Research Grant Recent Projects

Learn about the projects Science for Animal Welfare has funded through it’s research grants.

2026

Training poultry farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria, in humane rodent management

Year: 2026
Grant: £3,500

Olaoluwa John Ademola
University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Rodent infestations in poultry farms lead to economic losses and disease risks, and many farmers in Kwara State respond by using unregulated and often toxic rodenticides. These poisons cause prolonged suffering in rodents and unintended poisoning of poultry, domestic animals, wildlife, and farm workers.

This project aims to train 70 small and medium poultry farmers across three major poultry production clusters in Kwara State in Ecological-Based Rodent Management (EBRM), a humane, science-based alternative that emphasizes prevention, structural exclusion, habitat modification, sanitation, and the use of rapid-kill traps instead of slow-acting poisons. Training workshops and farmer-tailored EBRM manuals will be provided.

This intervention is expected to significantly reduce reliance on harmful rodenticides and contribute to improved welfare of poultry and non-target wildlife, and safer farming environments for workers and livestock.

Pharmacodynamic of a single oral dose of tramadol in Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Year: 2026
Grant: £4,875

Claire Vergneau-Grosset
Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Fish are among the most common animals used in research laboratories. Yet, at this time no oral analgesic treatment is available for use to treat pain in fish. While immersion and injectable analgesic drugs have previously been described for use in fish, the objective our study is to evaluate the analgesic and sedative effects of oral tramadol, an opioid, in brook trout, a common species used in research in Canada.

We will use a validated model called the shuttle box (Loligo), which has previously been used to evaluate the effects of opioids in goldfish. The ultimate goal of the present study is to evaluate the effects of oral tramadol in a variety of fish. If proven to be analgesic, this drug could be administered in the food of fish exposed to painful conditions in research and in zoological settings. In comparison to injectable analgesics, this treatment would decrease the stress of capture for fish. Compared to opioids administered by immersion, this treatment would decrease the drug residues in water effluents.

The welfare of more than 2.5 million fish used in European laboratory research would potentially be improved by this project. In addition, the welfare of fish housed in aquaria and other zoological institutions would be improved as many treatments are often extrapolated from one fish species to another in this context.

The study’s outcomes will contribute to the growing body of knowledge supporting fish sentience and welfare requirements. By providing evidence-based analgesic protocols, this research supports the ethical treatment of fish in human care while advancing our understanding of pain management across vertebrate species. The establishment of effective oral analgesia protocols could revolutionize fish medicine, providing veterinarians and researchers with practical tools for improving aquatic animal welfare.

The AVTRW Acorn Award Scheme

Year: 2026
Grant: £1,500

Henny Martineau
Royal Veterinary College, UK

The Association for Veterinary Teaching and Research Work (AVTRW) is a network of approximately 300 members across the UK and Ireland, who teach and conduct research in veterinary and bio-veterinary science. Our committee comprises veterinarians who started their careers in practice, but have since moved into academia, research, and disease surveillance.

Our central aim is to support early career researchers and help the next generation avoid the “trial and error” learning we experienced ourselves. Our Acorn Award Scheme offers up to £1,500 for an eight-week undergraduate research project; the one supported here will focus on animal welfare.

Using behaviour and physiology to understand fish welfare

Year: 2026
Grant: £3,000

Katherine Sloman
University of the West of Scotland, UK

Fishes represent important scientific models, a key source of protein for human consumption through aquaculture and fisheries, and are a popular focus of human enjoyment through sport fisheries, home and public aquaria. All of these ways in which humans interact with fishes have impacts on their welfare. Raising awareness of fish welfare among the wider fish biology community is of vital importance, both to ensure the welfare of fish used in research is appropriately considered, and that knowledge generated is utilised effectively in improving fish welfare in all situations.

We are organizing a session titled ‘Using behaviour and physiology to understand fish welfare’ at the 16th International Congress on the Biology of Fish, which is being held at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver 12-16 July 2026. The conference is organized by the Physiology Section of the American Fisheries Society and attracts a large audience from broad areas of fish biology. It is important that fish welfare is represented at the Congress, and provides an opportunity to promote and discuss fish welfare on a global platform.

We have planned a full-day session, along with contributions to a poster session, that will bring together researchers with a focus on fish welfare from a variety of different contexts. This session aims to discuss how we can better understand fish welfare by sharing knowledge and refinements from across this range of scenarios.

The session will have a positive effect on fish welfare by bringing together researchers from a wide variety of areas where humans interact with fishes. Hosting a one-day session within a wider Fish Biology Congress, increases the interaction with other fish researchers who would ordinarily not attend fish welfare conferences. This provides the potential to broaden awareness of fish welfare and build future collaborations where information may otherwise go unshared. The session will be open to the submission of talks by students and will therefore provide education of new generation researchers in current fish welfare issues.

Training poultry farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria, in humane rodent management

Year: 2026
Grant: £3,500

Olaoluwa John Ademola
University of Ilorin, Nigeria

What is it like to be a reindeer? A scientific opinion paper on welfare risks in captivity and entertainment events

Year: 2026
Grant: £1,505

Tayla Hammond
Animal Insights Research and Consulting, UK

Reindeer continue to be used in festive events across the UK, yet there is no clear scientific guidance on whether these environments meet their welfare needs. Reindeer are highly specialised Arctic animals with sensory and physiological adaptations that make them vulnerable to noise, lighting, heat, crowding and restricted movement. This desk-based project will produce a peer-reviewed Opinion Paper that brings together current research on sensory biology, behaviour and welfare to explain how typical event environments are likely to be experienced by reindeer.

This project will improve reindeer welfare by providing clear scientific explanation of why common festive environments can be challenging when viewed from a reindeer’s sensory and physiological perspective. Reindeer are adapted to quiet, cold, open landscapes; exposure to noise, light, heat, close crowds and limited agency can trigger vigilance, avoidance, freezing and disrupted rumination.

By synthesising current evidence into an accessible Opinion Paper, the project will help councils, licensing authorities and NGOs interpret observed behaviour more accurately and understand the mechanisms behind stress responses. The project delivers meaningful population-level benefit by supporting more informed decisions and reducing the likelihood that reindeer are placed in unsuitable environments.

A pilot study investigating the potential for personality traits to confound judgement bias outcomes in pigs

Year: 2026
Grant: £648

Francesca Johansen
Teagasc, Ireland

Developing measures for animal emotion is key for animal welfare promotion and improvement. Cognitive bias tests, such as the judgement bias task, can indicate the effects of emotional states upon cognitive processes, and can be used to support existing measures of animal welfare. These cognitive bias methods are increasingly being used by the scientific community to further understand the welfare impacts of various factors, such as housing conditions, behavioural opportunities, or the human-animal relationship. The increase in using these methods suggests that many impactful changes to animal welfare in the coming years, will be based on results from these tests.

To ensure that any potential changes are truly representative of welfare improvements, from the animals’ perspective, it is essential to understand elements which may confound these results. Characteristics inherent to the animal, such as personality, have the potential to influence judgement bias outcomes. For example, a more ‘optimistic’ response to a novel ambiguous cue could also be because of high ‘boldness’ in an individual.

This project aims to investigate if judgement bias task outcomes are influenced by personality traits in pigs. To achieve this, pigs will be judgement bias tested in settings where the ambiguous cue will be either novel or non-novel. The results will contribute to our understanding of judgement bias task outcomes and their potential confounds.

Improving pig welfare in Kenya – a multi-stakeholder engagement forum

Year: 2026
Grant: £5,000

Evans Kibaara and Rosalyne Kendi Muthamaki
Muruti Group, and Tharaka University, Kenya

This is a capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening animal welfare knowledge and practical skills among key actors in Kenya’s pig value chain, including farmers, transporters, slaughter operators, animal health professionals, and regulatory authorities. The forum addresses critical welfare gaps that contribute to animal suffering.

Despite the growing pig sector in Kenya, many stakeholders have limited access to structured training on humane handling, transport standards, housing systems, and slaughter practices. This forum will provide evidence-based training aligned with national animal welfare legislation and internationally recognized principles such as the Five Freedoms. Through expert presentations, practical demonstrations, participatory discussions, and case-based learning, participants will gain hands-on knowledge on humane pig handling, proper housing, feeding, and disease prevention practices, as well as fitness for transport assessment and humane loading/unloading, and humane restraint and stunning methods at slaughter.

The forum is designed not only to increase knowledge but also to catalyse behaviour change across the entire value chain. By bringing together actors who often operate independently, the event will strengthen coordination, promote shared responsibility, and create a unified approach to improving welfare outcomes. Participants will leave with actionable commitments and practical strategies that can be immediately implemented within their operations.

The wider benefits of this initiative extend beyond individual participants. Improved pig welfare contributes to better productivity, enhanced food safety, increased consumer confidence, and improved access to formal and export markets. By building local capacity and fostering a culture of humane and sustainable production, the forum will support long-term systemic improvement in animal welfare standards within Kenya’s pig sector. Through knowledge transfer, stakeholder engagement, and practical implementation strategies, this project aims to create measurable and sustainable improvements in pig welfare across the value chain.

Strengthened research quality through improved animal welfare

Year: 2026
Grant: £5,000

Maria Valsjö
Forska utan djurförsök, Sweden

Our foundation’s main goal, in line with EU directive 2010/63/EU, is to ensure animals are only used in research when no scientific alternatives exist. However, phasing out animals in research will take time and it is important to work with all of the 3R principles in parallel, which includes refinement.

Despite refinement and animal welfare being a cornerstone in good research, there is often more talking than action. In Swedish animal facilities, steel tubes are still the number one to use during gavage and more and more experimental facilities move towards a standardization of the environmental enrichment, although different mice (sex, age, strains and individuals) require different types of enrichment for it to be effective.

