Ag Answers:Conference Addresses Animal Well-being issues

Internationally known scientists and industry leaders will gather at Purdue University April 27 to share the latest on new guidelines and research in farm animal well-being.

"This past year has seen tremendous activity in the area of animal well-being," says Ed Pajor, conference organizer and Purdue assistant professor of animal sciences.

The conference, "Animal Well-Being: Challenges and Strategies Towards Solutions," is sponsored by Purdue's Center for Food Animal Productivity and Well-Being and the United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service's Livestock Behavior Research Unit located at Purdue.

Targeted at agriculture and food industry leaders, the conference will focus on recent developments in animal well-being and the implications for animal agriculture in the future. Those present will share information and industry experiences in developing and implementing animal well-being guidelines, Pajor says.

"This conference will feature the most recent scientific information on animal well-being, some of the issues involved and the latest thinking on the future of animal production practices," he says.

Speakers discussing how the industry has implemented new animal well-being guidelines include Bob Langert, director of public and community affairs for McDonald's Corp.; Paul Sundberg of the National Pork Producers Council; Janet Riley of the American Meat Institute; Bob Krouse, chairman of the animal welfare committee for the United Egg Producers (UEP); and Joy Mench of the University of California Davis, who served on the UEP animal welfare committee.

Talking about the historical and ethical context of animal well-being will be conference speakers David Fraser of the University of British Columbia and Paul Thompson, a bioethicist and director of the Purdue Center for Food Animal Productivity and Well-Being.

Don Lay, USDA/ARS research unit leader, will share details about animal well-being research at Purdue.

The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Stewart Center on Purdue's West Lafayette campus. Cost is $40 and does not include lunch.

For registration information contact Donna Hufford in Purdue's Department of Animal Sciences at (765) 494-8007 or by e-mail at donnah@purdue.edu. There is no registration deadline, but advance registration is preferred.