Abstracts: Simplifying the Welfare Quality assessment protocol for broiler chicken welfare

Welfare Quality (WQ) assessment protocols place the emphasis on animal- based measures as an indicator for animal welfare. Stakeholders, however, emphasise that a reduction in the time taken to complete the protocol is essential to improve practical applicability. We studied the potential for reduction in time to complete the WQ broiler assessment protocol and present […]

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Abstracts: Veterinary applications of infrared thermography

Abnormal body temperature is a major indicator of disease; infrared thermography (IRT) can assess changes in body surface temperature quickly and remotely. This technology can be applied to a myriad of diseases of various etiologies across a wide range of host species in veterinary medicine. It is used to monitor the physiologic status of individual […]

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RSPCA’s fears government ‘hands-off’ approach to live exports

Animal welfare groups are calling on the federal government to resist efforts to “water down” regulation of the live export industry. In a submission to the LGAP (Livestock Global Assurance Program) Committee, RSPCA Australia said new proposals from industry would lead to self-regulation and less government oversight of an industry which has seen serious breaches […]

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Abstracts: Perspectives on pasture versus indoor feeding of dairy cows

The dairy industry in many regions of the world has moved towards a high- input/high-output system maximising annual milk production per cow, primarily through increasing concentrate-based total mixed rations fed indoors year round, as opposed to allowing cows to feed on pasture. Pasture-based dairy systems in regions like New Zealand and Ireland are oriented towards […]

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