Fueling Advocates Initiative Conversations with Clive

Clive Phillips has been conducting a series of recorded dialogues with senior animal welfare scientists and academic experts since 2022. Each dialogue is about 30-45 minutes.
The focus of these conversations is on farm animal welfare, including issues in developing countries.
All the academics featured in this series have acquired deep knowledge of animal farming systems and direct experience of practices over many years. It is hoped that the information and insights they share with Clive will help advocacy organizations gain a more nuanced understanding of global farm animal welfare issues and livestock production systems.
Clive Phillips was Australia’s first Professor of Animal Welfare, at the University of Queensland, and foundation director of its Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics. He previously lectured at the Universities of Cambridge and Wales. He has written widely on the welfare of farm, zoo and companion animals, and particularly livestock transported by ship. His books include Principles of Cattle Production. The Animal Trade. The Welfare of Animals: The Silent Majority.

Grisel Navarro on Long-Distance Transport

Conversations with Clive: #6

Key topics of this conversation from March 2024: 1) Clive outlines the latest interview series focus: Animal welfare management in developing countries. 2) Today addresses welfare of animals during long- distance transport. 3) Clive introduces Dr. Grisel Navarro from the Catholic University of Temuco, Chile. 4) Focus on the transportation of cattle over 1000km by sea from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt, in Southern Chile. 5) Land transport alternatives are prohibitive due to road conditions. 6) Chilean public largely unaware or ambivalent to sea transportation. 7) Regulation of welfare standards and responsibilities of stakeholders. 8) Stocking densities and husbandry standards for live transport. 9) Alternatives to travel: potential roles for local abattoirs. 10) Comparison with live transport issues found in Australia.

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Zulkifli Idrus on Poultry Welfare

Conversations with Clive: #5

Key topics of this conversation from August 2023: 1) Clive introduces Zulkifli Idrus. 2) Red Junglefowl are the ancestors of modern chicken breeds. 3) Tonic immobility tests show modern commercial chicken breeds are less fearful than Junglefowl. 4) Biggest problems to broiler (meat) chicken welfare - rapid growth, leg and skin problems. 5) Cardiovascular problems and sudden-death syndrome. 6) Skin problems - contact dermatitis with breast, foot-pad and upper leg (hock) injuries. 7) Feed restriction methods to manage rapid growth rate in hot climates. 8) Harvesting and transportation issues. 9) Nutritional supplements such as probiotics and prebiotics to improve gut health. 10) Heat stress mitigation and future challenges with climate change. 11) Welfare issues concerning stocking densities and litter quality. 12) Welfare of layer chickens and other poultry. 13) Final comments.

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John Webster on Dairy Cow Welfare

Conversations with Clive: #4

Key topics of this conversation from April 2023: 1) Clive introduces John Webster. 2) Early research opportunities and interest in farm animal welfare. 3) The “5 Freedoms”. 4) Metabolism, nutrition, and genetic selection of dairy cows. 5) Lameness. 6) Cold and heat stress. 7) Housing and grazing, and freedom of choice for cows. 8) Mastitis. 9) Electronic collars. 10) Calf/cow separation, calf pneumonia and corticosteriods. 11) Sexed semen and artificial insemination. 12) Final comments.

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Temple Grandin on Cattle Welfare

Conversations with Clive: #3

Key topics of this conversation from November 2022: 1) What's important for cattle. 2) Feedlots. 3) Rangeland and pasture systems. 4) Semi-intensive systems. 5) Transport. 6) Slaughter. 7) Calving. 8) Pain relief. 9) Stewardship of the land. 10) The future.

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Donald Broom on Pig Welfare

Conversations with Clive: #2

Key topics of this conversation from April 2022: 1) Pigs are bright, social animals. 2) Pigs' living condition and confinement is currently the worst pig welfare problem. 3) Changes in pig rearing practices. 4) Farrowing crates and alternatives. 5) Free range outdoor pigs. 6) Slaughtering many animals during disease outbreaks. 7) Problems with rearing piglets (castrations, tail-docking, etc.) 8) Consumers want pigs to be less confined. 9) Transporting pigs. 10) The future.

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Cathy Dwyer on Sheep Welfare

Conversations with Clive: #1

Key topics of this conversation from March 2022: 1) Smallholder sheep farming is important for livelihoods in lower and middle-income countries. 2) Are extensive systems free from welfare problems? 3) Are sheep looked after better in advanced countries? 4) Fewer new sheep farmers. 5) Fly strike. 6) Tail docking. 7) Shearing is major welfare challenge. 8) Castration of male lambs. 9) Long distance live transport's many problems. 10) Looking ahead: Sheep's multiple roles from wool, milk, to land conservation. 11) Sheep farming in the UK.

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