ON FARM NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFAREZ Marking emotions for practical welfare “Developing affective state measures – biomarkers – is part of our Collaborating research thrust.” for best practice The long‑term aim is to assess the welfare of animals throughout the Alan has been working to red meat supply chain in a practical, improve animal welfare for more simple and low‑cost way. than 30 years and is recognised “There’s a lot of research that as an international leader in animal needs to be done and it will take a welfare research. multidisciplinary effort for it to be He recently helped establish translated into a usable, readily The Animal Welfare Collaborative, adoptable tool for industry,” he said. to promote best practices in animal To do this, the research will involve welfare through an independent animal physiologists, behaviourists and science‑based approach. Ask University of Queensland and endocrinologists, physicists, Funded by the University of engineers and IT experts to develop Queensland, the independent Professor of Animal Welfare, practical technology. advisory organisation is currently Alan Tilbrook, if animal working with 60 agricultural welfare can be measured and the Researchers will also collaborate with industry, government, academic, answer is ‘not directly’. However, psychologists, anthropologists and animal welfare and community he says, it can be assessed. economists to help with industry’s groups, including MLA. adoption of the technology. Speaking at MLA’s Beef Industry The Collaborative provides Breakfast held in Brisbane, Alan said The true cost non‑partisan independence, although there are many ways to assess Economic analysis conducted for the credibility and scientific rigour animals’ behaviour and vital signs, Meat Industry Strategic Plan (MISP to lead initiatives with a clear current methods do not yet provide 2020) identified the biggest economic focus on animals. a good understanding of the whole risk facing the red meat industry was functioning of the animal. loss of consumer and community support for the industry’s products He and other researchers funded byMLA are delving into this emerging area.and practices. On‑farm “There are technologies available that “The MISP 20backed up by evidence from many20 economic analysis iswelfare tools tell us when animals move and that other sources, showing the community Together with the red meat track their weight, and so on, but none is extremely interested and concerned industry, MLA has implemented a can provide the level of information about animal welfare,” Alan said. range of programs and initiatives we need to make an assessment of an to address community concerns animal’s overall welfare,” Alan said. “That’s the pragmatic and financial about animal welfare. This includes He and his team plan to develop tools perspective on why the red meat making animal welfare and that go eyond just looking at health,b industry should fund animalwelfare research. The other reasonbiosecurity part of the Livestock but that also give an indication of Production Assurance (LPA) anmals’ emotions.i – over‑arching all that – is the program. Every LPA‑accredited social responsibility to ensure the producer must ensure animal “Animal welfare today, from animals have as good a life as they welfare requirements are fulfilled a scientific perspective, possibly can.” ■ by following the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines accepts that we need to be Professor Alan Tilbrook for cattle, sheep and/or goats. aware of the emotional – or E: a.tilbrook@uq.edu.au ‘affective’ – states of animals, Dr Jill Fernandes There are some useful tools E: j.ulrich@uq.edu.au and checklists here: as well as their physiological theanimalwelfarecollaborative.org mla.com.au/animalwelfare states,” he said. 18