Return to flip book view

Institute of Animal Technology Bulletin G G G Cattle Lameness Detection NIO Workshop Report Call for Congress Submissions G G G Happy Animals AS ET News Diary Dates Vol 53 No 9 September 2017

Bulletin Vol 53 No 9 September 2017 EDITOR Carole Wilson bulletineditor iat org uk ASSISTANT EDITOR bulletinassistant iat org uk ADVERTISEMENT MANAGERS PRC Associates Ltd mail prcassoc co uk CONTENTS Dear Bulletin Readers 10th European Zebrafish Meeting Congress Announcement Named Information Officers Workshop Published monthly by the Institute of Animal Technology Registered Office 5 South Parade Summertown Oxford OX2 7JL A Day at the Races Surrey Hampshire and Sussex Branch Announcement ISSN 0263 2861 For enquiries other than Bulletin related contact IAT ADMINISTRATOR admin iat org uk or 0800 085 4380 Final copy date for November Bulletin 1st October 7 9 11 12 16 17 Refinements in Cattle Lameness Detection 21 23 AS ET 24 27 Suppliers Register i xlvi Andrew Blake Tribute Award 28 29 Happy Animals Make Good Science 31 33 UFAW Two Outstanding Animal Welfare Scientists Recognised 35 38 UFAW Recognition for Pioneering Work to Improve Welfare of Food Animals 39 41 Situations Vacant 42 46 Diary Dates The opinions expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the Institute 5 47

Bulletin September 2017 Dear Bulletin Readers In this edition Karen Dunford reviews a Named Information Officer meeting that we both attended recently see page 12 In the course of discussions at that meeting and others it has become apparent that people can find it difficult to source information for the NIO role With this in mind next month the Bulletin will be starting a new feature giving sources of information relevant to NIOs If you have anything you think might be relevant to include please let me know and we can share it with everyone In the spirit of sharing information online registration is now open for Congress see page 11 and I want to encourage all of you to consider presenting your work there It s good fun and it s what makes a successful conference The fish facility team is already thinking about what we might submit I ve also been thinking about the Andrew Blake Tribute Award see page 28 another opportunity I d like to encourage everyone to enter A few years ago in 2012 the UCL fish facility won with a paper about body condition scoring in zebrafish We have been asked many times for that paper Not only does it form part of our health monitoring system but also those of other fish facilities including several in the USA and in Europe But what might interest you as much is that whole idea came from a conversation in a pub so good ideas don t have to have formal origins they can come via anywhere from anyone The important thing is to share them And on that note Happy R eadi ng Carole 5

Bulletin September 2017 7 10th European Zebrafish Meeting T his year the 10th European Zebrafish Meeting was held in the city known as the Pearl of the Danube Budapest Hungary on 3 7 July The Danube the river that connects the two main areas of this capital Buda and Pest has enormous bridges that link both banks Buda the elegant residential area where the conference venue was located and Pest the economic and commercial heart of the city Budapest was chosen with a purpose the commemoration of the founder of the field George Streisinger who was considered the founding father of Zebrafish Developmental and Genetic Research was born 90 years ago in this city The conference was supported by the SmartEvents mobile application a free app which helped you to find all information regarding the event manage your daily agenda download abstract books rate the presentations and even communicate with all the other delegates at the event This meeting brought together the growing zebrafish community over 500 participants and covered a wide range of topics in which zebrafish are used as an animal model including toxicology neurobiology immunity reproductive biology and aquaculture The meeting also provided a chance to find out about the new advances in zebrafish husbandry resources education and emerging technologies Other presentations involved different animal models including drosophila and medaka The programme included keynote and plenary talks short oral presentations poster sessions and genomic resources workshops The meeting started with an early registration at 8 00am and a workshop organised by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and ZFIN Zebrafish Information Network which covered the basics in utilising the Zebrafish Genome Data focussing on problem solving analysis and interpretation of

