Animal welfare group forms partnerships at UCD Veterinary School
Societal views of animals have evolved to a higher level of concern for animal well-being and humane treatment of all animals, including those in agriculture. The School of Veterinary Medicine has formed a new division, the International Animal Welfare Training Institute, to examine and address animal welfare issues in many species.
Faculty of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, veterinary experts in practice and members of the beef and dairy industries met Friday, September 5, 2008 at the school to develop new approaches and examine practices that will benefit the welfare of food animals.
Meeting participants shared ideas that take into account the animal welfare concerns of consumers and farmers alike, including science-based welfare practices.
Jim Reynolds, DVM, a faculty member based at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, Tulare, and chair of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Welfare Committee, suggested several ways for producers to seek help from their veterinarians to conduct assessments and implement sound welfare practices. He emphasized, “Owners’ values and attitudes influence welfare more than the size of a farm.”
Matt Byrne, executive director of the California Cattlemen’s Association, stated that the 2008 Hallmark slaughterhouse video of disabled animals became the catalyst for different types of producers to address welfare issues as a group. “Recognizing that consumers do not always see the distinction among different kinds of cows,” he stated, “we need to address the issues, good and bad. The sale or transport of non-ambulatory cattle and those at risk of going down is unacceptable,” he said.
Using a specialized sling system developed at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Professor John Madigan, DVM, demonstrated how to lift a recumbent cow safely into a therapeutic flotation tank for cattle where the animal can be supported while recovering from a fall, a difficult birth on a dairy, or other medical conditions.