Unfortunately, refinement often receives lower priority in facility budgets. We aim to educate and demonstrate the benefits of environmental enrichment and the use of less invasive methods, such as soft gavage tubes. In particular, we want to inform animal ethics committees so they can advocate for and require gentler procedures and discuss the available refinement methods with researchers.

The program is designed to educate all six Swedish animal ethics committees, each consisting of approximately 12 members, on the benefits of refinement, less invasive procedures, and individualized environmental enrichment. In addition, the training will be extended to all major animal facilities in Sweden, including over 10 facilities in Stockholm alone, targeting researchers, animal facility staff, and other stakeholders.

2025

Avoiding a polarised future: Synthesising diverse perspectives on the future of farm animal welfare

Year: 2025
Grant: £2,600

Jen-Yun Chou, Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire, Katie Koralesky, and Bianca Vandresen
Prairie Swine Centre, Université Laval, and University of British Columbia, Canada

This project consisted of a panel discussion and data collection at two events. The Humane Canada’s 2025 Summit for Animals (HCSA) held in Montréal, Canada, is the biggest and most well-attended animal welfare conference in Canada, with participants from various fields such as advocacy, education, policy, law enforcement, animal care, academia and the public. This was an ideal venue to have a panel discussion with animal welfare scientists presenting different perspectives about farm animal welfare. Additionally, we held a workshop on similar themes at the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE) North American Regional meeting (Guelph, Ontario). This workshop was held with meeting attendees, including animal welfare scientists, ethologists, and policy makers. Through these events, we aimed to create a diverse conversation on how to sustainably continue efforts to improve farm animal welfare in Canada.

At the HSCA, a 60-minute panel session, titled “How to avoid a polarised future? Multi-perspectives on the future of farm animal welfare in Canada”, was held. It focused on how science can engage diverse groups involved in farm animal welfare to ensure a sustainable future and avoid polarised debates. At the regional ISAE meeting, we organised a 90-minute workshop on the theme of “Avoiding a polarised future: Synthesising diverse perspectives on the future of farm animal welfare” to stimulate a dialogue among applied ethologists on how science can engage diverse stakeholders to ensure a sustainable, non-polarised future for farm animal welfare. At both events, we used a frame reflection exercise to first summarise how delegates answered the question “What does it mean to you to be a good farmer?” in a survey and then asked people to think about the same question from another perspective.

Through the two events and qualitative data collection, the team gained insight into different perspectives on what a good farmer/good farming is. Although there were differences depending on work role, and which perspective was assigned in the frame reflection activity, we saw common ground and possible directions to converge. Being open to diverse opinions matters, and – as scientists – we should especially be mindful of the multiple perspectives, trying to incorporate them into how we conduct and disseminate our research. Our next steps are to extract all data collected from these two events and further mobilise the knowledge we gained. We would hope to have the resources to conduct similar frame reflection activities with other interested parties, such as farmers, policy makers, and citizens.

The relationship between keel bone fracture, welfare and productivity in layer breeders

Year: 2025
Grant: £3,400

Mariam Opeyemi Logunleko
Bristol University, United Kingdom

Keel bone damage is a serious welfare concern in laying hens, with mean prevalences of 23% in cages (range: 0-85%) to 63% in single-tier systems (range 33-100%) for birds over 49 weeks of age. Keel bone damage is not only associated with pain and stress, but also reduced egg production and quality. However, studies are limited to commercial layers and the impact of keel bone damage amongst breeder flocks is unknown.

Breeders are of critical importance at the top of the production chain since it is generally known that parental conditions can have long-lasting effects on their offspring’s development. Maternal stress in breeders could results in fear development, reduce food competitiveness, and increase severe feather pecking in offspring. The extent to which this applies to younger parent stock and its relevance on a commercial level is unknown, but hugely relevant to production and welfare. This project aims to correlate flock-level prevalence of keel bone damage with flock productivity, mortality, egg quality and chick welfare at different flock ages.

Use of multi-modal enrichment: implications for welfare of captive living red-ruffed lemurs and healthier visitor experience

Year: 2025
Grant: £8,599

Berkay Arslan
University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom

Captive animals experience various stressors, including visitor interactions and limited environmental complexity, which can negatively impact their welfare. One key challenge is that they often have little ability to influence their surroundings. Research shows that giving animals opportunities to make choices and exercise control over parts of their environment can improve their well-being by reducing stress and encouraging natural behaviours. Environmental enrichment (EE) has been recognised as an effective approach to improving the welfare of captive animals, as it reduces stress and abnormal behaviours while encouraging behavioural diversity.

This project, funded by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), studied red-ruffed lemurs in a UK zoo to investigate how different levels of control affect their behaviour. We used a computer-based system that allowed lemurs to interact with sound, scent, and visual stimuli. In different conditions, either lemurs, visitors, both together, or the system itself controlled the stimuli. Lemurs could also choose to turn the device on or off. An ethogram was created and behavioural observations carried out across all conditions throughout the entire enclosure.

We found that lemurs’ behaviour varied depending on who had control, but the results were not always straightforward. There was no simple pattern linking more control to more positive behaviours. This suggests that the relationship between control and welfare is more complex than previously thought.

Our preliminary findings highlight the importance of designing enrichment systems that adapt to animals’ needs and preferences. By using technology to give animals a degree of influence over their surroundings, zoos can create environments that are more stimulating and supportive of natural behaviours.

Video data are currently being coded to examine how red-ruffed lemurs behave in front of the device and to analyse their interactions with it. A manuscript based on these findings is in preparation.

Using accelerometers to assess animal welfare during recreational fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

Year: 2025
Grant: £3,500

Neil Anders
Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, Norway

Bluefin tuna is increasingly targeted by recreational rod-and-line fisheries throughout the Atlantic Ocean. However, the animal welfare impacts of this are poorly understood.

Rod-and-line capture practices used in scientific tuna tagging programs result in short fights (the duration between hooking and landing) and in high rates of post-release survival. Fight times in recreational fishing typically far exceed that achieved in scientific fishing. This suggests that recreationally caught tuna may experience worse welfare because they are exposed to capture stressors for longer and/or they experience novel stressors not present during scientific fishing.

This project aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for improving tuna welfare during recreational fishing. To achieve this, lightweight accelerometers will be attached to rod-and-reel fishing gear to monitor behaviour and estimate energy expenditure during capture. Comparisons will be made with tuna caught using best-practice guidelines for scientific tagging programs in a complimentary project. The results will identify opportunities to improve recreational fishing techniques and minimize animal welfare impacts.

Bridging the gap: baseline study on fish welfare practices in cluster fish farms in Southern Nigeria

Year: 2025
Grant: £2,318

Felix Onyeka Nwose
Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

This project addresses the prevalence of fish welfare practices in Nigeria’s aquaculture industry. The project assessment of fish farmers’ baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) has been successfully completed across 188 fish farms in Delta, and Edo States. The purpose of this phase was to generate reliable, farmer-led evidence to guide fish-welfare advocacy, strengthen humane aquaculture practices, and identify systemic barriers limiting compliance.

The majority of farmers depend on concrete, earthen, and tarpaulin ponds, and flooding remains a recurring challenge. The baseline data collected revealed that 58% of farmers are unaware of recommended stocking densities, and 47% operate at high densities (11+ fish/m³), increasing stress and disease risk. There is also an over-reliance on personal experience (39%) rather than guidelines (19%) affects consistency. Only 5% of farmers conduct routine water quality testing, and 51% of farms release wastewater directly into nearby streams, thereby posing ecological risks. Larger farms (>2000 fish) change water more frequently (68%), while smaller farms lag behind.

Mortality is not significantly correlated with stocking density or training alone. Main causes reported by farmers include flooding, poor water quality, and disease outbreaks, with most farms reporting losing less than 500 fish annually, but cumulative financial loss remains high.

Assessment of the general welfare status showed that only 18 farms (9.2%) operate a high animal welfare practice, with 68 farms (34.9%) at medium and 109 farms (55.9%) at low levels of animal welfare practice. Training showed a strong, significant effect on welfare compliance, and record-keeping method is one of the strongest predictors of high welfare performance, with farms using digital (combined with manual) record keeping showing the highest levels of welfare, whereas manual or no record keeping was associated with low/medium welfare.

We have conducted welfare awareness sessions during data collection and identified untrained farmers (44%) for priority inclusion in upcoming welfare training. We have also created a farmer-friendly explainer on stocking density and poor welfare signs. In addition, we are engaging farmers in pollution risks associated with discharging wastewater into streams and encouraged local adoption of simple water-testing tools and monitoring logs.

Early discussions with local extension officers in Delta and Edo states have begun on integrating welfare into routine farm visits. We have also shared early insights with community leaders to support welfare-aligned norms. The next steps of the project include the rollout of animal welfare training of farmers, introduction of simple digital tools for welfare monitoring and record keeping, as well as further advocacy and policy engagement.

Enhancing dairy cattle welfare in smallholder systems: developing farmer-guided strategies for improving cattle welfare in Njoro Sub-County, Kenya

Year: 2025
Grant: £5,000

Wyckliff Ngetich
Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya

More than 80% of the milk consumed in Kenya is from small holder dairy farmers which has led to confining of many animals within small spaces. The farmers have limited knowledge on welfare requirements of dairy animals and therefore do not provide the necessary conditions. This study seeks to address this gap through assessing the welfare of dairy herds as well as the knowledge, attitudes and practices among small holder dairy farmers related to animal welfare in Njoro Sub-County.