8 September 2017 Bulletin genomic DNA sequences In addition parallel to this workshop three consecutive oral sessions on husbandry resources and education accompanied the opening of the meeting Unfortunately the additional presentations were added to the scientific programme before the official opening of the conference which meant that some people were not able to attend these sessions on the first day That meant that some participants missed the husbandry session perhaps one of the most interesting topics for the animal technician community which had several interesting presentations about refining the care of this important animal model Nevertheless the poster session on the same day complemented this gap with a high level of participation In the evening the welcome reception took place in the trade exhibition hall a great opportunity to interact with people from other countries and other different research fields but all with the same passion At the same time this was a fantastic occasion as an ice breaker to increase the zebrafish community network The trade exhibition was represented by companies covering research needs cell technology health monitoring programmes and solutions to keep or reach the highest standards for the maintenance of animal models Between the exhibitors you could find different diet suppliers tank manufacturers and associations For example EuFishBioMed a European network whose goal is to establish a platform of knowledge exchange for research on biomedical fish models such as Zebrafish and Medaka Other exhibitors were related to life science and technology laboratory equipment supplies and services instruments consumables novel technologies to screen zebrafish advanced microscopy and real time 3D imaging technology for imaging and behaviour studies Tuesday and Wednesday were dedicated to zebrafish as a biomedical model The session opened with parallel presentations of disease models patterning stem cells and neurobiology This continued on Wednesday with a variety of oral presentations focussed on organogenesis cancer immunity and infectious disease reproductive and evolutionary biology Over the course of the conference there were two poster sessions displaying over 300 posters which also represented all of the subjects that were presented as talks On Wednesday afternoon the EuFishBioMed meeting took place in the main hall the financial report was presented and various aspects relating to funding and budgets were discussed The end of the day finished with the Christiane N sslein Volhard Award who is the Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine and whose work has relevance to the development of all multicellular organisms Her research fields are developmental biology embryology and genetics focussing on the early embryonic development a remarkable contribution in the field of women and science In the evening an

Bulletin September 2017 9 entertainment and bowling session sponsored by Tecniplast and ZHA Zebrafish Husbandry Association took place in the Avenue Thursday July 6 the last day the morning sessions covered a variety of fields such as emerging technologies signalling fish biology and aquaculture toxicology and tissue dynamics The Scientific Programme concluded with Jean Paul Vincent from the Francis Crick Institute giving a keynote talk about growth control by pattering signals in Drosophila The EZM Conference ended with a river cruise and banquet a fascinating opportunity to appreciate the stunning view of this city during the sunset and with the night lights However most of the participants departed on Friday afternoon after attending one of the morning programmes offered to discover more about the city from the sightseeing by bus to the thousand faces of Budapest secret gardens and squares or Crime and History in Buda Castle After this fabulous experience we look forward to meeting the zebrafish community again although we will have to wait until 2020 when the next EZM takes place in Prague Reporter Visila Moiche

ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS 11th SEPTEMBER BREAKING NEWS KEVIN DOLAN MEMORIAL LECTURE Our Guest Speaker is Confirmed We are delighted to announce the KEVIN DOLAN MEMORIAL LECTURE will be given by Dr Katie Slocombe Katie is based at York University and her current research focusses on the vocal communication of wild chimpanzees in Uganda and the captive chimpanzees at Edinburgh Zoo Her full abstract will be published in the Provisional Scientific Programme View and download a digital copy of the ITP at www iat org uk congress html IAT Members UNDER 25 remember that you can receive 200 OFF ACT Now Terms and conditions apply Early bird discounts available up to Sunday 17th December To discuss any aspect of Congress or if you have any questions for the Congress Committee please contact us at congress iat org uk Check for updates www iat org uk

12 September 2017 Bulletin An Informative Workshop for Named Information Officers through The Learning Curve T he workshop took place in central London with five people attending the attendees represented a large area of southern England with three from London one from central England and one from the southwest The workshop originated from a previous Named Persons meeting in which informal discussions arose concerning the nebulous understanding of the role of a Named Information Officer people in this relatively new role were seeking how others interpreted their responsibilities and if it aligned with their own To fill this need The Learning Curve put together a course with the aim to strengthen NIOs understanding of their role as well as to provide tips on how to fulfil the function successfully The course was very well designed with a combination of group activities that led to enlightening discussions as well as more formal lectures Following introductions the first session involved a group activity which was useful as both an icebreaker and for attendees to indirectly state what they saw as the role and responsibilities of an NIO The objective of the activity was to write a job description for an NIO this was categorised into descriptions that were seen as skills attributes and knowledge and experience Suggestions from the attendees overlapped somewhat with a consensus on skills such as communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to research and seek out information other possibilities ranged from broad skills such as being approachable and organised to more specialised skills such as an ability to filter information on suitable applications for novel techniques and disseminating this to researchers Attendees added attributes such as being driven enthusiastic self motivated and a team player All attendees agreed that NIOs should have knowledge and experience with the Animals Scientific Procedures Act 1986 and other relevant legislation as well as the species housed in their establishments Additionally having a pre existing network of contacts is desirable for an NIO position With these specifications in mind the workshop then moved through a review of NIO responsibilities according to the Guidance on the Operations of the Animals Scientific Procedures Act 1986 and the Guiding Principles for Named Training and Competency Officers NTCO Named Information Officers NIO and Home Officer Liaison Contacts HOLC working under the Animals Scientific Procedures Act 1986 The legislation gives a definition of an NIO as someone who provides information on species and procedures to all who work

