Barry the green sea turtle soon will return to the ocean around North Stradbroke Island, thanks to the speedy intervention of several wildlife professionals. The University of Queensland’s Moreton Bay Research Station, the Quandamooka Rangers, Sea World, and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service all worked together to save the 49cm turtle, who had a […]
Continue ReadingAbstracts: A scientific comment on the welfare of domesticated ruminants slaughtered without stunning
This review provides a scientific comment on the welfare of ruminants slaughtered by ventral-neck incision without stunning. Evidence is derived from studies of calves, sheep and goats. Reference is also made to findings in other mammals including humans. Pain is an inherently subjective experience and only indirect indices are available in animals. Neurophysiological tools are […]
Continue ReadingAbstracts: Can novel methods be useful for pain assessment of castrated piglets?
Given that surgical castration is a painful practice performed on millions of pigs every year, a need to identify novel reliable pain assessment tools exists in order to test anaesthetic and analgesic protocols that may reduce related pain. Two treatments were considered: handling (H) and surgical castration (C). Physiological (cortisol, lactate, glycaemia, rectal and eye […]
Continue ReadingEagle Post: Tom Donnelly writes from the US
In 2016, a new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy will give veterinarians a key role in combating a surge in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. For the first time, the agency will require veterinarians, not farmers, to decide when antibiotics are administered. While medical doctors issue antibiotics by prescription only, farmers and food companies have been […]
Continue ReadingSA gets first veterinary CT scanner
South Australia’s first veterinary CT (computer tomography) scanner, suitable for animals of all sizes, has been launched at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy campus. The new scanner is part of the university’s veterinary health centre and is available for clinical consultations for general public and referrals from other veterinary services. It also will be used […]
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