In 2022/23, Clive Phillips is conducting a series of recorded dialogues with senior animal welfare scientists and academic experts. Each dialogue will last about 30-45 minutes.
The focus of these conversations is on farm animal welfare, particularly in intensive animal farming systems and 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.
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.
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.
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.