Bulletin September 2017 13 with animals in an establishment attendees gave their own informal interpretations on the role including being a signpost or a librarian Some stated that they preferred to fulfil this role in an engaging way by discussing the information with those who asked whilst others provided the requested information allowing the recipient to interpret as necessary The LASA LAVA Guidance helps to fill in any gaps within ASPA and the Guidance it identifies three central functions of the NIO as someone who puts a system of information in place applies the information and reviews the information One of the messages here was for the NIO to avoid information overload to the recipient filtering the information and applying it to the proper source is considered a key attribute The attendees then participated in a Turning Point exercise where everyone chose what best described a common problem faced within their role A total of 15 questions were answered and the results discussed these ranged from how the NIOs felt they were performing in their role to basic research strategies With such as small group the answers did not always agree which was interesting itself the wide range of answers supported the aim of the course Some of the revelations of the exercise were the relatively positive responses stating that some felt they had a good albeit not great understanding of their role as a NIO and felt they were adequately encouraged to improve their methods There was a mixed response however in whether or not NIOs had sufficient resources at their disposal but all agreed on the use of Google as a primary search engine Attendees overall stated that they felt somewhat under appreciated in their role by establishment users they also felt they were not able to dedicate enough time to the role in any given week giving an average of three to four hours during this period After a lunch break the trainer provided strategies for effective communication The lecture included information how the communication process can be broken down with specific elements scrutinised Different types of communication were also discussed such as various written methods and face to face conversations as well as the comparative efficacy of each some expressed experienced with low impact of email versus a higher impact with one on one conversations The entirety of the information given was applicable to any position in any line of work not just for NIOs however the trainer went a step beyond and was able to apply the aforementioned points on communication to the daily requirements of an NIO and provided a six step process to frame any form of communication in the future A group discussion concluded the lecture the majority of the group preferred to use email as their primary method of communication due its convenience and time constraints However most identified conversations in person as the most effective especially for those of any weight Another group practical provided the

Bulletin September 2017 15 opportunity to apply the material by creating a plan on how to distribute various types of information for each type attendees had to determine who the target audience was the most effective methods of distribution and how to follow up to ensure the information was received The practical helped to enforce the concept of how the purpose of the information and the target audience must shape how the information is disseminated and followed up An example given was a change to mouse handling showing how this would require more than an email such as a poster or even seminars as a primary information delivery the audience for this would not be a single group but various ones such as Named People animal technicians and licensees This type of information dissemination would require considerable follow up such as competency assessment by the NTCO This simple structure should be applied to all forms of communication regardless of significance I personally found the latter part of this triad to be the most beneficial recommendation as it is commonly assumed that people will correctly receive and interpret new information Earlier in the workshop it was revealed that the most common source of information is Google the trainer then provided a presentation called Going Beyond Google which was clearly apt This included tips on where to look for information and various forms of training in research Some of websites suggested were already in use by those present such as Norecopa the Norwegian 3Rs Centre and PubMed as were some of the journals such as Institute for Laboratory Animal Research Journal and Animal Technology and Welfare Journal However more obscure suggestions were made such as the now defunct Go3R which is specifically targeted to animal experimentation and the 3Rs and the EURL ECVAM Search Guide which is concerned with alternatives to animal experimentation As well as where to look the trainer provided tips on how to refine and optimise searches such as using multiple synonyms Boolean and MeSH searches and also where to seek out formal more extensive training Outside of the internet it was also recommended to use pre existing networks textbooks and librarians Being able to search out information is only one portion of the NIO role however the ability to stay abreast of new information is also key but can be difficult The trainer made multiple recommendations which related to the aforementioned section on where to look suggestions included using RSS feeds to keep up to date with new articles and signing up to newsletters from different organisations such as the RSPCA and the IAT Circulation of said information particularly if unsolicited can be challenging one suggestion was to have rotating websites on a screen between speakers and during breaks at a meeting or seminar Continuous professional development can also aid in staying informed there are a myriad of options in this regard including

16 September 2017 Bulletin courses that are targeted to NIOs specifically such as the one provided by The Learning Curve as well as more general courses that can aid an NIO store information for later dissemination The remainder of the workshop dealt with moving forward as an NIO and what people took away from the course Many found that the recommendations for keeping informed useful and stated an intention to implement some of these Others mentioned that it would be beneficial for there to be a consensus amongst NIOs and more meetings or continuous routes of communication can aid in this Previously multiple NIOs have expressed that the role and responsibilities seem imprecise and vague The Learning Curve has delivered a well structured course to combat this sentiment The attendees of the course expressed that it clarified the role as well as providing resources of information and framework for information dissemination Besides this the course also provided a forum for NIOs to compare how they perform in the role to their equivalents in other establishments as well as to have a discussion about common problems Reporter Karen Dunford

