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Human behaviour project set to improve cattle wellbeing
'To be able to improve animal wellbeing, we first need to understand the needs of the animal and how they are affceted by human behaviour'.

Initiative aims to deliver a set of possible interventions for vets and farmers

Animal health firm Boehringer Ingelheim has announced a new project to gain a deeper understanding of how human behaviour influences the wellbeing of cattle.

The project aims to gather information from farmers and veterinary surgeons across the globe on farming practices and routine pain management interventions. It forms part of a project called Cattle First, an initiative that works to foster health, wellbeing, innovation and sustainability on cattle farms around the world.


A press release reads: ‘To be able to improve animal wellbeing, we first need to understand the needs of the animal and how they are affected by human behaviour. However, in order to effect change, we ultimately need to understand the behaviour of people.


‘Behavioral science – the understanding of how and why people behave in certain ways – could be helpful. The theories that underpin behavioural science can help in many stages along this journey. In the context of farm animal wellbeing, it can help get to the root causes of what people do and why they do it.’


Boehringer is teaming up with Innovia Technology - a Cambridge-based innovation consultancy - to undertake the project, which aims to develop a set of behaviour-based interventions that may improve cattle wellbeing.


Project lead Laurent Goby, senior global marketing manager at Boehringer Ingelheim’s ruminant business, explains: “With the involvement of Innovia’s expertise, we expect to better understand farmers’ behaviour and motivations and analyse how their choices can affect cattle well-being. This should enable us to design interventions that target the reasons behind these behaviours and are acceptable and feasible to stakeholders.

“This ambitious and innovative project aims to deliver a set of possible interventions for vets and farmers, starting with one specific area of cattle welbeing. We expect that the work along the way will reveal many interesting and important aspects of pain management in cattle which may serve as a basis for practical interventions to ultimately improve cattle well-being,” he said.


For more information about the project visit www.farmanimalwellbeing.com

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.