August 24, 2019
Kaleiah Schiller (Horback lab) was the recipient of the 2019 California Wool Growers Scholarship for her research on stress and maternal behavior in rangeland ewes. Congratulations Kal!
Kaleiah Schiller (Horback lab) was the recipient of the 2019 California Wool Growers Scholarship for her research on stress and maternal behavior in rangeland ewes. Congratulations Kal!
August 22, 2019
Dr. Tina Horback was invited to give a talk on applied ethology and animal welfare at the California Academy of Sciences Animal Behavior NightLife event.
Dr. Tina Horback was invited to give a talk on applied ethology and animal welfare at the California Academy of Sciences Animal Behavior NightLife event.
May 29, 2019
Master's student Alycia Drwencke (Tucker lab) was invited to speak at the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council Symposium in Kissimmee, Florida. She presented her thesis work on innovative detection and abatement of heat load in dairy cattle. Well done Alycia!
Master's student Alycia Drwencke (Tucker lab) was invited to speak at the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council Symposium in Kissimmee, Florida. She presented her thesis work on innovative detection and abatement of heat load in dairy cattle. Well done Alycia!
May 1, 2019
PhD students Maggie Creamer and Kaleiah Schiller (Horback lab, both) received travel awards from Humane Society International, and PhD candidate Blair Downey (Tucker lab) received a travel award from the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE), to present their research at the 2019 ISAE conference in Bergen, Norway.
PhD students Maggie Creamer and Kaleiah Schiller (Horback lab, both) received travel awards from Humane Society International, and PhD candidate Blair Downey (Tucker lab) received a travel award from the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE), to present their research at the 2019 ISAE conference in Bergen, Norway.
April 30, 2019
Congratulations all around for many of our Center for Animal Welfare students:
Congratulations all around for many of our Center for Animal Welfare students:
- PhD candidate Sarah Adcock (Tucker lab) received the UC Davis Dissertation Year Fellowship
- PhD students Allison Pullin, Lindsey Broadus (Makagon lab, both), and Kaleiah Schiller (Horback lab) received the UC Davis Jastro-Shields Award
- PhD student Allison Pullin received a scholarship award from the Western Poultry Scholarship and Research Foundation
- PhD student Catie McVey (Horback lab) received the Dean's Distinguished Graduate Fellowship for her 5 years at UC Davis
Maja Makagon (center) joins fellow judges Richard Swartzentruber and Temple Grandin at the Perdue Farms Chicken Enrichment Contest. They are joined by chairman Jim Perdue and CEO Randy Day of Perdue Farms, Inc.
April 24, 2019
Dr. Maja Makagon was invited to be a judge for the finale of the Perdue Farms Chicken Enrichment Contest where she was tasked with selecting the top enrichment from among the five farmer-designed enrichment devices that made it to the finals.
Dr. Maja Makagon was invited to be a judge for the finale of the Perdue Farms Chicken Enrichment Contest where she was tasked with selecting the top enrichment from among the five farmer-designed enrichment devices that made it to the finals.
April 10, 2019
The Center for Animal Welfare hosted animal welfare scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia for a 2-day workshop. The two teams met to identify areas for future collaboration as part of an initiative to build relationships between both institutions.
The Center for Animal Welfare hosted animal welfare scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia for a 2-day workshop. The two teams met to identify areas for future collaboration as part of an initiative to build relationships between both institutions.
January 3, 2019
Welcome to Dr. Christina Rufener, a new post-doctoral scholar in Dr. Blatchford's and Dr. Makagon's labs! Dr. Rufener comes to us from the University of Bern in Switzerland, where she completed her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Mike Toscano and Prof. Dr. Hanno Würbel. During her PhD, she investigated the effect of keel bone fractures on individual productivity and mobility in laying hens, aiming for practical solutions to reduce keel bone fracture prevalence in commercial layers. In her current post-doc position, she will be working primarily on projects related to laying hen behavior and welfare.
Welcome to Dr. Christina Rufener, a new post-doctoral scholar in Dr. Blatchford's and Dr. Makagon's labs! Dr. Rufener comes to us from the University of Bern in Switzerland, where she completed her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Mike Toscano and Prof. Dr. Hanno Würbel. During her PhD, she investigated the effect of keel bone fractures on individual productivity and mobility in laying hens, aiming for practical solutions to reduce keel bone fracture prevalence in commercial layers. In her current post-doc position, she will be working primarily on projects related to laying hen behavior and welfare.
November 30, 2018
Dr. Richard Blatchford, coaches Allison Pullin and Kaleiah Schiller, and members of the Center for Animal Welfare competed at the AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest in Fort Collins, CO. Out of a total of 145 participants, representing 32 teams from 22 universities, our graduate student team (Sarah Adcock, Karli Chudeau, Rachael Coon, Maggie Creamer, and Alycia Drwencke) placed 3rd in their team category and our undergraduate student team (Tanya Douglas, Sabrina Mederos, Liz Sanchez, Melissa Thurston, and Lucy Xi) placed 4th in their team category. Alycia Drwencke won 2nd place overall student and Karli Chudeau won 5th place overall student. Congratulations all!