Bulletin September 2017 17

Bulletin September 2017 21 Refinements in Cattle Lameness Detection By Karen Dunford M ore than half of ongoing scientific research that uses animals uses laboratory mice which were bred for that purpose Understanding Animal Research 2017 However research is not limited to stark white laboratories some research is conducted on large mammals such as livestock species And not all research is intended to be solely applicable to humans some research investigates animal welfare such as investigations into fish and pain The paper entitled Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging and manual lameness scoring as a means for lameness detection in cattle presented in Veterinary Clinical Science in 2014 is an example of animal welfare research conducted on large mammals The study tested a non invasive method of identifying lameness in dairy cows by using infrared thermography the potential application of this method is to refine current methods one of which is a subjective scoring system similar to the grimace scale in mice and horses Lameness or poor mobility due to different ulcers is a large concern for those working with cattle it has multiple causes including a profusion of pathogens poor handling and environment AHDB 2017 and in its nature impacts animal welfare as well as any food products obtained from the animals Recently the instances of poor mobility has increased globally for those working with laboratory species this is incongruous with the familiar ethical paradigms of animal welfare This study proposed to use a Forward Looking Infrared camera that could identify temperature variation on limbs Those individuals who are lame will have ulcers present which will have a higher temperature than the rest of the limb 27 C was considered a high temperature It was thought that this would be less subjective than previous gait scoring methods and more accurate than floor sensors Lameness was measured in each individual twice using both the infrared camera and a gait scoring system The study found that 97 of the 142 cows measured had high enough temperatures to be categorised as lame at least once and in at least one limb during the course of the study with the majority of these readings coming from the hind limb The temperature points were compared to the gait scoring system the mean temperature for all scores were approximately the same indicating an unreliability in the scoring system However it was stated that the results did not take the lactation stage of individual cows into consideration which is a potential cause of higher temperature readings The study concluded that another larger study was necessary but found that the infrared camera was a more reliable source for identifying lameness in cattle than gait scoring and that preventative measures in welfare can aid in early detection

cows into consideration which is luded another2017 larger study 22that September Bulletin The prevalence of lameness in cattle is possibly due to the structure of the foot making them prone to ulcers Additionally different life stages and lactation stages can also influence the frequency of ulcers From a welfare stance it is important to understand the physiology of the animals being cared for and how this must dictate the care delivered Much of the literature on cattle welfare discusses foot health as lameness is a prevalent problem there are multiple resources with information on how to properly administer medicines and therapeutic hoof trimming However as with lab animals preventative measures and early detection as mentioned in the conclusion of the study have equal measure in animal welfare This study falls in line with the 3Rs as it is aiming to refine current methods of Hoof trimming is a common measure identifying lameness in cattle which would overall minimise any pain taken to treat and prevent lameness in cows Klauenpflege beim Hausrind by suffering distress and lasting Hoof trimming is a common measure taken Flominator https commons wikimedia org wiki File to treat and prevent lameness in cattle Klauenpflege_Kuh_9802 jpg under harm that the animals would licence CC BY SA 2 5 experience Although this study was conducted at a working dairy unit this aim is the legal and ethical obligation of any licence holder who uses animals for regulated procedures whilst the study was not conducting regulated procedures the ethical drive to maintain and improve animal welfare is the core of the study Additionally the global decline in cattle welfare via the increase of lameness is antithetical to current animal technology practices care and welfare practices for laboratory species has improved vastly in the last half century with new refinements and methods of reduction published and circulated annually As with laboratory animals high quality welfare delivery has a twofold purpose to ensure a high quality of life for the animals used in scientific research and to reduce variables within the science being conducted In the case of cattle as they are a large source of food production any improvements

Bulletin September 2017 23 in cattle welfare and husbandry techniques is not only an ethical advantage but an economic one as well as the food produced from the livestock will theoretically be of higher quality Therefore as the scientists should be harm that the animals wouldtheir experience Although thisusing study was concerned with welfare as it impacts research farmers and others unit this aimbeisconcerned the legal and ethical any licence hold livestock should with welfare as itobligation impacts theirof products Refinements in livestock welfare such as early detection of a common and regula regulated procedures whilst the study was not conducting increasing problem that causes pain suffering distress and lasting harm is to imperative in both research and agricultural contexts the study by Renn et al is a great example of work being done in this field w A c la a a s la re re a A q fo q in A lineback cow on a farm A lineback cow from the farm of Vaarok Vaarok gmail com Uploaded for the common good by Vaaro re https commons wikimedia org wiki File Lineback jpg Public Domain b ca References Agriculture Horticulture Development Board 2017 Healthy Feet Program online food production any improvements in cattle welfare and husband Available at https dairy ahdb org uk technical services healthy feet programme ethical15 8 17 advantage but an economic one as well as the food prod Accessed Renn N Onyango J and McCormick W 2014 Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging theoretically be of higher quality Therefore as the scientists sho and manual lameness scoring as a means for lameness detection in cattle Veterinary it impacts research farmers and others using livestock shou Clinical Science their 2 2 p16 23 Understanding Animal Research 2017 Numbers and types of animals welfare online 13 July impacts their products Refinements in livestock such as 2017 Available at http www understandinganimalresearch org uk animals numbersincreasing problem animals Accessed 15 8 17 that causes pain suffering distress and lasti research and agricultural contexts the study by Renn et al is a gr

