Animal welfare and ethics update

Welfare and ethics UPDATE

Virginia Williams, for MPI and the NZVA, provides an update on welfare and ethics.

DOG TRAINING METHODS

A UK study by the Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Research Group at the University of Lincoln compared three methods of dog training – with and without remote electronic collars and training with positive reinforcement (China et al., 2020). Training with positive reinforcement was found to be more effective in addressing both the target behaviour and general obedience training. The research results led the authors to conclude that “there is no evidence to indicate that E-collar training is necessary, even for its most widely cited indication”. The authors also suggest that using positive reinforcement poses fewer risks to dog welfare and the quality of the human-dog relationship.

REFERENCE:

China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ. Efficacy of dog training with and without remote electronic collars vs. a focus on positive reinforcement. Frontiers of Veterinary Science 7, 508 https://doi. org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00508, 2020

BROILER BREEDS

A study compared the welfare, behaviour, production and meat quality of fastergrowing broilers from three main commercial broiler companies to those of a commercially available, slower-growing breed (Dixon, 2020).

The faster-growing breeds had more breast meat, while the slower-growing breed had more leg meat; however, the latter had better meat-quality scores. Overall, the slower-growing birds had better welfare than the other breeds in terms of activity and welfare measure scores, but took longer to reach slaughter weight and were not as efficient in production measures. Despite this, the author argued that if lower mortality and improved meat quality are taken into account, as well as the premium price paid for these birds, slower-growing broilers may be a viable commercial option.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) is currently reviewing poultry standards, and slow-growing breeds continues to be a topic of interest.

REFERENCE:

Dixon LM. Slow and steady wins the race: The behaviour and welfare of commercial faster growing broiler breeds compared to a commercial slower growing breed. PLOS ONE 15(4), 2020

HAPPY RABBITS

Following an article in the June issue of VetScript, in which a study (Burn and Shields, 2020) demonstrated that rabbit welfare is better served if the animals are not kept singly, it appears that British rabbits have been living happier and healthier lives as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. A survey has shown that 88% of rabbit owners have been spending more time playing with their rabbits. In addition, 47% of owners said they had spent more money on toys and “boredom breakers”, while 26% said they had splashed out on improving their rabbits’ accommodation.

REFERENCE:

Burn CC, Shields P. Do rabbits need each other? Effects of single versus paired housing on rabbit body temperature and behaviour in a UK shelter. Animal Welfare 29(2), 209–19, 2020

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REFERENCE:

NAEAC. Annual Report 1 January to 31 December 2019. www.agriculture. govt.nz/dmsdocument/41127-national-animal-ethics-advisory-committeeannual-report-1-january-to-31-december-2019 (accessed 21 August 2020). New Zealand, 2020

NATIONAL ANIMAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT

Damien O’Connor, as the Minister responsible for animal welfare, has appointed Grant McCullough, NZVA President, to NAWAC. Grant will replace Julie Wagner when her term ends on 1 November.

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