Identifying promising biomarkers of experiential state in sheep
Abstract
Existing indicators for assessing animal welfare provide limited information on the experiential process in the brain of animals. Identifying indicators of experience in animals is important for ensuring public assurance of good animal welfare and the social license to operate of the red meat industry. Promising biomarkers of mental experience have been identified in the human sciences, which have not been fully explored in relation to animals. To assess some of these biomarkers, we conducted an experiment using a routine painful husbandry procedure in lambs to induce changes in their experience. Samples were collected from the lambs at several time points relative to the procedure and analysis for changes in biomarkers, such as oxidative stress, proteins, and microRNA.
Sarah Babington
Sarah Babington completed her degree in veterinary science at the University of Queensland, Gatton campus and spent several years working as an On-Plant Veterinarian for the Australian Government Department of Agriculture at export slaughtering establishments across NSW and Qld. She currently works for RSPCA Australia as the Scientific Officer for farm animals where she focuses on advocating for improvements in welfare for poultry and animals at slaughter. Just over two years ago, she moved to Perth to start her PhD project on identifying and validating biomarkers of sheep welfare, which involves collaborative work between UWA and UQ.
Sarah Babington, The University of Western Australia E: sarah.babington@research.uwa.edu.au
For any questions, please contact the QAAFI Science Seminar Committee.
For any questions, please contact the QAAFI Science Seminar Committee.
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