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Sheep ‘can read each other’s facial expressions’
Sheep are able to show a wide range of facial expressions, particularly those involving ear posture.
Research has important animal welfare implications

Sheep can distinguish each other’s facial expressions, according to new research, which has been described as an important discovery for animal welfare.

The study is the first to suggest that sheep can tell the difference between negative and neutral facial expressions. It is thought that if animals are able to perceive emotions in others, it is likely to affect their own emotional state.

Sheep do not have very developed oro-facial musculature compared to primates, but they are able to show a wide range of facial expressions, particularly those involving ear posture.

Researchers from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) photographed sheep in three situations; their home pens (neutral), during social isolation (negative) and during aggressive social interactions (negative).

The sheep were then trained to associate one type of facial expression with a reward. Half of the sheep learned to associate the image of a negative facial expression with a reward, while the other half were trained to associate a neutral facial expression with a reward.

Once they had learned this task, they had to generalise the discrimination to new images of faces, displaying the same emotions. All sheep managed to learn the task.

Lead author Dr Lucille Bellegarde said: “This study showed for the first time that sheep are not only able to discriminate between facial expressions, but they are also able to perceive the valence – in other words, negative or neutral – of the expressions displayed.

“In terms of animal welfare, it is essential to be able to understand how emotions are perceived between animals reared in groups. Because this emotional perception is likely to affect their own emotional state, it might take just one happy – or unhappy – sheep to make an entire flock happy, or unhappy.”

The study has been published in the academic journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.