Animal Welfare Symposium

Animal Welfare Symposium:
"Building Partnerships to Address Animal Welfare"

Friday, October 16 2009

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences are hosting an Animal Welfare Symposium, to celebrate the partnership with the Animal Welfare Science Centre of Australia. The symposium is planned for Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Nationwide and the Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio.

The goal of the symposium is to build partnerships to pro-actively address animal welfare issues in Ohio and beyond. Speakers will offer an examination of current research on animal welfare, and discuss the implications for livestock and poultry production. 

Please check this web site often for updates regarding the conference.

For registration information click here

Tentative agenda

(as of July 21)

Opening session

• 8:00-8:30 - Registration and breakfast
• 8:30-8:35 - Welcome and introductions: Dr. Naomi Botheras, Extension animal welfare specialist,
                    and Dr. Candace Croney, associate professor, Department of Veterinary Preventive
                    Medicine
• 8:35-8:45 - Dr. Bobby Moser, dean, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences,
                    and Dr. John A.E. Hubbell, interim dean, College of Veterinary Medicine
• 8:45-9:00 - Announcement of AWSC partnership: Dr. Jim Kinder, chair, Department of Animal Sciences,
                    and Dr. Bill Saville, chair, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine   
• 9:00-9:45 - Keynote Address: "The Australian approach to addressing farm animal welfare: Lessons 
                    learned and preparing for the future." Dr. Paul Hemsworth, director of the Animal Welfare
                    Science Center
• 9:45-10:00 - Q & A

10:00-10:15 - Break

Session 2: Welfare in context 

• 10:15-10:45 - Animal welfare and social context: Dr. Wesley Jamison, associate
                       professor of communications  
• 10:45-10:50 - Q & A
• 10:50-11:20 - Welfare of laying hens in conventional and alternative systems
                       and future research opportunities: Dr. Ruth Newberry, associate professor,
                       Center for the Study of Animal Well-being
• 11:20-11:25 - Q & A
• 11:25-11:55 - Welfare of sows in conventional and alternative systems and future
                       research opportunities: Dr. Harold Gonyou, research scientist
• 11:55-12:15 - Q & A

12:15-1:15 - Lunch

Session 3: Addressing Challenges

• 1:15-1:30 - Addressing animal handling and worker education: Dr. Naomi Botheras
• 1:30-1:35 - Q & A
• 1:35-2:15 - Self-regulation, legislation and auditing: Dr. Janice Swanson, professor
                    of animal behavior/welfare
• 2:15-2:25 - Q & A

2:25-2:45 - Break

2:45-4:15 - Interactive Panel Discussion: Where are we and
                     what is the future?

Moderator: TBA
Panel members:
Jack Advent, executive director, Ohio Veterinary Medical Association
Gene Bauer, president and co-founder, Farm Sanctuary  
Mike Bumgarner, vice-president, Center for Food and Animal Issues, Ohio Farm Bureau
Julie Maschhoff, co-owner and vice president of public relations, Maschhoff Pig Company
Poultry industry representative to be announced 

4:15 - Closing 

• Dr. Candace Croney: Wrap-up  

Speaker Bios

For more information please contact the symposium organizers

For media inquiries, please contact:
Melissa Weber, director of marketing and communications,
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Medicine Academic Building
1900 Coffey Rd.
Columbus, Oh 43210
(614) 292-3752
weber.154@osu.edu