Animal Welfare

Prey depletion threatens health of marine mammals

The link between reductions in the numbers and quality of fish and squid and the health of marine mammals that feed upon them in parts of northern European waters has been highlighted in a new report.…

SRUC
25/08/2020

Partnership to protect wading birds

A partnership between SAC Consulting, RSPB Scotland and farmers in the Upper Clyde Valley has been awarded £90,000 to expand local conservation efforts for wading birds.…

SRUC
14/08/2020

Pony owners needed to rein in laminitis

Horse and pony owners in the north east of Scotland could help provide answers to the causes of the painful condition, pasture-associated laminitis (PAL). A researcher at Scotland’s Rural College…

SRUC
10/07/2020

‘Listening’ to chicks could improve welfare

‘Listening’ to baby chicks’ calls could help identify welfare problems at an early stage, according to new research involving SRUC.…

SRUC
12/06/2020

Whale stranding sheds new light on mysterious species

One of the world’s most mysterious species of whale was stranded in Britain for the first time, according to new research. The female True’s beaked whale was found at Kearvaig Bay in Sutherland earlier this year where it was examined by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) – part of SRUC.…

SRUC
10/06/2020

Raising the baa on sheep health and nutrition

A European sheep network is calling on farmers and others in the industry to share their challenges and needs in a bid to improve flock health, nutrition and management practices.…

SRUC
12/05/2020

Sheep and Goat Health Scheme

A statement from George Caldow, Head of SRUC Veterinary Services, on SRUC’s Premium Sheep and Goat Health Scheme. “I would like to reassure the members of SRUC's Premium Sheep and Goat Health Scheme (PSGHS) and those involved in the wider sheep industry that SRUC will do everything that can be done to ensure continuity of the health scheme.…

SRUC
08/04/2020

Understanding animals’ emotions

Scotland’s Rural College has teamed up with a leading UK supermarket in a pioneering project to assess the emotional expressivity of animals in the supply chain.…

SRUC
02/04/2020

Speaking out about strangles

Speaking out about strangles – an infectious equine disease – is the focus of a new national week of action launched by SRUC in partnership with some of the UK’s largest horse welfare organisations.…

SRUC
05/03/2020

Happy farm

Researchers from Scotland’s Rural College are launching a survey for farmers to get to the heart of the debate about what makes farm animals happy.…

SRUC
28/02/2020

Dairy farmers needed for M.Bovis study

Dairy farmers across Scotland are being urged to take part in a new study to help scientists better understand the spread of Mycoplasma bovis in cattle.…

Dairy Research and Innovation Centre
26/02/2020

‘Unexpected’ number of resistance genes found on pig farm

Researchers at Scotland’s Rural College have identified a high number of antimicrobial resistance genes in pig faeces at a commercial farm, following the first longitudinal study of its kind.…

SRUC
05/02/2020