A robust animal welfare assessment tool will be developed and administered to smallholder dairy herds to assess their welfare status. Lactating cows will be subjected to hygiene scoring procedure and tested for subclinical mastitis which have direct impact on their welfare. A structured questionnaire will also be administered to farmers to capture information on their demographics, knowledge, attitude and practices on animal welfare. The survey will explore prevailing practices, barriers to adopting welfare-friendly approaches, and opportunities for intervention. The generated information will guide targeted awareness campaigns and training programs (emphasizing low-cost, high-impact welfare practices) to improve farmers’ capacity to implement better welfare practices.

Workshops, farmer training sessions, and practical demonstrations will be conducted for the participating farmers to educate them on animal welfare. An animal welfare guidelines manual will be co-developed with the farmers, local veterinary professionals, and agricultural extension officers.

Validating a personality assessment in captive elephant zoo populations

Year: 2025
Grant: £880

Rachel Thomson
University of Portsmouth, UK

Studying personality – the identification of consistent individual behaviours – can enhance welfare in captive settings; informing management strategies such as tailored enrichment programs, captive breeding and training methods. However, previous methods of quantifying personality rely on behavioural coding (which may lack consistency across contexts) or trait-rating approaches (which risks subjective interpretation). As zoo animal personality is commonly assessed using observer ratings, this could pose challenges for species like elephants, whose behaviours are complex and context dependent. It is crucial to consistently and accurately assess individual personalities, so that strategies to ensure the welfare of captive elephants can be tailored to the needs of individual populations.

Aiming to alleviate the problems of previous personality methodologies, the Captive Elephant Personality Questionnaire (CEPQ), is a descriptive tool designed to assess personality traits in captive elephants based on keepers’ evaluations of behavioural tendencies. However, for the CEPQ to be an effective method for personality assessment, it must demonstrate reliability and validity. This study will assess whether the CEPQ can consistently identify behavioural traits across individuals (reliability), and whether it accurately measures what it intends to measure: personality domains of captive elephants (validity). Reliability will be tested through intra-rater, inter-rater, and test-retest analyses, while validity will be assessed by comparing personality domains extracted from CEPQ scores to historical behavioural welfare data and present-day behavioural observations.

Once validated, we aim for the CEPQ to be integrated into the Elephant Welfare App, enabling keepers to monitor personality stability over time. As changes in personality could indicate deviations in cognitive and behavioural welfare, and as the App is used globally – individualised welfare strategies will be able to be tailored across many elephant holding institutions. Ultimately, this research aims to improve captive elephant welfare by providing a scientifically rigorous, standardised method for personality assessment, supporting evidence-based management decisions.

Promoting humane handling and welfare awareness among fish farmers and students in the Niger Delta

Year: 2025
Grant: £495

Kingsley Ovie Awhefeada
Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

Aquaculture is a growing sector in Nigeria, contributing to food security, livelihoods, and rural employment. However, the welfare of farmed fish is frequently overlooked. Fish, like other vertebrates, experience pain, stress, and discomfort during poor handling, especially at harvest, during transport, or due to poor water conditions. Many small-scale farmers and students in Nigeria lack training in humane handling or an understanding of fish welfare science. In the Niger Delta, where aquaculture is expanding rapidly, poor handling practices such as suffocating fish in buckets, overcrowding during transport, and rough netting can lead to injuries, stress, high mortality, and reduced product quality. Furthermore, students graduating from fisheries and aquaculture programmes often lack exposure to the animal welfare dimensions of fish production. The project aims to fill this gap through an outreach and education initiative for fish farmers and fisheries students, promoting best practices for humane fish handling, thereby improving animal welfare outcomes and ethical awareness.

This project aims to raise awareness of fish handling welfare among students, Staff and small-scale aquaculture farmers in Delta State. Through training workshops and distribution of humane handling leaflets, we aim to promote better fish welfare practices in the region.

The project is expected to improve the welfare of thousands of farmed fish annually by promoting humane handling during harvesting and transportation. Farmers and students will be empowered with knowledge, leading to long-term behavioural change and more ethical practices.

Advancing animal welfare education in Liberia through curricula integration and capacity building at University of Liberia and Bong Technical College

Year: 2025
Grant: £5,000

Morris Darbo
Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LAWCS)

Currently, Liberia lacks a veterinary school and has very limited infrastructure and educational resources focused on animal welfare. Most animal science graduates complete their studies without formal exposure to fundamental animal welfare principles, leaving them unprepared to address the physical and psychological needs of animals under their care. Likewise, lecturers often lack the training, teaching materials, and practical tools to deliver animal welfare content effectively.

This project aims to strengthen animal welfare education and institutional capacity in Liberia by integrating a comprehensive animal welfare course into the animal science curricula of the University of Liberia and Bong Technical College, while building the capacity of 14 animal science lecturers through targeted training and practical support.

The project will include a comprehensive curriculum review in collaboration with academic leaders to ensure the animal welfare course aligns with national standards and is appropriately integrated into the existing academic framework. The new curriculum will cover essential topics such as animal care and handling, welfare assessment, clinical diagnosis, pain and wound management, and ethical considerations. The training will not only provide foundational knowledge but also equip lecturers with participatory teaching methods and access to training manuals and resources. The project will provide basic veterinary tools and supplies to each university, supporting hands-on learning and ensuring students can apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings. These tools will form the foundation for small-scale animal welfare demonstration units, enabling real-life scenarios for observation, diagnosis, and ethical decision-making.

By embedding animal welfare into the formal education system, this project will produce a ripple effect of long-term benefits. Students graduating with this knowledge will be better equipped to work as veterinary technicians, agricultural extension officers, animal health workers, and advocates for humane treatment. They will contribute to reduced animal suffering, improved animal welfare, better public health through disease prevention, and a greater culture of empathy and compassion across Liberia.

2024

Welfare-oriented methane emission mitigation: investigating the presence of discomfort in dairy cows feed-supplemented with 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP)

Year: 2024
Grant: £14,240

Guilherme Franchi
Dept. of Animal and Veterinary Science, Aarhus University, Denmark

Scientific evidence shows that dairy cows fed rations supplemented with 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), a potent methane inhibitor, can reduce feed intake. Although the mechanisms underlying this behavioural change are still unknown, reduced feed intake is a typical sign of discomfort. However, the potential welfare effects of this feed additive have not been studied. This study, which built on a larger project examining the effects of 3-NOP on performance and emissions, is the first to examine short-term behavioural responses to 3-NOP and the presence or absence of behavioural signs of discomfort, and contribute to forming the basis for commercially applicable recommendations regarding the use of this additive with higher focus on dairy cow welfare. Evidence on behavioural responses to 3-NOP and investigations of the potential presence of discomfort will provide the scientific basis to guide future research, allowing balanced decision making to be carried out that considers both climate action and animal welfare.

Operant conditioning of chimpanzees at Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust: keeper training and capacity building

Year: 2024
Grant: £2,178

Ruben Gralki
Chimfunshi Wildlife Sanctuary, Chingola, Zambia

Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust (CWOT) houses over 150 chimpanzees across eight social groups, with the largest group counting 57 individuals. The animals live in large, forested enclosures with access to indoor facilities for medical care purposes. However, the chimpanzees were not used to using these buildings. As a result, they experienced high levels of stress and anxiety during medical procedures, confinement, and daily routines. We therefore asked UFAW for support to put in place a positive reinforcement training program. The aims included stress-free indoor enclosure association, safe animal lock-ins, individual separation, and health checks, and the methods involved operant conditioning, playful practice, and routine integration. With the help of Ruben Gralki, a great ape training specialist from Berlin Zoo, the project brought significant improvements to animal welfare and daily management practices as well as a significant improvement in staff motivation, professionalism, and operational discipline.

CWOT has achieved the following as a result of this project:

Safe, voluntary and stress-free access to the chimpanzees in emergency situations, enabling rapid and effective responses by staff
The ability to carry out medical examinations without the use of anaesthesia, reducing health risks and improving routine care
The establishment of safe and voluntary confinement procedures, greatly improving flexibility in daily operations
Enriched daily routine for the chimpanzees, contributing to improved mental and physical well-being
Strengthened relationships between keepers and animals, based on trust, communication, and positive reinforcement

Thanks to the trainer’s expertise, it was possible to develop precise, structured protocols and to solve complex problems that the CWOT team had previously been unable to address. This guidance laid the foundation for long-term improvements in animal management, keeper training, and operational efficiency.

Animal welfare in rodent management book chapter

Year: 2024
Grant: £3,750

Sandra Baker
Independent researcher

The project will involve writing an invited book chapter on “Animal welfare in rodent management” for inclusion in the book ‘Rodent Pests: Ecology and Management’, edited by Jens Jacob and Grant Singleton. This will be the 3rd edition of the book previously entitled ‘Rodent Pests and their Control’, edited by Alan Buckle and Robert Smith, a book considered essential reading for all those involved in rodent pest control. As well as producing the chapter on animal welfare by November 2024, I will review other chapters for the same book.

Animal welfare training of students in Nigerians Colleges of Agriculture

Year: 2024
Grant: £3,038

Sanusi Mohammed
Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Bauchi, Nigeria

Nigeria (with an estimated 19.5 million cattle, 72.5 million goats, 41.3 million sheep, 7.1 million pigs and 28,000 camels) has the third largest population of livestock in Africa. Animal Welfare Society of Nigeria (AWSON) is a charitable association established in 2007 by a group of university lecturers and individuals concerned with animal welfare in Nigeria. The association actively engage in the promotion of animal welfare through education and training of animal health professionals.

This project consisted of setting up a training programme to train a large number Diploma students from Colleges of Agriculture across the country. The training was targeted at recent graduates of animal science and related fields from the Bauchi State College of Agriculture (BSCOA), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), and Federal Polytechnic and Sa’adu Zungur University Bauchi (SZUB). About 90 students completed the online registration which exceeded our target number of 60 participants.

