Can People Afford Animal Welfare In Food Production? BVA Animal Welfare Foundation 2008 Discussion Forum

Main Category: Veterinary
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 02 May 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The latest in the increasingly popular BVA (British Veterinary Association) Animal Welfare Foundation discussion forums takes place this year at the Royal College of Physicians on Tuesday 20 May. As part of the Foundation's aim of improving animal welfare through debate, it holds an annual Discussion Forum which brings fellow vets, animal welfare and government organisations together in order to identify and discuss important welfare-related issues.

The morning sessions are devoted to debating whether people can actually afford high animal welfare standards in food production and will include presentations from Richard Bennett of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee, Heather Jenkins, Waitrose's Director of Meat, Poultry, Dairy and Fish as well as speakers from Freedom Food and the Quality Food winning company Moy Park.

The afternoon sessions have been split into two: the first will address two companion animal issues, designer animals or breeding for welfare with presentations by Emma Milne, the frequently outspoken 'TV Vet' and Julia May of the UK Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and Electrical aid or shock collar? with presentations by Carolyn Mentieth of the Kennel Club and Lord Duncan McNair of the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association. The final session of the day is sponsored by the Norman Hayward Fund - earmarked for research into the diseases and welfare of sheep, cattle and horses - and will include presentations on both the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and Edinburgh University laminitis studies and the casualty slaughter of sheep.

Aimed primarily at its network of representatives from each of the BVA's specialist and territorial divisions a number of organisations and individuals with an animal welfare remit or interest have also been invited to participate in the discussion forum and the evening reception that will follow at the House of Commons, hosted by The Rt Hon Dr Gavin Strang MP.

-- The BVA AWF Discussion forum aims to bring together members of the veterinary profession, animal welfare and government in order to identify and debate important welfare-related topics with a view to influencing future BVA welfare policy.

-- The BVA AWF is the veterinary profession's own charity, established in 1984 and committed to improving the welfare of all animals through veterinary science, education and debate. It aims to apply the knowledge, skills and compassion of veterinary surgeons in an effective way by identifying and funding a variety of research projects and educational activities targeted at improving animal welfare. The Foundation is funded entirely by voluntary contributions. To find out more please visit http://www.bva-awf.org.uk or call on 020 7636 6541.

-- The BVA AWF also has an active interest in the teaching of animal welfare in veterinary schools and in partnership with Bristol, Glasgow and Liverpool veterinary schools funds animal welfare lectureships to support the development of an integrated approach to teaching animal welfare within the veterinary curriculum nationally.

-- The Foundation is supported by a network of representatives from each of the BVA's specialist and territorial divisions whose role is to help identify welfare issues and promote the work of the Foundation among members of the veterinary profession at grassroots level.

British Veterinary Association
http://www.bva.co.uk