24 September 2017 Bulletin Patron Professor Lord Naren Patel KT Chair of Trustees Professor Sir Richard Gardner FIAT Hon FRS Secretary to the Trust Ken Applebee OBE FIAT FRSB Trustees Stephen Barnett MSc Hon FRSB Jasmine Barley MSc FIAT Karen J Gardner AS ET News Registered Charity Number 113319 Registered Office 5 South Parade Summertown Oxford OX2 7JL AS ET Trustees like to get out to meet our supporters and potential bursary applicants and this has been a particularly busy few months It started with a visit to the IAT North West Branch for the Steve Moore Poster Competition The posters were excellent covering a wide number of topics It was the first time a representative of AS ET had attended this meeting and it will not be the last In May AS ET met with the IAT Youth Group in London This is the second time we have met this group and like the first this meeting came up with many good ideas to advance the work of AS ET The following day we went on to Cambridge where we had been asked to talk to a group at the MRC Babraham Institute As if this wasn t enough in the same month we also travelled to Dublin to attend the IAT Ireland Branch Symposium While there we took the opportunity to present the Branch with a certificate to acknowledge their donation of 1 000 to the Trust It was a very interesting and enjoyable time and it was good to see so many well attended educational meetings going on around the country Keeping in touch with supporters is very important and if any IAT branch would like us to visit please make contact and we will do our best to attend We can be contacted via our website www as et org uk In addition to all the travelling the Trustees have also held the 5th Special Travel Bursary Competition We are pleased to announce that Karen Dunford

Bulletin September 2017 25 AS ET Chair Prof Sir Richard Gardner presenting Nigel Pawsey Chair of the IAT Ireland Branch with a certificate acknowledging the Branch donation of 1 000 of University College London is the winner of the bursary the prize for which is a trip to attend the AALAS National Meeting in Austin Texas The 3rd Special Travel Bursary competition has also been announced this time the prize for the winning essay authors being a trip to IAT Congress 2018 The closing date for entries is 20th October 2017 so look for the details in the Bulletin or on the AS ET website under bursaries If this was not sufficient to convince everyone that the trustees are working hard the details of the Annual Lecture have also been finalised The Lecture is a rare opportunity to hear the story of a twenty year journey to develop a new treatment for multiple sclerosis and to be delivered by Professor Alasdair Coles in London on the 25th October and again in Newcastle upon Tyne during November Full details can be found in the August issue on page 16 and on the AS ET website www as et org uk under events Reporter Jas Barley

AS ET is a charity set up to advance education and promote excellenc Bulletin 2017 September the26care and welfare of animals used in science ET is a charity set up to advance education and promote excellence ET a charity up to advance education andwebsite promote excellence To is see youset can forused a bursary visit our www as et or care andhow welfare of apply animals in science e care and welfare of animals used in science companies listed below sponsor AS ET If you would like to join th eeThe how you can apply for a bursary visit our website www as et org see how can apply aby bursary visit our website www as et org find out to support looking at our website AS ET is you ahow charity set upfor tousadvance education and promote excellence in the care and welfare of animals used in science AS ET a charity to advance education and promote excellence in companies below sponsor AS ET If you would like to join in them AS ET is ais charity setset upup to advance education and promote excellence AS ET islisted a charity charity set up to advance advance education and promote excellence in AS ET is a set up to education and promote excellence in e AS ET companies listed below sponsor AS ET If you would like to join the the care and welfare of animals used in science the care and welfare of animals used in science AS ET ishow acare charity isyou aand charity set upset toup advance to advance education education and promote and promote excellence excellence in in out how to support us by looking at our website the care and welfare of animals used in science the welfare of animals used in science To see can apply for a bursary visit our website www as et org uk d the outcare how towelfare support usofby looking at our website the and care and welfare of animals animals used used in science in science AS ET is a charity to advance education and promote excellence in the care and To how can apply a bursary visit website www as et org uk To seesee how youyou can apply forfor a bursary visit ourour website www as et org uk welfare ofhow animals used in science To see how you can apply for bursary visit our website www as et org uk To see you can apply for aa bursary visit our website www as et org uk The companies listed below sponsor AS ET If you would like to join them To seeTohow see you howcan youapply can apply for a for bursary a bursary visit our visitwebsite our website www as et org uk www as et org uk find The out companies how to support us by looking at our website listed below sponsor AS ET If you would like to join them The companies below sponsor AS ET If you would like tothe join them Sponsors of AS ETlisted are listed below and to find out more please visit The companies listed below sponsor AS ET If you would like to website join them The companies listed below sponsor AS ET If you would like to join them find out how to support us by looking at our website The companies The companies listed listed below below sponsor sponsor AS ET AS ET If you If would you would like to like join to them join them find outout how to to support us us by looking at at our website www as et org uk find out how to support us by looking at our website find how support by looking our website find out findhow out to how support to support us byus looking by looking at ouratwebsite our website