Twelve topics were carefully selected and the BSCOA assembly Hall and other facilities in the college were used for the training. At the end of the programme, 80 students successfully completed the 3-day training on 23 – 26 September 2024. These students acquired basic knowledge on the principles of Five Animal Needs, an understanding of humane methods of animal restraint and humane slaughter methods, assessment of pains and distress in animals, as well as principles of animal behaviour.

The project has increased awareness of the participants that will bring about improved animal welfare in Nigeria. This will lead to improved field activities, transfer of knowledge to rural areas, better handling of animals, better management of animals, and improved animal welfare in general.

We consider this as a paradigm shift in achieving the objectives of AWSON. We still have a long way to go, and we will continue build on progress achieved. We hope to improve in coordination, collaboration, capacity building, and communication. We are grateful to University Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) and WTS-Vets United for their support in conducting this training

AWSON President Reaffirms Commitment to Animal Welfare as Training for Agricultural Students Kicks Off in Bauchi

Understanding the cat’s purr: can we discern distress purrs from happy purrs?

Year: 2024
Grant: £2,341

Sebastiaan Bol
Cowboy Cat Ranch Feline Research Center, USA

Cats purr when they are happy, but they can also purr when sick or injured. The latter is not well known among cat caregivers. The misconception that a purr always signals contentment could lead to a delay in medical care needed to alleviate the cat’s pain. We want to study if purrs from distressed cats are different from happy purrs.

It is generally assumed that cats who purr are content. However, limited evidence and anecdotes suggest cats may also purr when they solicit attention or food, and even when a cat is fearful, ill, or dying. Surprisingly, much is unknown about the function of the purr. The common claim that sick cats purr to heal themselves lacks evidence. This misbelief may result in cat guardians avoiding or postponing medical care for their feline companion, potentially not realizing the cat may be sending signals of distress. Misinterpretation of the feline purr may thus result in unnecessary suffering. These concerns illustrate the paucity of knowledge about the feline purr and stress the need for and importance of in-depth studies.

Here, we propose to analyse feline purr acoustics to determine the degree of variation in the purr within and between domestic cats, but also to identify possible differences in purrs in different contexts (i.e., happy and distressed). The long-term goal of this research is to generate data that will enable the development of a free app that would allow cat guardians to record and help interpret the purr of their cat.

Identifying behavioural indicators of sleep in sows using polysomnography

Year: 2024
Grant: £3,500

Dengshen Sun
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria

As humans, we sleep around one third of our entire life. For a long time, sleep was seen as a passive state during which only necessary bodily functions are active. It is only more recently that sleep has been understood as an “active behavioural state” instead of a “passive resting state” due to an increasing number of studies of the central nervous system and the associated characteristic functions going along with sleep. The importance of sleep for mental, physical, and psychological functionality is thus a relative recent area of research. In pigs, the conditions for sleep on farm are very far away from the conditions of pigs living in a natural environment. Improving our understanding of sleep may lead to changes in housing conditions and management procedures, thereby improving animal welfare.

Pigs spend around one third of their life asleep, but knowledge on how sleep quality and quantity affect pig welfare is scarce. Early studies in the 1970s used electrodes implanted into pigs’ skulls to obtain polysomnographic measurements, i.e. physiological recordings of sleep including electroencephalography (EEG). Only more recently have researchers started to investigate non-invasive self-adhesive electrodes to study sleep in pigs. However, this methodology is not only time-consuming, but also restricted to isolated pigs since conspecifics would otherwise explore and manipulate the electrodes. Since pigs live most of their lives in social groups, polysomnography cannot currently be used in farm settings.

The overall aim of our research on sleep in sows was 1) to establish a non-invasive polysomnographic recording method of sleep using electroencephalography (EEG); eye movements, which are measured using an electrooculogram (EOG); and muscle activity, which is recorded by an electromyogram (EMG) and 2) to use the polysomnographic measures to identify postures and subtle behaviours that allow differentiation of different sleep stages on a behavioural level. However, while the handling and the preparation of the sows (i.e. shaving, washing, sticking the electrodes, etc.) was much less problematic than we initially thought and the sows seemingly even enjoyed the practice, we faced technical problems with the polysomnographic device and artefacts in the recordings when electrodes loosened overnight. Despite a lot of time and effort invested in this project by the MSc student, we ended up with recordings of only six sows, which is not enough for a rigorous statistical analysis.

In a preliminary study, we collected polysomnographic measures of highly pregnant sows after they were isolated from the group for farrowing and recorded their behaviour at the same time. We faced unreliable recordings due to loosening of the electrodes overnight. Consequently, in the current study, we aimed to systematically investigate how to better fixate the electrodes. Based on this study, we suggest using electric clippers instead of a razor to shave the sows. Moreover, our study revealed that extra gel placed on the electrodes greatly improved the signal and that fixating electrodes and cables with kinesiology tape helps keeping both in place. This project lays the foundation for non-invasive polysomnographic recordings to identify postures and behaviours that can be used to identify different sleep stages in sows. If successful, these behavioural indicators can then be applied in future studies to gain insight into different factors affecting pig sleep and, consequently, pig welfare, thereby paving the ground for future research shedding light on a highly important – though so far neglected – part of pigs’ lives.

2023

Determining the effectiveness of cervical dislocation methods for laboratory mice

Year: 2023
Grant: £5,730

Dr Jasmine Clarkson
Newcastle University, United Kingdom

Laboratory mice remain the predominant species used in scientific research. In 2021, approximately 2.1 million mice were used in scientific studies in the UK alone. Given the sheer numbers, an unavoidable consequence of their use is that they must be humanely killed upon completion of the scientific study or at the end of their breeding life. For laboratory mice permitted methods in the United Kingdom consist of exposure to carbon dioxide, concussion of the brain by striking the cranium, overdose of a suitable anaesthetic, or cervical dislocation.

Across the UK, cervical dislocation is the preferred killing method of choice, with 57.5% of participants stating cervical dislocation was their preferred method. Cervical dislocation involves the separation of the vertebrae at the top of the spine and can be achieved manually (i.e., thumb and forefinger) or mechanically (i.e., using a tool or device). However, there is currently no standardised method for achieving consistent cervical separation (in the desired location) and currently there is no dedicated tool specifically designed to achieve accurate and effective dislocation in mice. Instead, research institutions often utilise different methods, either manual or mechanical (and utilise different tools) which have not been validated or assessed for animal welfare impacts. The lack of consistency in the approach poses major animal welfare concerns.

In this project, we aim to identify the preferences of personnel working across UK based research institutions using a short online questionnaire. We will identify the prevalence of manual versus mechanical cervical dislocation, and for those utilising mechanical methods, identify the tools commonly used for both rats and mice. We will then experimentally assess the four most common methods identified from the survey in the target species (mice only for this project) and determine the effectiveness of each respective method in terms of its ability to be both effective and accurate. This will provide the first independent welfare assessment of the most widely used methods for performing cervical dislocation in laboratory mice. This will be achieved by employing sophisticated behavioural (e.g., using high speed videography) and pathological assessment (e.g., CT and/or Xray imaging).

The effect of two scent enrichment exercises, nose work searches and sniff walks, on the activity levels and incidence of stress-related behaviours of kennelled shelter dogs

Year: 2023
Grant: £450

Corinne Straube
Loudoun County Animal Services, Leesburg, Virginia, USA

Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and benefit from opportunities to sniff. Particularly in the stressful environment of animal shelters, there is great interest in finding ways to improve welfare, and scent enrichment is one potential avenue. This study examined the effects that two common scent activities had on overnight activity and stress-related behaviors of dogs in a United States shelter. Dogs were included in the study for three consecutive days and were assigned to the Sniff Walk, Nose Work, or Control group. During their inclusion, they wore collar-mounted accelerometers which recorded the time overnight they spent resting versus active. Cameras were set up on their kennels; for one hour each evening, video was taken and analysed to determine the amount of time spent in various positions (lying, sitting, standing, or moving) and performing stress-related behaviours (vocalising, spinning, pacing).

On the second and third day of inclusion in the study, just before the shelter closed for the evening, dogs in the Sniff Walk group were walked using a long line and were allowed to stop to sniff as much as they chose. Dogs in the Nose Work group practiced an exercise in which they searched for treats in boxes. Dogs in the Control group got the usual routine of time in a play yard or a “normal” walk on a 6-ft lead. There was no significant effect of either scent exercise on the overnight activity levels of dogs or the frequency with which they showed stress-related behaviors. Despite the lack of significant effect shown, this study demonstrated that both scent exercises were easy and inexpensive to implement in the shelter setting. Future studies with larger sample sizes and longer periods of inclusion for each dog may better highlight the potential benefit of these activities for dogs living in shelters.

What fish want: Investigating the interplay between preferred environmental enrichment, welfare and the reliability of applied behavioural research

Year: 2023
Grant: £15,308

Andrew Vowles
University of Southampton, United Kingdom

Freshwater ecosystems (eg rivers) are being rapidly degraded, leading to a sharp decline in fish populations (eg up to 93% in Europe over the approx. the last 50 years). Numerous human activities are driving this decline (e.g. pollution, invasive non-native species, construction of river infrastructure such as dams, weirs and culverts) and in turn a wealth of lab-based research, utilizing live fish, aims to understand and provide information that can help mitigate (or lower) impacts, particularly those that affect important aspects of behaviour. It is important that the information obtained from this research is reliable and transferable to the applied problems being investigated, and assumes the animals are in a good welfare state and exhibiting natural behaviours in response to the factors being investigated.

