Workshops and satellite meetings

There will be six workshops offered on Tuesday 6th August (1730-2000 h). Abstracts for proposed presentations within workshops may be submitted through OASES by 19^th February or e-mailed directly to the workshop organiser by 22^nd February. A workshop presentation may be made in addition to a presentation in the main scientific programme. Selected workshop abstracts meeting abstract requirements will be considered for inclusion in the proceedings.

You are requested to indicate your participation in a workshop at the Registration site. If you already have submitted your registration, you can click on ‘Amend your current registration’.

Visualizing and analysis of individual-level data within large group systems

Rapid advances in technology are allowing for a greater understanding of animal behaviour at the level of the individual. However, with these advances and the often relatively large datasets that result, novel methods are required to visualize and statistically analyse the generated data. This workshop, co-organized by Dr. Michael Toscano (University of Bern) and Dr. Janice Siegford (Michigan State University), will focus on innovative techniques to process these individual-level data and make sense of underlying patterns. We ask that people consider submitting an abstract for the workshop detailing their novel means to visualize and statistically analyse individual data (submission by 19^th February, 2023 through OASES). Selected contributions will form an initial slate of short oral presentations on the theme (7-10 minutes/presentation depending on number of abstracts received). Following presentations, breakout groups will be formed to discuss methods, with results presented at the end of the 2.5 hour workshop. Any questions should be directed to Dr. Michael Toscano ([email protected]).

Future trends in the prevention of damaging behaviour

This workshop is organised by members of the EU-COST Action “Synergy for preventing damaging behaviour in group housed pigs and chickens (GroupHouseNet)”. The workshop will focus on dissemination of both scientific and practical information about how to prevent tail biting in pigs and feather pecking/cannibalism in laying hens without resorting to tail docking and beak trimming. The workshop will start with approximately five 10-minute oral presentations followed by discussion. Speakers will be invited by the workshop organizers and may upload their abstract through OASES by 19^th February, 2023. Please direct questions about this workshop to Professor Andrew Janczak ([email protected]).

Novel indicators of fish welfare

Fish are a widely used research model and common farm animal, as well as being exhibited in zoological collections and kept as pets. Like mammalian and avian species, fish appear capable of experiencing a variety of affective states, but, unlike mammals and birds, there is a comparative paucity of reliable welfare indicators with which to assess these states. It is therefore of great importance to identify novel indicators to allow better measurement of, and so improve, fish welfare - although this represents a considerable challenge to researchers. This workshop organised by Prof. Oliver Burman, Dr. Tom Pike and Dr. Tanja Kleinhappel (University of Lincoln) aims to bring together researchers working in this area to share their novel technologies/approaches in this field, as well as discuss their application and promotion in day to day ‘real-world’ settings. We would like to invite people to submit abstracts focusing on novel means of assessing fish welfare (submission by 22nd February, 2023 to Prof. Oliver Burman, [email protected]). Selected presentations (c. 10 mins duration) will be included in the workshop in order to encompass a wide range of novel methodological approaches, enabling discussion of contemporary achievements and future directions. Please contact Prof. Oliver Burman with any questions.

It is also possible to submit an abstract through the abstract submission system OASES with deadline 19^th February, by clicking on the correct workshop. This may come in addition to an abstract submitted for the main congress.

Engaging students in learning about production animal welfare assessment

Veterinary and animal science students need education about production animal welfare but some students tend to be more focused on companion animals, and stimulating their interest in farm animals can be challenging. Also, exercises aimed at giving students introductory classroom experience in the use of different welfare assessment protocols are not widely available. This workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to share and discuss teaching methodologies that engage students in learning how to evaluate animal health and welfare in production animal species, with a focus on ethological parameters. If you would like to make a short presentation or demonstration of a relevant teaching exercise or method, you are invited to submit an abstract with brief information about this methodology. Abstracts may be sent to the workshop organiser, Dr. Marta E. Alonso de la Varga (University of León; [email protected]) by 22nd February. Selected presentations will be used to initiate exchange of ideas in the workshop. Please direct questions to Dr. Marta Alonso.

Managing the dairy cow around the time of calving – can we do better?

Dairy cows are typically group housed, give birth in close proximity of other cows and have their calf removed shortly after birth. This workshop asks whether there are benefits of dairy cows being able to calve undisturbed from herd mates and whether we can provide dairy cows with an opportunity to seek isolation prior to calving. It also addresses whether there are benefits of keeping dam and calf together for some time, and, if so, how to house and manage the cow and her new-born in the first few days after calving. The workshop aims to summarise the state-of-the-art, to discuss alternative housing and management of peri-parturient cows as well as to identify novel concepts and to give directions for future research and development. Are you interested in presenting recent research within this area at the workshop? If so, please send your abstract to workshop organiser, Dr. Margit Bak Jensen ([email protected]) by 22^nd February. She will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this workshop.

Animal training - efficacy and welfare

This problem-solving session will address two applications of current understanding of learning. (1) Experimental design - how animal training methods can contribute to the refinement of animal use in research studies. (2) Informing legislation – how knowledge about the relative efficacy of different forms of animal training can guide public policy. This workshop will be of interest to all those who use research findings as evidence for best practises in working with animals. Please contact Dr. Jonathan Cooper ([email protected]) for further information and to submit an abstract (by 22^nd February) for a short workshop presentation.

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