conducted an adaptive conjoint analysis to evaluate stakeholder opinion of welfare indicators for their suitability as measurements of the welfare of ship-transported sheep and cattle, both at the pre-embarkation depots and on board ship. The results indicate which welfare indicators should be considered for exported livestock.
Determining Public Perceptions of Welfare in Food-Producing Animals
J.I. Wojcechowska and C.J.Phillips
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343
Animal welfare is a subject that is of increasing concern to the public. Since there is minimal data concerning the factors affecting public perceptions of production animal welfare, the purpose of this study is to collect statistical information and provide an in-depth investigation into the beliefs of the Australian community regarding this subject. To achieve this, 1000 individuals from across Australia will be recruited by telephone to participate in a survey.
Multi-Modal Sensory Cue Recognition in Domestic Dogs
C. Creamer and C.J. Phillips
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343
Using a match to sample design the present study aims to investigate the ability of domesticated dogs on facial recognition tasks to determine whether there is an integration of a number of sensory modalities or a hierarchy of sensory modalities. Faces will be paired with other sensory stimulus and recognition accuracy will be measured.
Creation of a Welfare Accreditation Scheme for Greater Apes
A. Fernie, N. Cross, C.J. Phillips, P. Murray and A. Tribe
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343
The aim of the proposed research outlined here is to create a welfare accreditation scheme for captive great apes. This aim will be carried out by examining the welfare of great apes housed in Australian zoos and Indonesian zoos, sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres.
Causal Factors for Excessive Barking in Central Brisbane Dogs
N. Cross, K. Rosenthal and C.J. Phillips
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343
Australia is known to be one of the leaders in companion animal ownership. Despite this, there is no research specifically examining the causal factors of excessive barking as a problem in companion dogs. The study found that excessive barking was the second most reported problem in a Brisbane behaviour clinic after aggression and constituted 15% of all behaviour problems.
Aged Horse Health Management and Welfare
T. McGowan, C. McGowan, M. Hohenhaus and C.J. Phillips
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343
Aged horses represent a population of horses that have been largely overlooked in equine research and in many parts of the equine industry. However, these horses are often highly experienced and valued; many considered a ‘member of the family’ by their owners. However, for reasons we don’t know, there is a discrepancy between significant health issues reported by owners and clinical signs of disease shown by the horses. This indicates the possibility that many problems go undiagnosed. The research involves contacting owners of aged horses in Southeast Queensland and performing a detailed veterinary examination including blood tests on their aged horses.
The Effects of Loading Conditions on the Welfare of Transported Horses
N. Cross and C.J. Phillips
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343
During a muster, undomesticated brumbies are loaded onto a trailer, resulting in considerable stress to the horses and a risk of injury to both horses and handlers. As horses have been shown to exhibit preferences for certain lighting conditions, this study investigated if manipulation of the lighting conditions when loading horses onto a trailer would reduce the amount of stress a horse is experiencing during this process.
Recommendations for Providing Optimal Housing Conditions for Primates used in Xenotransplantation
N. Cross and C.J. Phillips
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343
Xenotransplantation involves the transplantation of an organ of one species of animal into the body of another species. This procedure is performed with the aim of ultimately providing organs for human transplantation, which will be obtained from the body of a different species. This procedure is presently being researched to assess experimental conditions that will minimise the incidence of rejection of the new organ from the body of the recipient.