Structural environmental enrichment (EE) is an important aspect of the fish husbandry environment. For example, fish from enriched (vs. barren) husbandry environments can demonstrate greater rates of recovery from handling, cognitive abilities that enhance agility and lower behavioural variability during experiments in novel environments. EE therefore has important implications for fish welfare but also potentially the results of applied lab-based behavioural research. However, EE is poorly documented in scientific publications, and its provision varies substantially between research groups and thus studies. This is problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, it makes it almost impossible to precisely replicate most experiments as this should include the husbandry environment. Secondly, variability in the provision of EE in husbandry tanks within and / or between studies could be influencing experimental results in unknown ways.

In this project, the interplay between preferred EE, welfare, and behaviour was explored during a fish passage study. The results would add to a limited evidence base, helping decision making in relation of provision of EE, specifically for researchers, aquarium technicians or others in charge with overseeing the husbandry and care of fish housed for behavioural studies. Secondly, outputs are hoped to encourage researchers to more thoroughly consider and report the husbandry environment (e.g. in scientific publications), leading to better welfare for fish used in behavioural research and improving experimental replication (and ultimately the robustness of the science we do with fish).

The study was run without any difficulties encountered, but a decision was made early to analyse the fish preference video data in a much more detailed way than originally planned. As such, the data analysis for this element is still on-going and will form the basis for a second publication. This approach will maximise the benefits and outputs from the data collected.

Presentations and publications:

Vowles AS (2025) Environmental enrichment as a confounding variable in applied behaviour research. UFAW International Animal Welfare Conference, 24-26 June 2025, online.

Vowles AS & Currie H (2025) Environmental enrichment in the husbandry environment as a confounding variable in applied fish behaviour research. Fisheries Society of the British Isles Annual Conference, 7-11 July 2025, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Vowles AS (2025) Physical environmental enrichment as a confounding variable in fish behavioural research. CABI Animal Behaviour and Welfare Cases, https://doi.org/10.1079/abwcases.2025.0017

Trends in admissions and outcomes at a British wildlife rehabilitation centre over a ten-year period 2012-2022

Year: 2022/2023
Grant: £2,000

Dr Liz Mullineaux
Secret World Wildlife Rescue, United Kingdom

Globally, it is estimated that millions of animals pass through rescue facilities each year, some dying in captivity, others euthanased, and some released to the wild. There are more than 600 rescue and rehabilitation facilities in the United Kingdom, as well as individuals providing care to sick or injured wild animals. Whilst well-intentioned, their skills, knowledge, and resources may be very limited potentially compromising animal welfare at capture, during captivity, or upon release. Such welfare risks involve not just the individual but extend to others of the same species, and other contact animals. Human impacts, especially on the mental health of animal carers, can be considerable. There is currently much debate regarding the relevance of wildlife rehabilitation to conservation, especially for those species where numbers and populations are in decline.

There is very limited published work identifying which animals are admitted to centres, why, and what their outcomes are. A robust evidence-base quantifying the activities of such unregulated wildlife rehabilitation providers in the UK is essential to progress care and reduce welfare harms by analysing outcomes. This present study interprets 42,800 records from a large wildlife centre in the southwest of England with direct veterinary supervision over a 10-year period and considers factors including season, species, reasons for admission and outcome. These results will guide wildlife centres and veterinary practices when planning resources and deciding appropriate species-specific staff training.

Twice as many birds than mammals were admitted with very small numbers of reptiles and amphibians. Nearly three quarters of admissions were during spring and summer. Admissions included 144 bird, 43 mammal, 6 reptile and 3 amphibian species. Just nine species accounted for more than half of admissions, with hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) being most common followed by wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) and herring gulls (Larus argentatus). Orphan animals were the predominant age class, with ‘orphaned’ also the main reason given for admission. Most other admissions were the consequences of anthropogenic activities including traumatic injuries and attacks by domestic pets. Over 40% of animals across all species and ages were released back to the wild, with the study showing early euthanasia intervention reduced the number of animals dying in captivity without negatively impacting upon the numbers released. Early intervention in those animals that could not be released is key to minimising unnecessary stress and animal welfare harms.

The findings clearly demonstrate the significance of wildlife rehabilitators’ skills in rearing ‘orphans’, whilst an ability to assess and appropriately treat trauma cases is of greater importance for most veterinary professionals than specialist knowledge of wildlife diseases. Wildlife veterinary education should focus upon assessment and examination, avian trauma medicine, and treating hedgehogs. Further discussion of these findings, alongside other relevant international studies will be available in the published findings.

Trends in Admissions and Outcomes at a British Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre over a Ten-Year Period (2012–2022)

2022

Platforms for pups: An assessment of a novel enrichment intervention to enhance the welfare of dogs in research settings

Year: 2022
Grant: £1,641

Lydia Hopper
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA

In North America, nearly 60,000 dogs were involved in research protocols at USDA-registered research facilities in 2019. Thus, it is important to evaluate environmental factors that mediate dogs’ welfare in such settings, to help enhance their wellbeing and to maximize research validity. In research settings, dogs spend the majority of their time in their home enclosure, so its design can have an important impact on welfare. Accordingly, recommendations have been made to increase the physical complexity of dog enclosures.

Raised platforms can increase complexity, affording dogs more choices, and allow dogs increased sightlines to other dogs and staff, providing an increased sense of control. They can also offer a solid surface for dogs to rest on. Despite being recommended, the efficacy of raised platforms as an intervention to enhance welfare has not been well examined. Therefore, we are assessing the potential welfare benefits of providing dogs with raised, solid platforms. Specifically, we are asking how often and in what way will dogs use raised platforms, and whether providing a platform changes the dogs’ activity patterns and sleep quality.

We are studying dogs’ behavior both through direct observation and via the use of collar-mounted accelerometers. This will tell us how often, and in what way, the dogs use the platforms, and if resting on the platforms enhances their sleep scores. So far, we have found that dogs use the platforms for resting, and that the platforms are large enough to allow dogs to co-sleep on the platforms with their social partners. The dogs’ preference for the platforms is evidenced by the fact that the dogs will preferentially spend time on them, even when the platforms are placed in areas of their enclosures that they typically do not spend time in when the platform is not present.

This project is not only allowing us to assess raised platforms as an affordable welfare intervention for dogs, but also has the potential to enhance the welfare of the very dogs we are studying. Additionally, a number of students have been involved in the study administration and data analysis, providing training opportunities for early career researchers in studying animal behavior and welfare.

Age and weight impacts on affective states of fast- and slow-growing broilers housed in complex or barren conditions

Year: 2022
Grant: £9,212

Leonie Jacobs
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

Commercially fast-growing broiler chickens can experience poor welfare conditions due to barren conditions and their rapid growth. As fast-growing broilers grow and gain weight, their health can deteriorate and behavioral repertoire limited. The use of slower-growing strains and/or providing a more complex environment, could benefit broiler welfare.

This study examined the impact of body weight and environmental complexity on broiler chicken affective states behavior in two genetic strains. We tested two genetic strains (fast-growing and slow-growing) and two housing conditions (high-complexity and low-complexity) and assessed affect and behavior at age- or weight-matched timepoints.

Slow-growing broilers were less anxious than fast-growing broilers. However, anxiety increased with weight gain in both strains. Chronic stress, measured by feather corticosterone, varied between strains and weights, with higher concentrations in fast-growing birds at low body weights. Environmental complexity did not impact chronic stress responses. Age negatively impacted consummatory, exploratory, play, and active behaviors similarly for both strains. Fast-growing birds showed fewer locomotive, play, and social behaviors compared to slow-growing birds. Environmental complexity only influenced locomotive behavior, with more observed in a simple environment.

In conclusion, slow-growing broilers generally showed improved affect and behavior compared to fast-growing broilers. The effects of weight gain on affective states depended on genetic strain and environmental complexity. Overall, producers may improve affect and behavior of broilers by using slow-growing strains, processing broilers at lower weights (when housed with enrichments), or increasing environmental complexity using slow- or fast-growing strains (as anxiety was reduced at 1 and 2 kg body weights).

Understanding why companion animal welfare campaigns may fail: The paradoxical effect of scientific information on carers

Year: 2022
Grant: £22,749

Daniel Mills
University of Lincoln, United Kingdom

Increases in the number of owned brachycephalic dogs has drawn attention to concerns for their welfare. Given the wide range of well-known health issues that these breeds suffer from and related anatomical problems, numerous marketing campaigns have been launched aimed at reducing the attraction and ownership of brachycephalic breeds in the last ten years, but these appear to have failed in that the campaigns appear to have generated unexpected consequences, potentially with counter-productive effects, evidenced by the substantial increase in registrations of these types of dogs. We need a fresh approach. There may be barriers for owners that resist positive change. To date, we know little about the drivers behind the breeding and acquisition of these dogs and there is an urgent need to understand the phenomenon to tackle the related animal welfare crisis.

We compared owners’ attitudes, desires and experiences concerning dog ownership as well as their knowledge and perception of related welfare information in order to identify unique features of relevance related to brachycephalic ownership that may be used to inform future measures aimed at improving brachycephalic dog welfare.

Specifically, we aimed to: (1) identify the dissonance reduction strategies employed by brachycephalic dog owners related to the welfare of the breed, and (2) explore the reasons behind the failure of current welfare campaigns in reducing the attraction and ownership of brachycephalic breeds. To achieve the first aim, we had two objectives: Objective 1 to describe the ways in which current and potential brachycephalic breeds frame their beliefs and experiences of ownership related to the concerns about brachycephalic breeds; and, Objective 2 to identify and evaluate egoistic motivations related to ownership of a brachycephalic dog which may serve to reduce owner dissonance related to the welfare problems faced by these breeds. To achieve our second aim, we studied both the perspectives of the stakeholder experience, relative to that of ownership of other breeds as well as that of the organisations that hosted brachycephalic welfare campaigns. This enabled a holistic overview of campaign messaging and its potential impact.