Bulletin September 2017 27 AS ET Raffle Enter the AS ET raffle for the chance to win either a personal tour of the House of Lords followed by lunch in the Lords Dining Room or a cash prize of 400 AS ET is organising a prize draw to raise funds for the trust There will be three prizes 1 a tour of the House of Lords followed by lunch in the House for two people by invitation of AS ET Patron Lord Patel KT 2 a cash prize of 400 3 a cash prize of 200 The holder of the first ticket drawn will have the choice of which prize they want to take The date of the visit will be arranged between Lord Patel and the winner All visitors to Parliament have to undergo a security check Tickets are 10 each and can be obtained from Elaine Kirkum at elaine lbs biotech com or by contacting AS ET at contact as et org uk The draw will take place on 1st December 2017 Only 600 tickets will be sold so make sure you buy yours ASAP AS ET is grateful to these companies who have sponsored the cash prizes

Bulletin September 2017 31 PAPER REVIEW Happy Animals Make Good Science 10 Years Later Matt Bilton on behalf of the IAT Animal Welfare Group In 1997 Trevor Poole from the Universities Federation for Animal welfare published Happy Animals make good science in Laboratory Animals 1997 31 pp116 124 The paper questioned whether it is better for the animal to be happy but does the state of mind of the animal potentially influence scientific results The paper begins by setting the scene by stating what happy animals are It defines a happy animal as one that is alert and busy able to rest in a relaxed manner is confident and does not show abnormal behaviour However anyone who cares for or works closely with animals will know if an animal is unwell no matter how small the signs When reporting these signs of ill health we would tend to say these animals are not happy a sentence animal technicians are very familiar with The paper explains the importance of being familiar with the animal s behaviour to make a judgement on the animal s happiness The paper s next step is to explain what good science is As the paper explains there are three essential conditions on which the quality of experimental laboratory animal science depends 1 There should be an important scientific problem for which an answer is sought 2 An experiment should yield unambiguous results which provide an answer to the problem 3 Variables which are not under investigation should be strictly controlled The paper goes on to describe a number of factors that influence psychological wellbeing These factors are Social physical environment handling and training The social factors the paper describe makes interesting reading The paper suggests isolated male mice have hormonal profiles similar to a dominant male

32 September 2017 Bulletin and suggests singly housed mice do not suffer from isolation stress 20 years on it would not really be a consideration to singly house any mouse male or female unless there is aggression which has an impact on the welfare of an animal In terms of isolation it is very interesting that the paper suggests subordinate mice will exhibit high levels of stress being housed in groups So nowadays the question has to be which causes more stress to a mouse living as a subordinate or living on your own In the physical environment section of the paper there is no mention of environmental enrichment when they state the essential physical needs Structural environmental enrichment now is something that is given a priority in ensuring an animal s happiness However given the age of the paper enrichment was probably in its infancy Nowadays there has been lots of progress in the field and it is now considered to be a given that enrichment is supplied There is a small reference to abnormal behaviour if their environment is not sufficiently enriched and the paper describes that the environment could contain stressors of which we are unaware such as noise in the ultrasonic range The paper goes onto suggest the use computers in animal rooms should be avoided It also gives examples of everyday husbandry events which are stressful to the animals such as cleaning out considered highly disturbing In more recent developments the use of IVCs has decreased the frequency of cleaning as each cage gets its own air supply There have also been further improvements in the substrate used in bedding This paper also suggests allowing an acclimatisation period for improved welfare and experimental results this practice is now commonplace throughout the industry Handling and training is also as the paper suggests an important consideration which can affect animal s wellbeing It suggests that kind and gentle handling make all the difference to the animal Considering this was written 20 years ago we don t seem to have moved on very far in terms of handling The issues outlined seem to be just as relevant today as they were then Methods of handling mice can still cause stress and also affect scientific results For change to be affected both scientists and technicians need to want to change practice In 2010 a paper by Hurst and West found that picking up mice by the tail increased anxiety whereas open hand cupping or the use of tunnels reduced it More evidence due to be published further enhances the Hurst West findings but how do we get change now in 2017 There is a gradual change from tail handling evidence of which is highlighted by such bodies as NC3Rs but it has been a long process Neither does the original Happy Animals make good science paper suggest handling the animals before the experiment starts but this is something that should be encouraged to help relieve stress on the animals when a procedure is carried out For

