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Bristol vets produce training video for broiler farmers
Positive behaviours in broiler chickens include running, jumping, wing flapping, scratching at litter and dust bathing.

Video a ‘much-needed resource’ to train producers in what to look for

Researchers at Bristol Veterinary School have teamed up with the Co-op and FAI Farms to produce a training video for broiler farmers to help improve chicken welfare.

The video follows four years of research by the organisations, which revealed gaps in the current training given to new broiler farmers. In the first instance, around the importance of observing broiler behaviour and in the second, how farmers can improve chicken welfare by encouraging positive behaviours.

It will be shown to all new chicken farmers within the Co-op supply chain and will form part of the broiler welfare training module - a requirement of all farmers producing chickens to Red Tractor Standards.


"We have worked with industry partners to produce and evaluate the effectiveness of this evidence-based training video,” said Dr Siobhan Mullan, a senior research fellow in animal welfare at the Bristol Vet School. “We are delighted that it will be made widely available through UK training courses and hope that, in combination with other initiatives, it will help to deliver real improvements to bird welfare."


Positive behaviours are those that animals are highly motivated to carry out and create feelings of enjoyment or pleasure. In broilers, this includes running, jumping, wing flapping, scratching at litter and dust bathing.


The video shows broilers displaying positive behaviours alongside commentary on why these behaviours are vital for the welfare of birds. It calls attention to the importance of litter, explaining why dry, friable litter is desirable for bird health and environmental enrichment. Furthermore, it also urges farmers to take time out of their day to observe the behaviour of their birds so they can quickly spot anything that might be wrong.

Feedback so far from experienced farmers about the video has been positive. Ninety-five per cent of Co-op farmers who participated in a trial said it was was 'very to extremely effective' in explaining the benefits of observing birds. A further 83 per cent said they would be looking for and encouraging specific positive behaviours when observing their birds in the future.

"Expression of specific behaviours that are important to an animal is crucial in ensuring they have a life worth living,” said Annie Rayner, research manager at FAI farms and PhD student at the University of Bristol.

“Good farm management is key to providing opportunities for these behaviours.This video is a much-needed resource to train producers in what to look for and to pay attention to the behaviour of their birds. With 20 million broilers a week being produced in the UK and this video being made available to the entire UK industry, we hope that this resource helps towards improving the welfare of millions of birds."

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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.