A mixed method was employed to fulfil the above aim and objectives. Primarily, we adapted an explorative qualitative study, through semi-structured interviews with 11 brachycephalic dog owning participants in the UK. Thematic analyses identified a richness to how welfare concerns associated with these dogs were interpreted and rationalised and how the campaigns were interpreted. The findings from this qualitative study also served as a foundation for a quantitative survey.

Our survey identified significantly greater egoistic motivations related to dog ownership by brachycephalic dog owners and the significant expressions of active dissonance apparent amongst brachycephalic dog owners; we also found evidence of significant dissonance reduction strategies potentially used by brachycephalic dog owners.

Brachycephalic dog owners often adopt anthropocentric and egocentric attitudes towards these breeds, which may be exacerbated by an increased sensitivity to neotenic characteristics such as large, wide-set eyes and round faces, with ownership framed as a nurturing behaviour with a close bond, which has the potential to bias information processing. Such tendencies are problematic when it comes to communication in welfare issues as they tend to process educational information subjectively, using their own frames of reference supported and reinforced by the wider brachycephalic owner community rather than appreciating the welfare concerns of the animal. If the welfare campaigns’ objective focuses on welfare educational information delivery that counters their existing personal and community constructed belief systems, the brachycephalic owners’ personal projection of egoistic beliefs and tendencies could lead to their behaviours to go against the common good and act to pursue their own needs and support their actions. As a result, campaigns that focus on health-related information may be ineffective. Furthermore, brachycephalic owners could be self-discouraged from considering the campaign information through downplaying their perception of the individual dog’s heath issues; focusing instead on their ability to care and provide by positioning themselves as a “saviour” type character.

Our findings indicate that current and potential brachycephalic owners adopt dissonance reduction strategies to preserve the validity of their decision making and so safeguard their personal and social identities when confronted with campaign information that counters their own and the wider brachycephalic community belief systems. By situating their dog as ‘other’, owners reject information that their dog is not healthy and so ignore the scientific literature or undertake reframing to provide alternative ‘evidence’ that such information as irrelevant and does not apply to their own dog. They further undertake boundary work to draw lines of differentiation with other dog breed owners by reframing the information in line with an egocentric desire to be a ‘caregiver’, with some degree of acceptance of the health issues of these dogs, whilst believing they are most suitable to care for them.

Given the diversity of brachycephalic owning demographics, we do not believe these models apply to all owners, but they do appear to apply to a significant proportion within this demographic. Our findings appeared to suggest a significant segment group who are not put off by this sort of campaign material and who may be a population force driving the popularity of these dogs. The extrinsic characterisation of these owners indicates that they are influenced by social media.

Validating non-invasive methods of gastric ulcer detection in sows: oral behaviour and metabolomic analysis of saliva

Year: 2022
Grant: £1,960

Laura Salazar
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), United Kingdom

Gastric ulceration is of importance in the pig industry as it is highly prevalent (sows: 37.3%; growers: 30% to 90%) and it may cause some level of discomfort/pain in affected pigs, which is of animal welfare concern. Furthermore, gastric ulceration can affect the productivity and sustainability of the system (eg increased mortality, reduced weight gain).

Even though there is a growing knowledge of the risk factors and therapeutic procedures for gastric ulceration, this condition is still present in the pig industry. One of the reasons might be the current lack of a low-cost, well-validated method to quickly and easily diagnose the condition in real-time (on farm and/or research settings) without having to euthanize the animal.

We aimed to investigate two possible non-invasive measures of gastric ulcers: oral behaviour and salivary metabolites. Thirty-eight sows (due to be culled as part of farm management) were observed for oral behaviour and saliva samples taken. Stomachs were visually assessed post-mortem to assess gastric ulceration. Gastric ulcers are scored depending on severity.

Our results showed that sow behaviour was not affected by stomach ulceration. However, we did find that salivary composition may be a potentially useful indicator of gastric ulceration in pigs since saliva changed with the type of stomach lesions and the progression of the condition. This study also confirms previous findings of the presence of gastric ulcers in adult female pigs and shows that they might be a much bigger problem than previously thought – even though the sows in this study were kept in group housing, stable groups, and given plenty of uncut straw (all of which are considered best practice when caring for pigs), 67.57% of sows still had a high level of ulcers.

This work was presented at:

‘Diagnosing the hidden problem of gastric ulcers in pigs: can behaviour or salivary metabolites help?’ In: Society of Feed Technologist Annual Pig Conference, Birmingham, UK (Oral presentation)

‘Investigating non-invasive methods of gastric ulcers detection in sows: Oral behaviours, and metabolomic analysis of saliva’ In: UFAW online Animal Welfare Conference 2023 (Poster presentation)

Support student attendance at the 2022 Reptile and Amphibian Husbandry Symposium

Year: 2022
Grant: £500

Roman Muryn

The Advancing Herpetological Husbandry group (AHH) and the British Herpetological Society (BHS) aim to improve all aspects associated with keeping herptiles (reptiles and amphibians). The National Centre for Reptile Welfare has been established now for 3 years. It is located at Hadlow College Kent for animal husbandry.

Our organisation annually holds a 2-day reptile husbandry symposium. The weekend will include workshops and technical lectures on the Saturday and formal presentations on the Sunday, and there will be demonstrations and talks from zoo specialists, vets and expert keepers.

We reach out to animal husbandry colleges and offer recognition to the most promising students. We are seeking support in subsidising the travel and costs for students which may otherwise not have opportunity to participate in such a gathering.

Establishing laboratory rodent lighting standards

Year: 2022
Grant: £8,000

Robert Lucas
University of Manchester, United Kingdom

Light is an essential component of the environment for all animals. It allows them to see and exerts widespread non-visual effects on circadian rhythms, sleep, hormone synthesis and affective and cognitive processes. However, current guidelines for light in laboratory animal housing are based upon the requirements of human vision rather than an appropriate consideration of how the animals themselves experience light. Indeed, the very units in which light in animal husbandry is measured – lux – presume that the recipient of the light is human. Lux adequately predicts brightness as perceived by a ‘standard’ human observer. However, the visual system of laboratory animals differs from that of humans in important ways. As a result, lights that are matched in lux (and appear very similar for us humans) can have quite divergent impact on animals. This can lead to animals being inadvertently exposed to inappropriate light. It also makes it impossible to standardise and regulate light exposure for lab animals. Together these can impact animal welfare and degrade the power and validity of scientific investigation.

This grant supported a workshop at which international experts in vision, photobiology and animal welfare addressed the questions of how we could better measure light for laboratory animals and what constitutes ‘healthy’ light for them. Over 3 days of discussion we agreed a measurement system that could be used to accurately measure light intensity as experienced by diverse species of laboratory mammals. We further defined evidence-based targets for light intensity at daytime and night expressed in these new units. The outcome of our discussion was collated in a consensus statement document that has been published: https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002535

Benchmarking translational performance of 3D culture models against animal models in neuroscience – How well can 3D culture models replace animal experiments for drug testing?

Year: 2022
Grant: £45,300

Benjamin V Ineichen
University of Zurich, Switzerland

Malcolm Macleod
University of Edinburgh, UK

The funding from the UFAW has been key in advancing two significant projects that align with the 3R principles (Replace, Reduce, Refine) in animal research and contribute to the broader goal of enhancing animal welfare.

The first was evaluating animal models in multiple sclerosis (MS) drug development through a comprehensive review. The goal was to examine how well animal studies predict the success of MS drugs in human trials. This involved a detailed review and analysis of animal studies related to both successful and unsuccessful MS drugs. We conducted a systematic search to identify drugs for MS, both successful and failed. The research involved analyzing studies from PubMed and EMBASE. We employed machine-learning techniques for efficient screening and data extraction, followed by a statistical analysis (meta-analysis) to compare the outcomes of drugs in animal models. Our research included 477 animal studies, involving about 30,000 animals, focusing on 15 approved and 11 failed MS drugs. Interestingly, most studies (90%) occurred post-regulatory approval. Our analysis showed that varied experimental conditions in animal studies correlate with successful drug approval. However, standard animal study outcomes did not necessarily predict clinical success. This study highlights the challenges in transferring findings from animal research to clinical applications. We suggest diversifying experimental methods and enhancing collaboration between preclinical and clinical researchers to improve the relevance and ethical responsibility of animal research.

The second project involved analyzing the transition of biomedical therapies from animals to humans. We aimed to address the ongoing debate about the relevance of animal studies in developing human therapies. Our focus was on measuring how effectively these studies translate to human applications. We performed an umbrella review of systematic reviews that evaluated this transition. Data was collated from Medline, Embase, and the Web of Science Core Collection. The study assessed the progression rate of therapies from animal models to human trials and regulatory approval. We also analyzed the correlation between animal and human study outcomes. Our review encompassed 122 articles, detailing therapies for 54 human diseases. About 50% of therapies from animal studies progressed to human trials, with a smaller percentage reaching regulatory approval. Notably, there was a high consistency (86%) between positive outcomes in animal and human studies. However, the overall rate of final approval was low. Our findings suggest a higher success rate in translating animal research to human applications than commonly assumed. However, the low approval rate points to potential improvements needed in the design of both animal studies and early human trials. We advocate for more robust study designs to enhance the translation of therapies from laboratory to clinical settings.

Systematic reviews, which synthesize existing scientific evidence to address specific questions using explicit and unbiased methods, have become increasingly recognized as an effective approach. They play a critical role in identifying issues in preclinical research, informing best practice guidelines, reducing research waste, improving reproducibility, and guiding translational research. Additionally, systematic reviews of preclinical studies enhance ethical animal use by maximizing the utility of existing data, thereby supporting animal welfare. However, poorly conducted systematic reviews can yield unreliable results, leading to incorrect interpretations of the literature. We have written a comprehensive Primer which provides guidance for performing rigorous systematic reviews, with or without meta-analysis, for preclinical studies, including those involving animal and in vitro research. It also highlights the limitations of systematic reviews and discusses emerging developments, such as automation tools. By following this guidance, researchers can ensure their systematic reviews are robust and impactful, ultimately improving decision-making and outcomes in preclinical research.

