Providing environmental enrichment may be an effective strategy to improve animal welfare by enabling positive affective (emotional) states and improving biological functioning, particularly where animals are confined indoors. Poor animal welfare occurs where there is a mismatch between the animal’s needs and aspects of animal management and/or the animal’s environment….
A mating stall is a crate used to hold a female pig for artificial insemination. A mating stall allows the female breeding pig to stand up or lie down but prevents her from turning around. In conventional indoor systems where pregnant pigs are group housed, sows (female breeding pigs that…
Pigs are intelligent, sociable and inquisitive animals. Historically pigs were farmed as an additional source of income in the dairy and grain industry, but pig farming has since evolved into its own industry with ~2.4 million pigs currently being farmed in Australia [1]. Pigs farmed for meat may be housed…
Greyhound racing inherently poses significant risks to animal welfare. Racing greyhounds in very hot weather places them at significant risk of dehydration and heat stress. However, there are no consistent rules that prohibit greyhound racing in Australia above a specific temperature. A recent Australian study of 229 racing greyhounds showed…
What is down? Down refers to the soft layer of feathers that is closest to a duck or goose’s skin, and is primarily located in the chest and belly regions. Ducks and geese are mainly farmed for the purpose of meat, liver and egg production. However, down and feathers can…
What is virtual fencing? Virtual fencing aims to remotely map and control livestock grazing behaviour without the use of fixed fences [1]. This technology, which was first developed in 2005, uses Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors and wireless technologies to control the movement and location of animals within an area…
(adopted 08/04/2024) [10] Note: Some of these non-therapeutic surgical modifications are illegal in some species/jurisdictions. [11] De-scenting (sometimes referred to as de-musking) is a surgical procedure in which a ferret’s scent glands are removed in order to eliminate their natural odour. [12] Dubbing is a surgical procedure in which the…
(adopted 08/04/2024) [3] Sterilisation includes all procedures and techniques that render the animal unable to produce offspring. Surgical sterilisation includes gonadectomy (castration and spaying – ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy) and gonad sparing sterilisation options (e.g. vasectomy). Non-surgical sterilisation may include options such as chemical castration or other emerging options such as…
All domestic horses need good, regular hoof care. Hooves that are allowed to grow long are not just unsightly – the internal workings of the hoof, the tendons and ligaments of the legs and ultimately the movement of the horse are all affected by having unbalanced hoofs. If you are…
The main parasites that horses can be afflicted by are ticks, lice, worms and bots. The three main ticks that can affect horses in Australia are cattle ticks, New Zealand cattle ticks (bush) and paralysis ticks. Cattle ticks are found in Queensland, north eastern NSW, the Northern Territory and Western…