In Australia, all research and teaching that involves the use of live animals must be carried out in accordance with the Australian code of Practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. Under the Code, which is enforced by State and Territory legislation, applications for research using…
Since most advances in medicine and veterinary health involve some animal research, it is virtually impossible to access medical or veterinary care and avoid using any products that have been developed using animals. But much of the safety testing is for non-medical products which, to meet legal requirements, involves the…
Genetic modification (GM) of farm animals started in the early 1980s. Most research on GM farm animals (cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and goats) has been carried out in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Some GM animals have been produced to aid food production but there are also…
In a world first, a sheep named Dolly was born in 1996. She was a clone of her mother, created using the genetic material from a cell in the ewe’s udder. Dolly sparked an intense public debate on cloning. In response, a year later, a high-level report on the Implications…
Chick hatching programs occur most commonly at kindergartens and in prep/foundation and lower primary school grades. A chick hatching program is where a school is delivered fertile eggs which hatch a couple of days after arrival. Classrooms are supplied with an incubator, brooding box, food and substrate/bedding for the chicks….
Salmon are carnivorous and their formulated feed contains fish meal as a source of protein and fish oil as a main source of lipids and essential fatty acids. Fish meal and fish oil is obtained from wild-caught species of small ocean fish (e.g. anchovies, sardines) and from processing waste (trimmings)…
When they have reached slaughter weight, farmed Atlantic salmon may be removed from their sea pens through large pipes and transferred to special catching and slaughter boats that sit alongside the pen. Alternatively, well boats are used or the whole pen is slowly towed towards shore where fish are transferred…
In 2018, fifty two percent of global fish production for human consumption was aquaculture-based fishery [1]. With reduced abundance of wild caught fish stocks and increasing demand for seafood, this percentage is likely to increase in the future. Aquaculture is seen as an alternative to global and domestic decline in…
In Tasmania, farmed Atlantic salmon may be vulnerable to attack by seals and sea birds. Maintaining good fish welfare by protecting farmed Atlantic salmon from predators, such as seals and sea birds is critical to the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme standards. Fish are vulnerable to stress, injuries and mortalities as…
Compliance with regulatory requirements in relation to environmental impact management and monitoring is a prerequisite of the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standard for farmed Atlantic salmon. This means that an aquaculture company must demonstrate ongoing compliance with a recognised, third-party audited certification scheme that promotes best environmental practice. RSPCA will…