Animal Welfare Content

Big Dogs Face More Joint Problems if Neutered Early

Amy M Quinton — August 13, 2020 - 10:00am

Mixed-breed dogs weighing more than 44 pounds as adults are at higher risk for joint disorders if neutered or spayed early, according to a study by researchers at 51�ԹϺ�� Davis.

Can We Better Prepare Hens for Cage-Free Living?

Amy M Quinton — April 19, 2018 - 10:42am

Cage-free housing may be more spacious for hens, but the extra room comes with added risk of collisions and broken bones. 51�ԹϺ�� Davis animal welfare experts are leading efforts to whether complex rearing systems can reduce bone fractures.

Keeping Cows Cool With Less Water and Energy

Katherine E Kerlin — September 06, 2017 - 1:34pm

Innovative cooling technologies tested on dairy cows at the University of California, Davis, are addressing the long-standing challenge of keeping dairy cows cool in heat-stressed California.

TRACS Gives Dogs Room to Run and Play

Dave Jones — August 02, 2016 - 10:41am

A team at TRACS, Teaching and Research Animal Care Services, is treating research dogs to an enriched environment, and telling other animal science lab professionals how they can do the same thing.

Scientists and Zoos Team Up on Landmark Elephant Welfare Project

Patricia Bailey — July 14, 2016 - 11:00am

Given that elephants are the largest land mammals on the planet, one might expect that when it comes to enclosures for zoo elephants, size matters.

However, a newly released study in which the University of California, Davis, played a key role reveals that social interactions and having an array of opportunities to engage with their surroundings may be more important to elephants’ welfare than space.