With help from UFAW, we were also able to organize the second summer school of animal systematic review in collaboration with Norecopa in Bergen, Norway in August 2024 (https://norecopa.no/summer-school-on-systematic-reviews-of-animal-studies/).

Our work was awarded with both the Swiss 3RCC award and the University of Zurich 3R award.

We are very thankful for the support from UFAW, which has been very important in achieving these milestones which have made a relevant contribution to the 3Rs.

Berg I, Härvelid P, Zürrer WE, Rosso M, Reich DS, Ineichen BV 2024 Which experimental factors govern successful animal-to-human translation in multiple sclerosis drug development? A systematic review and meta-analysis. eBioMedicine, 110, 105434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105434

Hild BF, Bruschweiler D, Hild STK, Bugajska J, von Wyl V, Rosso M, Wever KE, Furrer E, Ineichen BV (2025) Quality, topics, and demographic trends of animal systematic reviews – an umbrella review. Journal of Translational Medicine 23:21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05992-0

Ineichen BV, Furrer E, Grüninger SL, Zürrer WE, Macleod MR 2024 Analysis of animal-to-human translation shows that only 5% of animal-tested therapeutic interventions obtain regulatory approval for human applications. PLoS ONE Biology https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002667

Ineichen BV, Held U, Salanti G, Macleod MR, Wever KE (2024) Systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies. Nature Reviews Methods Primers 4:72. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-024-00347-x

2021

Feasibility assessment of wearable technologies
for describing neonatal beef calf behaviour

Year: 2021
Grant: £3,500

Ms Rachael Coon
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Neonatal calf diarrhoea (NCD) typically occurs within 21 days of birth and is the predominant cause of calfhood morbidity and mortality. Using wearable technologies to help producers detect calves with NCD sooner and with greater accuracy would be an invaluable tool to help improve calf welfare and health on suckler operations. With the support of the UFAW Small Project and Travel Award, I was able to travel from California to Alberta, Canada in May 2021 to assist in the completion of a pilot project on the feasibility of wearable technologies with hopes that our findings would provide the foundation for future research into early detection of NCD.

Within 24 hr of the calves being born, ten cow-calf pairs were housed in an outdoor pen with both open field and forested areas. Prior to entering the pen, all calves were fitted with a collar equipped with GPS and an accelerometer for measuring activity. The collars could also detect proximity to ear tags that were fitted on all the cows at the same time. Starting on Day 7 (Day 0 was the day animals entered the pen), focal animal sampling of calves was conducted. Observation times were randomly dispersed across days and including all hours between 0800 and 2000h. In addition to focal animal sampling, scan sampling of the pen was also conducted.

In total, 24 h of focal animal observations were conducted from Days 7 to 20. An average (±SD) of 144 (±52.4) minutes of observations were collected per collar. Accelerometer and GPS data are currently being analysed.

This information will be used to develop algorithms and GPS proximity ranges for detecting deviations in normal calf behaviour that may indicate sickness, allowing producers to respond rapidly even in rangeland conditions.

Using canine olfaction to detect bovine respiratory disease

Year: 2021
Grant: £3,179

Dr Courtney Daigle
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, USA

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is difficult to diagnose and is a leading cause of poor welfare in beef cattle. As a prey species, cattle are able to mask behavioural indicators of disease. Additionally, BRD involves a combination of multiple viral and bacterial pathogens that exist commensally, yet become virulent under stressful conditions, making diagnostic testing difficult. The current industry standard method of identifying cattle with BRD is the Clinical Illness Scoring (CIS) system, which uses the presence or absence of specific illness signs. However, CIS may be unreliable, suggesting that many cattle with BRD are neither diagnosed nor receive necessary health treatments.

Canine olfaction is a promising approach for screening for BRD. Studies using dogs to detect a variety of diseases, including bacterial and viral infections, have reported high sensitivity and specificity, suggesting that canine olfaction is a promising non-invasive disease screening technology. Dogs have been documented to detect bovine viral diarrhoea virus, which is involved in BRD, in cell culture samples Prior to conducting trials with live cattle, validating that dogs can distinguish the scents produced by BRD-infected and healthy cattle in a controlled environment is necessary.

The overall aim of the project is to develop a methodology for accurately detecting BRD in cattle using canine olfaction. To accomplish this, we have three objectives.

Objective 1: Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the current state of the literature published on the use of canine olfaction for disease detection.
Objective 2: Develop training skills for teaching dogs to detect disease via olfaction.
Objective 3: Establish a proof of concept that dogs can be used as a potentially rapid, mobile, and accurate screening method for BRD by demonstrating that BRD can be reliably detected by dogs in a laboratory environment.

Publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105664

Effects of sensory enrichment on the overall welfare of dairy calves from birth through weaning

Year: 2021
Grant: £3,425

Dr Juliana Garcia Alvarez
Harper Adams University, United Kingdom

Environmental enrichment has been proven to improve the welfare of many captive animal species including dairy cattle. Most research studies have focused on social and nutritional enrichment but very little is known about the effects of sensory enrichment on the welfare of dairy calves. Appeasing pheromones have been used to reduce stress and anxiety levels in different domesticated species including cats, dogs, horses and pigs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a synthetic analogue of the bovine appeasing pheromone (BAP) on dairy calves’ physiological stress responses and overall welfare during the critical early life period from birth through to milk weaning at around 8 weeks of age. Particular attention was given to neuroendocrine stress response as measured by salivary cortisol (acute stress) and hair cortisol (chronic stress), both funded by UFAW.

The project responded to the need for welfare enhancing strategies in artificial dairy calf rearing systems, where early separation from the dam, social isolation, restricted diets and abrupt milk weaning are common practices. Salivary and cortisol levels were measured every 2 weeks from the first week after the calves were born to 12 weeks old, and provided valuable insights into how BAP influenced stress adaptation when calves were treated with this substance or a placebo. While average cortisol levels did not differ significantly between treatment groups, patterns of response suggested that BAP may buffer the endocrine stress response associated with milk weaning. Specifically, placebo-treated calves exhibited a significant spike in salivary cortisol after full milk weaning, while this rise was not present in BAP-treated calves. A similar trend was observed in age-based comparisons, where BAP-treated calves showed reduced cortisol levels compared to placebo calves at some post-weaning ages. Although no statistically significant differences in hair cortisol levels were found between groups, it is important to note the variability introduced by practical sampling limitations (e.g., hair colour and inability to test regrowing hair). These limitations are well documented in the literature and were addressed analytically.

Garcia-Alvarez J, Teruel E, Cozzi A, Harris E, Rutter SM, Beaber A 2025 Effects of a synthetic analogue of the bovine appeasing pheromone on the overall welfare of dairy calves from birth through weaning. Journal of Dairy Science 108(2), 1964-1977. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-25452.

Dogs and their people: Identifying drivers of dog welfare in the home environment

Year: 2021
Grant: £3,500

Dr Carmen Glanville
Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia

Companion dogs face a range of challenges in today’s society with a significant number experiencing some degree of welfare compromise. The primary cause of most dog welfare problems is owner behaviour. Consequently, owner behaviour change is likely the most promising avenue for improving the lives of companion dogs. To develop effective behaviour change programs, it is crucial to identify key dog-owner factors which affect dog welfare and can be improved through intervention. This UFAW funded study examined one such factor: dog-owner ‘problem awareness’, i.e., the extent to which owners understand or accurately interpret their dog’s welfare state. This was assessed by examining relationships between owner perceptions of dog welfare and animal-based indicators of dog welfare over a two week period. Additionally, the amount of time owners spent with their dogs during that time was investigated as a potential factor that could influence problem awareness. A combination of the PetPace smart collar and Actigraph GT9X Link monitors was used to track dog activity, physiology (pulse, respiration, heart rate), and proximity to their owners. Additional welfare measures included the concentration of cortisol (a stress hormone) in the dogs’ hair and problem behaviours. A total of 50 dogs and 85 owners participated. Overall, very few statistically significant relationships between owner perceptions and the animal-based welfare indicators were found. Consequently, this work suggests that owners’ day-to-day understanding of their dog’s welfare state may be limited and problem awareness is a promising target for behaviour change interventions to improve dog welfare.

Support for the Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) project

Year: 2022
Grant: £15,000

Dr Becki Lawson
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, United Kingdom

The Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) team continue to investigate the causes of ill health affecting Great Britain’s garden wildlife in collaboration with scientists from their partner organisations, the British Trust for Ornithology, Froglife, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Around 4400 disease incident reports were received from members of the public during the last 12 months, and the team conducted post-mortem examinations on over 160 wild animals. GWH vets shared information with members of the public in response to these reports, providing advice on wildlife-friendly gardening practice for disease prevention and control to help safeguard wildlife health and welfare.

Over the past year, the GWH team have been involved in a range of collaborative research projects, focused on: increasing our understanding of Usutu virus infection in British garden birds, following the first detection of this virus in UK wild birds in 2020; investigating the ongoing impact of trichomonosis on finch populations; exploring the occurrence of pesticide exposure to hedgehogs and the implications that this might have for hedgehog health; and learning more about leech parasitism of amphibians and snake fungal disease in grass snakes.

GWH team members continue to share information through social media, by participating in public outreach events, giving presentations at scientific conferences, and providing student teaching on wildlife health. Findings are translated into scientific papers, published in journals which are freely available to the public where possible, along with a library of disease factsheets, which are regularly updated and available to download from the GWH website.