Bulletin September 2017 33 example in behavioural tests mice are habituated to the test arena prior to testing This allows elimination of any stress related behaviours due to a novel environment to be reduced from the test and produces more reliable results Nowadays habituation is considered good practice In conclusion the paper suggests that happy animals are busy confident and behave normally Even though the paper is 20 years old having happy healthy animals is still something that animal technicians and scientists strive to improve We have come a long way in 20 years but it is a continual process It is a constant balance between the welfare of the animals and scientific outcomes Forging close working relationships between animal technicians and scientists will help both animal welfare and scientific outcomes This paper was one of the first of its kind to suggest the balance and relationship between welfare and science and represents an important starting point in developing a balanced approach between science and welfare And from a reviewer s point of view It is important that there is collaboration between looking after the animals on a daily basis and the longer term scientific outcomes of experiments without detrimental outcomes to the welfare of the animals It may be argued a researcher s main point of focus is the animal as a data point rather than a living being while a technician s focus is always on the animal as a living being Any breakdown of communication between technicians and researchers can be attributed to the lack of understanding by the researcher of the role of the technician and our passion for our animals This has been a point of concern for a number of years We try to get the researchers to fully understand what the technician role entails and our ethos that the animal comes first That said the relationship between researcher and technician is something that has and continues to improve References Happy animals make good science Poole T Lab Anim 1997 Apr 31 2 116 24 Taming anxiety in laboratory mice Hurst J H and West R S Nature Methods 2010 7 825 826

Bulletin September 2017 35 Established 1926 RECENT NEWS FROM THE UNITED FEDERATION FOR ANIMAL WELFARE TWO OUTSTANDING ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENTISTS RECOGNISED UFAW Medals awarded in recognition of remarkable contribution to animal welfare The two 2017 winners of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare UFAW Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Welfare Science have been announced A commemorative medal and award were presented to Professors Sandra Edwards and Jeff Rushen at UFAW s International Symposium on measuring animal welfare at Royal Holloway University of London which took place in June The UFAW Medal recognises exceptional achievements of individual scientists who have made fundamental contributions to the advancement of animal welfare over a number of years The award is open to individuals anywhere in the world whose research teaching service and advocacy has significantly benefited the welfare of animals UFAW was very pleased this year to recognise the remarkable achievements of both Sandra and Jeff Professor Sandra Edwards of the School of Agriculture Food and Rural Development at Newcastle University is a world wide respected expert on pig welfare Her research has focused on the major welfare issues facing the pig industry worldwide seeking to better understand these problems at a scientific level and using this knowledge to develop approaches to enhance pig welfare that are feasible for the industry to readily adopt Many of the welfare projects that Sandra has led involve collaborations between government academia NGOs and industry seeking to work together for the benefit of animals In addition she has given her services to provide expertise on farm animal welfare for influential policy advisory committees such as Farm Animal Welfare Council FAWC and European Food Safety Authority EFSA the industry and welfare assurance schemes Sandra has published more than 200 papers and book chapters and serves on the editorial board for a range of journals She has inspired young animal scientists and agriculturalists through her teaching

Bulletin September 2017 37 Dr Robert Hubrecht with Sandra Edwards and Jeff Rushen animal welfare how to measure and promote it Sandra was nominated for this award by Dr Catherine Douglas a fellow lecturer at the School of Agriculture Food and Rural Development at Newcastle University who said with a global push towards sustainable intensification in animal production it is reassuring that Sandra turned down retirement to continue championing the animals welfare UFAW s second medal winner Professor Jeff Rushen of the Dairy Education Research Centre University of British Columbia has an extraordinary lifetime record in the field of animal welfare science He has co authored the most important books to date on both the welfare of cattle and stereotypic animal behaviour Over the course of his career Jeff has published over 300 papers that provide a model of clear thinking and research excellence Amongst his work has been a series of very high impact papers on how people can become an important source of fear for animals and how this fear can be mitigated to improve human animal relationships Jeff also has an impressive record of service and leadership within the field He led Canada s National Farm Animal Care Council NFACC process ensuring that the welfare standards are science

