This award recognises a project or activity that has positively influenced the welfare of animals in agriculture.

Murdoch University Production Animal Welfare Group (Bronze)

The assessment of sheep welfare is challenging under commercial farm conditions. Qualitative behavioural assessment (QBA) is an approach that quickly captures the expressive behaviour of an animal to identify those that may need closer attention. A 2021 Murdoch University research project aimed to investigate whether the QBA methodology could be applied to assess sheep with issues such as flystrike, gastro-intestinal parasitism and lameness. Short video was captured and assessed remotely, and the following research successfully demonstrated that QBA may represent an easy-to-use and valuable tool for producers. These insights have the potential to positively impact on the welfare of millions of sheep across WA.

 

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