For more information, and to report sightings of ill health in garden wildlife, please visit www.gardenwildlifehealth.org

Publications: Garden wildlife

Refining the housing and husbandry of laboratory rats: a systematic review

Year: 2021
Grant: £3,255

Dr Vikki Neville
Bristol Veterinary School, United Kingdom

Ensuring that laboratory rats experience the highest possible levels of welfare is an important goal. Aside from ethical obligations to achieve this, it has been suggested that improving the welfare of research animals might help to improve the quality of science. A potentially large number of changes to the housing and husbandry of laboratory rats can be applied with the aim of improving rat welfare and it is important to know which are effective, which have little impact, and which may even be detrimental. We collated and reviewed the scientific literature on potential improvements to rat housing and husbandry to answer the following questions: (1) What potential improvements have, and haven’t, been studied? (2) How have these potential improvements been studied? (3) What conclusions can be drawn from these studies? In total, 1,017 studies were included in our review, and we have produced a database of >1,000 articles that can be used for further and more detailed analyses. The majority of studies identified by our review looked at potential improvements to the cage – such as increasing space or adding items like toys or shelters, but some also involve alterations to the wider environment – such as the temperature or lighting in the room in which rats were housed. Our findings have highlighted areas which are relatively understudied and where future research is likely to be valuable, such as improvements to rat transport and handling and training rats to cooperate with husbandry procedures. Drawing conclusions from the identified studies was subject to a number of limitations. The reporting of methodology in papers was often poor, indicating that studies were potentially subject to biases. Given that the effect of multiple improvements was often examined together as part of the same study, it was often difficult to tease apart which ones were most beneficial for rat welfare. The studies identified by our review also used a range of readouts to assess the impact of the potential improvements, but many of these are difficult to interpret from a welfare perspective. Focusing solely on the subset of identified studies which used readouts that are easiest to interpret from a welfare perspective, there is evidence that rats prefer complex environments, including shelters and multiple objects, which offer different areas/resources allowing the rat to engage in diverse behaviours. One of the clearest results of our review is that the impact of the potential improvements was influenced by number of factors including age, sex, strain and time of day when the data was collected. As such, our review shows that a one-size-fits-all approach to enhancing rat welfare is not appropriate, because different potential improvements will impact different rats in different ways.

Challenges of animal protection and welfare in the context of COVID-19 Pandemic
– an online student webinar

Year: 2021
Grant: £1,260

Dr Sara Platto
Jianghan University, P.R. China

The COVID-19 pandemic completely altered every aspect of our lives, causing a huge impact of the world economies, with job losses, and medical crisis, affecting also less obvious fields such as animal welfare. For example, people with limited means will feel to bear a huge weight to care for another animal, while living in a constant state of emergency. This situation has led to the relinquishment or abandonment of pets. In the worse of cases, lockdowns have exacerbated the cases of abuses which include pets. Challenges have also been encountered in the livestock industry, with lockdowns and other restrictive actions having posed limitation to human activities including veterinary care and general husbandry routines. For example, some farmers might have to cull a certain number of their animals with procedures not in line with animal welfare, to decrease the population inside the farms. Therefore, the current situation has a huge social implication in the livestock industry, as among the 600 million of livestock keepers, two third are women with a consequent impact on their economic empowerment.

The increase of animal slaughter during the pandemic have also raised concerns regarding carcass disposal and the impact on the environment. Moreover, tackling illegal wildlife trade represents one of the major issues of the current pandemic. Nevertheless, some proposed actions might take away informal food systems (wet markets), resources for the world’s most vulnerable people, contributing to the crisis of food security for millions of people in developing countries. In addition, a full wildlife ban can cause the trade to go underground, making it more difficult to be regulated, whereas a sustainable wildlife trade might provide key incentives for local people to actively protect animal species and their habitat. Focusing only on wildlife trade might cause other key drivers of the emergence of zoonosis to be overlooked, such as land use, deforestation, and massive livestock production.

The webinar (held on 8 January 2021) featured experts in the field of Wildlife Protection Law, Farm Animal Welfare, Small Animal Protection, and Animal Abuse who introduced the students to the situation at the time and challenges that these fields are encountering in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. The experts also outlined possible solutions and approaches by which the challenges can be responded to. The webinar represented an opportunity for Chinese university students to become familiar with the topics and to discover new lines of work for their future careers.

Optimising handling in salmon aquaculture: mesh effect on cryptic lesions and hygiene

Year: 2021
Grant: £1,782

Dr Adam Powell
Marine Environmental Research Laboratory,
Institute of Aquculture, Argyll, United Kingdom

The teleost integument (consisting of mucus, epithelium, and scales) forms a physical barrier between the outer and internal environment of fish. Physical trauma, which may happen even during brief routine handling in hand nets, can cause integumental damage and render fish vulnerable to pathogens and osmoregulatory stress. Movement of salmonids using hand nets is used in aquaculture, fishing and environmental monitoring activities. Therefore, refining physical handling of salmon is important to reduce stress and morbidity.

In previous research, we exposed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to routine brief exposure to mesh using hand nets, showing that rubber coated mesh significantly reduced the number of lost scales compared to when a conventional knotless equivalent was used. The technique of counting scales also offered a simple method to compare fish handling techniques. However, net handling can also damage scale-less regions of fish integument (eyes, fins, potentially the head region), and remove mucus and epithelium above and adjacent to lost scales across the flanks. Fluorescein is a non-toxic dye used to visualise cryptic damage in mucus membranes.

To date, model (non-salmonid) species have been investigated using this method, and a comparison between rubber mesh and conventional equivalents remains untested in this taxon.

This project aims conduct an initial proof of principle by investigating the extent to which rubber mesh reduces loss of mucus and damage to epithelium, and reduces damage to scale-less areas such the fins and eyes when compared to commercial standard knotless mesh. In addition, to test if rubber mesh potentially improves hygiene during handling via reduced delivery of bacteria to damaged areas of the integument, inferred via in vitro assay.

2026

Training poultry farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria, in humane rodent management

Pharmacodynamic of a single oral dose of tramadol in Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

The AVTRW Acorn Award Scheme

Using behaviour and physiology to understand fish welfare

Training poultry farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria, in humane rodent management

What is it like to be a reindeer? A scientific opinion paper on welfare risks in captivity and entertainment events

A pilot study investigating the potential for personality traits to confound judgement bias outcomes in pigs

Improving pig welfare in Kenya – a multi-stakeholder engagement forum

Strengthened research quality through improved animal welfare

2025

Avoiding a polarised future: Synthesising diverse perspectives on the future of farm animal welfare

The relationship between keel bone fracture, welfare and productivity in layer breeders

Use of multi-modal enrichment: implications for welfare of captive living red-ruffed lemurs and healthier visitor experience

Using accelerometers to assess animal welfare during recreational fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

Bridging the gap: baseline study on fish welfare practices in cluster fish farms in Southern Nigeria

Enhancing dairy cattle welfare in smallholder systems: developing farmer-guided strategies for improving cattle welfare in Njoro Sub-County, Kenya

Validating a personality assessment in captive elephant zoo populations

Promoting humane handling and welfare awareness among fish farmers and students in the Niger Delta

Advancing animal welfare education in Liberia through curricula integration and capacity building at University of Liberia and Bong Technical College

2024

Welfare-oriented methane emission mitigation: investigating the presence of discomfort in dairy cows feed-supplemented with 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP)

Operant conditioning of chimpanzees at Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust: keeper training and capacity building

Animal welfare in rodent management book chapter

Animal welfare training of students in Nigerians Colleges of Agriculture

Understanding the cat’s purr: can we discern distress purrs from happy purrs?

Identifying behavioural indicators of sleep in sows using polysomnography

2023

Determining the effectiveness of cervical dislocation methods for laboratory mice

The effect of two scent enrichment exercises, nose work searches and sniff walks, on the activity levels and incidence of stress-related behaviours of kennelled shelter dogs

What fish want: Investigating the interplay between preferred environmental enrichment, welfare and the reliability of applied behavioural research

Presentations and publications:

Trends in admissions and outcomes at a British wildlife rehabilitation centre over a ten-year period 2012-2022

2022

Platforms for pups: An assessment of a novel enrichment intervention to enhance the welfare of dogs in research settings

Age and weight impacts on affective states of fast- and slow-growing broilers housed in complex or barren conditions

Understanding why companion animal welfare campaigns may fail: The paradoxical effect of scientific information on carers

Validating non-invasive methods of gastric ulcer detection in sows: oral behaviour and metabolomic analysis of saliva

Support student attendance at the 2022 Reptile and Amphibian Husbandry Symposium

Establishing laboratory rodent lighting standards

Benchmarking translational performance of 3D culture models against animal models in neuroscience – How well can 3D culture models replace animal experiments for drug testing?

2021

Feasibility assessment of wearable technologiesfor describing neonatal beef calf behaviour

Using canine olfaction to detect bovine respiratory disease

Effects of sensory enrichment on the overall welfare of dairy calves from birth through weaning

Dogs and their people: Identifying drivers of dog welfare in the home environment

Support for the Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) project

Refining the housing and husbandry of laboratory rats: a systematic review

Challenges of animal protection and welfare in the context of COVID-19 Pandemic– an online student webinar

Optimising handling in salmon aquaculture: mesh effect on cryptic lesions and hygiene

Related case studies

Early Career Animal Welfare Researcher of the Year Award Winners

The Science for Animal Welfare Medal Winners

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Feasibility assessment of wearable technologies
for describing neonatal beef calf behaviour

Challenges of animal protection and welfare in the context of COVID-19 Pandemic
– an online student webinar