38 September 2017 Bulletin based and also served as science expert to the Council He was a member of the European Food Safety Authority working group reviewing dairy cow welfare and is currently a member of the US Farmed Animal Well being Commission for Beef Dr Derek Haley from the University of Guelph Canada was one of Jeff s sponsors for the award He said A key contribution has been Jeff s work assisting animal agriculture in understanding and addressing animal welfare issues In particular his service in helping develop the species Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals in Canada has been exceptional His knowledge of the issues and the science around those issues together with his level headed approach to making real change have made him highly sought after when it comes to compiling the requirements animal agriculture must follow to ensure the welfare of their animals UFAW s Chief Executive Dr Robert Hubrecht who presented the awards said Professors Jeff Rushen and Sandra Edwards are both world leading experts in their fields who have made substantial contributions to our understanding of farm animal needs and husbandry They are very worthy winners of the 2017 UFAW medal

Bulletin September 2017 39 Established 1926 RECOGNITION FOR PIONEERING WORK TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF FOOD ANIMALS Humane Slaughter Association HSA announces winners of its 2017 Award The Humane Slaughter Association HSA has announced the joint winners of its 2017 Humane Slaughter Award The award which recognises individuals or organisations that have made major scientific advances in the welfare of livestock during slaughter transport or killing for disease control has been given to Mr Peter Kettlewell and Professor Malcolm Mitchell of Scotland s Rural College SRUC in recognition of the developments they have made in improving the welfare of food animals during transportation The two have collaborated since 1984 and their research on thermal stress in animals during transport has been a major contribution to improved animal health welfare and productivity Originally working at the Silsoe and Roslin Institutes they used a unique combination of physical engineering physiological and behavioural techniques These include theoretical modelling physiological modelling stress and welfare assessment ventilation and vehicle design wind tunnel testing full scale on road testing and practical measurements during commercial transport under a wide range of conditions in the UK Europe and North America This work was combined with developments in novel sensor technologies to monitor the physiological condition of animals in real transport environments An important finding was that contrary to intuition in a moving livestock container air flows from the back to the front and this has a major influence on the internal thermal microenvironment of the vehicle The understanding of such physical phenomena and principles led to the design and development and application of in built forced ventilation systems especially in poultry vehicles which have improved the welfare of millions of animals in transit

Bulletin September 2017 41 Since joining SRUC they have successfully continued their long standing research collaboration on animal transportation Their current work is chiefly related to the long distance transport of pigs and calves within Europe and the effects of weather thermal conditions and journey duration on animal welfare in transit Both scientists have advised Defra and the industry on welfare issues relating to animal transport and production environments and serve on the European Food Safety Authority EFSA committees addressing animal transport legislation as well as working extensively with collaborators in the UK other European countries Canada USA and South Africa Recently they have been major contributors to Guides to Good Practice for animal and poultry transport developed by FVO DG SANTE and a European research consortium Dr Jeff Lines from the Silsoe Institute who was one of the nominating sponsors for the pair said Peter and Malcolm s partnership has created a unique and valuable body of knowledge Their work has led to significant improvements in the transport industry and in the regulations concerned with protecting animal welfare during transport The award was presented to the winners at the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare 2017 International Symposium at Royal Holloway University of London in June Malcolm Mitchell and Peter Kettlewell HSA Humane Slaughter Award 2017 winners

Bulletin September 2017 47 DIARY Dates 11 September IAT Congress 2018 Online registration open See page 11 7 October Day at the Races Ascot CAMRA Festival See page 17 15 19 October AALAS National Meeting Austin Texas USA Details from https www aalas org nationalmeeting WZ1OCRRuLKc 25 October AS ET Lecture London Details from www as et org uk 25 26 October 2nd RSPCA international meeting Focus on severe suffering Berlin Germany Details from research animals rspca org uk 25 28 October Tecniplast scientific symposium Milan Italy Details from info tecniplast com 3 November NC3Rs 2017 Primate Meeting Central London Details from https www nc3rs org uk events 2017primate welfare meeting 14 November RSPCA UFAW Rodent and rabbit welfare meeting Southern England Details from https docs google com forms d e 1FAI pQLSd8NNDDJoq6nKr16pqtX1aocz1xS wuR6_mPxDLYtUdMoaGdww viewform 15 November Tecniplast IVC Knowledge and Skills Refresher Course Central UK Details from info tecniplastuk com 17 November Closing date for 2018 Andrew Blake Tribute Award and Congress Papers Workshop submissions See pages 9 28 29 and 38 22 November AS ET Lecture Newcastle Details from www as et org uk 23 24 November Fondazione Guido Bernardini The implementation of the 3Rs in the experimental design Milan Italy Details from secretary fondazioneguidobernardini org 28 30 November LASA Annual Conference Birmingham Details from info lasa co uk Cover photo Cows at Deen City Farm by Paul Barwood