Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Animal welfare focus of Guelph conference

Friday, August 5, 2011

by SUSAN MANN

More than 300 animal welfare experts from around the world will meet in Guelph next week for the fifth international conference on animal welfare assessment.

The University of Guelph’s Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare is hosting the conference, called Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level. Participants are coming from Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and Canada. This is the first time the conference, held every three years, will be hosted outside of Europe.

The meeting will mainly be made up of scientists and they will discuss existing and emerging welfare assessment methods including ones used in zoos and laboratories. Prof. Tina Widowski, of the University of Guelph’s department of animal and poultry science and co-organizer of the conference, says some topics being covered include how previous assessments were developed and how they’re being refined, cutting edge technology including automated video capture of chicken footpads in a slaughter plant to assess the birds’ housing system based on feet health, and what farmers’ attitudes and expectations are concerning welfare systems. “For producers it’s one more thing in a long list of responsibilities that they have,” she says.

Consumers, food retailers and regulatory agencies want assurances about animal care and that’s resulting in animal welfare audits in agriculture and in other industries using animals. There is an underlying science to welfare and conference participants will explore that. Objective criteria and protocols are being developed around the world.

Widowski says she hopes the conference will help broaden animal welfare assessments to include environmental and social aspects. The impacts and benefits the assessments have for people also need to be taken into account, she says.

The Campbell centre was the first Canadian centre established for conducting research on improving the quality of life for animals. The internationally recognized centre is a hub for research and teaching and for international partnerships with industry and government. BF


 

Current Issue

June/July 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Ontario Promotes Local Food to Boost Economy and Jobs

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Ontario is celebrating Local Food Week from June 2–8, 2025, honoring the people behind the province’s strong and self-sufficient food supply. From farmers and food processors to retailers and restauranteurs, these individuals contribute to the economy and food security. The agriculture... Read this article online

Scientists at Guelph Target Avian Threat

Thursday, June 5, 2025

The University of Guelph (U of G) is activeey engaged against the spread of avian flu. Experts from a variety of departments, including virology, engineering, veterinary medicine, and computer science, are working together to stop this growing threat. “This is not just a crisis for the... Read this article online

Trouw Nutrition launches IntelEgg

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Trouw Nutrition has announced the launch of , a digital platform designed to empower layer producers with real-time insights and data-driven decision-making tools. The image above shows an demo screen. This browser-based application is set to transform how poultry farmers monitor,... Read this article online

New Precision Ag Digital Digest Coming Soon

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

The Summer 2025 Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest will be released on June 11. Summer is upon us! Tillage and seeding are mostly completed (…hopefully), so we are shifting focus to irrigation, baling, spraying, guidance, and harvest (among other topics and technologies). In... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top