Tag Archives: welfare

The biggest free trade deal in history

Posted on April 8, 2014 by argylesock

The biggest free trade deal in history is being negotiated now. There are plenty of catchy little acronyms when you talk about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union (EU) and the United States of America … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, ecology, food, money and trade | Tagged America, biotechnology, clone, Europe, food safety, food sovereignty, grocery, hormone, label, livestock, meat, politics, trade, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, welfare | 9 Comments

Can BIG be beautiful too?

Posted on April 5, 2014 by argylesock

Three leading figures from science and farming consider the role large-scale farming can play in British agriculture.

Posted in agriculture, knowledge transfer | Tagged farmer, food security, knowledge, land use, livestock, pollution, population, scientist, sustainable, veterinary, welfare | 2 Comments

New plan to reduce the use of animals in research

Posted on February 14, 2014 by argylesock

Here in Britain, scientists’ use of lab animals is very tightly constrained (my tag ‘lab animal’.) But we want to ‘Replace, Reduce and Refine the Use of Animals in Research’. The Three Rs. Our Department for Business, Innovation & Skills … Continue reading →

Posted in knowledge transfer | Tagged Department for Business Innovation and Skills, knowledge, lab animal, laboratory, law, politics, research, welfare | 9 Comments

Chinese shark fin soup ban

Posted on December 9, 2013 by argylesock

Originally posted on Dear Kitty. Some blog:
This video says about itself: 3 July 2012 China announces plans to ban shark fin soup at official functions, delighting environmentalists. Ramy Inocencio reports. From AFP news agency: China bans shark fin soup…

Posted in fish | Tagged conservation, finfish, fishing, grocery, hunting, law, politics, seafood, shark, vertebrate, welfare, wild food | Leave a comment

Openness in Animal Research

Posted on December 1, 2013 by argylesock

argylesock says… Animals are used well in research in Britain. But misunderstanding is rife as this article reminds us. We’re urged to take part in a public consultation hosted by Understanding Animal Research.

Posted in knowledge transfer | Tagged academia, knowledge, lab animal, research, welfare | 5 Comments

Why not feed insects to other livestock?

Posted on November 26, 2013 by argylesock

Here in Britain, our Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) coordinates PROteINSECT. This is about farming insects (entomoculture) as a source of protein for animal feed. FERA is part of our Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, food, miniculture | Tagged aquaculture, arthropod, bird, black soldier fly, chicken, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, development, dipteran, disease, disease transmission, egg, entomoculture, entomophagy, feed, food, Food and Agriculture Organization, Food and Environment Research Agency, food safety, food waste, housefly, insect, International Livestock Research Institute, invertebrate, larva, law, livestock, manure, meat, microlivestock, milk, poultry, research, technology, vertebrate, waste, welfare | 2 Comments

Is the existing bovine TB eradication policy really working?

Posted on November 2, 2013 by argylesock

One of my favourite sources of information about bovine tuberculosis (bTB, caused by Mycobacterium bovis) is bovinetb.co.uk. Its unnamed author is ‘looking for the reform of a costly and misguided system.’ When I talk to farmers, I often hear support … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, ecology, human health, knowledge transfer, money and trade | Tagged alpaca, cattle, disease, disease reservoir, disease testing, disease transmission, endemic disease, export, farmer, finance, food, food processing, food safety, history, human, knowledge, law, livestock, mammal, meat, milk, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, politics, ruminant, shooting, slaughter, trade, tuberculosis, vaccine, vertebrate, veterinary, welfare, wildlife, zoonosis | 19 Comments

Animal research, how it is

Posted on October 19, 2013 by argylesock

Understanding Animal Research (UAR) is a British group. It exists ‘to provide all you want to know about animal research, whether you are a concerned member of the public or have a special interest.’ I like UAR’s factual style, a … Continue reading →

Posted in human health, knowledge transfer | Tagged cosmetic, disease, farmer, human, knowledge, lab animal, laboratory, law, livestock, mammal, mouse, primate, research, scientist, vertebrate, welfare | 2 Comments

Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition

Posted on October 16, 2013 by argylesock

EFSA is the European Food Safety Authority. EFSA tells us that today, World Food Day 2013, the theme is Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition. Food security, not just a simple belief that all food gets eaten. Nutrition, … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, food, knowledge transfer | Tagged access to food, biodiversity, biotechnology, conservation, crop, ecosystem, feed, feed additive, food, food safety, genetic modification, law, livestock, nutrition, pest, sustainable, veterinary, welfare | 4 Comments

Badger cull is to start tomorrow night

Posted on August 25, 2013 by argylesock

Here in Britain some cattle (Bos primigenius) get bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and we want rid. Wild badgers (Meles meles) can get bTB too. Some people think badgers spread the infection (Mycobacterium bovis) to cattle. Others think that we shouldn’t obsess … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, ecology | Tagged badger, bovine tuberculosis, cattle, disease, dog, fox, history, hunting, law, livestock, mammal, Mycobacterium bovis, notifiable disease, politics, ruminant, shooting, tuberculosis, vertebrate, welfare, wildlife | 1 Comment