Month: September 2013

Behavioural and brain gene expression profiling in pigs during tail biting outbreaks – evidence of a tail biting resistant phenotype

Abnormal tail biting behaviour is a major welfare problem for pigs receiving the behaviour, as well as an indication of decreased welfare in the pigs performing it. However, not all pigs in a pen perform or receive tail biting behaviour and it has recently been shown that these ‘neutral’ pigs […]

Community partnering as a tool for improving live release rate in animal shelters in the United States

Collaboration among all shelters and non-human animal welfare groups within a community along with the transparent, shared reporting of uniform data have been promoted as effective ways to increase the number of animals’ lives saved. This article summarises the shelter intakes, outcomes, and live release rate (LRR) from 6 geographically […]

Research reveals loophole in whipping rules

  A Sydney University study has exposed a loophole in whipping rules which may inadvertently encourage jockeys to use a whip in a way that causes more harm. The study, published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, analysed both forehand and backhand whipstrikes of jockeys in Victoria. Under the Australian […]