Dr. Richard Blatchford, coaches Allison Pullin and Kaleiah Schiller, and members of the Center for Animal Welfare competed at the AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest in Fort Collins, CO. Out of a total of 145 participants, representing 32 teams from 22 universities, our graduate student team (Sarah Adcock, Karli Chudeau, Rachael Coon, Maggie Creamer, and Alycia Drwencke) placed 3rd in their team category and our undergraduate student team (Tanya Douglas, Sabrina Mederos, Liz Sanchez, Melissa Thurston, and Lucy Xi) placed 4th in their team category. Alycia Drwencke won 2nd place overall student and Karli Chudeau won 5th place overall student. Congratulations all!
August 24, 2018
Dr. Grazyne Tresoldi (Animal Biology Graduate Group '18), a former student of Dr. Cassandra Tucker's, is now an Assistant Professor in the College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico. Congratulations Grazy!
Dr. Grazyne Tresoldi (Animal Biology Graduate Group '18), a former student of Dr. Cassandra Tucker's, is now an Assistant Professor in the College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico. Congratulations Grazy!
April 20, 2018
Dr. Brian Greco (Animal Biology Graduate Group '16), a former student of Dr. Joy Mench's, is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Congratulations Brian!
Dr. Brian Greco (Animal Biology Graduate Group '16), a former student of Dr. Joy Mench's, is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Congratulations Brian!
Photo: Benjamin LeCorps
April 12, 2018
Dr. Jennifer Van Os (Animal Behavior Graduate Group '15), a former student of Dr. Cassandra Tucker's, is now an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare in the Department of Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Congratulations Jennifer!
Dr. Jennifer Van Os (Animal Behavior Graduate Group '15), a former student of Dr. Cassandra Tucker's, is now an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare in the Department of Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Congratulations Jennifer!
March 30, 2018
Congratulations to PhD student Blair Downey (Tucker lab) for receiving the 2018-19 Lillie May Richards Fellowship for her work on feeding behavior and welfare of dairy calves!
Congratulations to PhD student Blair Downey (Tucker lab) for receiving the 2018-19 Lillie May Richards Fellowship for her work on feeding behavior and welfare of dairy calves!
Dr. Cassandra Tucker, Photo: UC Davis
March 22, 2018
Drs. Makagon and Tucker were featured in an article by the Davis Enterprise about the use of technology in agriculture, "Creating the farm and farmworkers of the future."
Drs. Makagon and Tucker were featured in an article by the Davis Enterprise about the use of technology in agriculture, "Creating the farm and farmworkers of the future."
Dr. Richard Blatchford and Dr. Maja Makagon (L-R)
March 15, 2018
The Blatchford-Makagon lab is accepting applications for a postdoctoral scholar investigating the development of keel bone damage in laying hens. Priority deadline is March 31, 2018, though applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please see the posting for more information.
The Blatchford-Makagon lab is accepting applications for a postdoctoral scholar investigating the development of keel bone damage in laying hens. Priority deadline is March 31, 2018, though applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please see the posting for more information.
Dr. Francine Bradley, Dr. Maja Makagon, Lindsey Broadus, Dr. Essam Abdelfattah and Allison Pullin (L-R) at the PEPA Annual Convention in Napa, CA
March 1, 2018
Lindsey Broadus and Allison Pullin, both students in Dr. Maja Makagon's lab, received scholarships from the Western Poultry Scholarship and Research Foundation. Congratulations!
Lindsey Broadus and Allison Pullin, both students in Dr. Maja Makagon's lab, received scholarships from the Western Poultry Scholarship and Research Foundation. Congratulations!
March 1, 2018
Allison Pullin, a student in Dr. Maja Makagon's lab, received the Graduate Student Poster Presentation Award for the poster she presented at the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association (PEPA) Annual Convention, Napa, CA. Congratulations Allison!
Allison Pullin, a student in Dr. Maja Makagon's lab, received the Graduate Student Poster Presentation Award for the poster she presented at the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association (PEPA) Annual Convention, Napa, CA. Congratulations Allison!
January 24, 2018
Drs. Maja Makagon, Richard Blatchford and Tina Horback, along with colleagues from University of Bristol, Iowa State University and Universität Bern, have received funding to study the impacts of the rearing environment on keel bone integrity and spatial awareness of laying hens. The research is supported by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.
Drs. Maja Makagon, Richard Blatchford and Tina Horback, along with colleagues from University of Bristol, Iowa State University and Universität Bern, have received funding to study the impacts of the rearing environment on keel bone integrity and spatial awareness of laying hens. The research is supported by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.
December 15, 2017
Sydney Baker, a student in Dr. Maja Makagon's lab, graduated with her M.S. degree. Congratulations Sydney!
Sydney Baker, a student in Dr. Maja Makagon's lab, graduated with her M.S. degree. Congratulations Sydney!
November 29, 2017
Elsevier published a series of books, Advances in Farm Animal Welfare, edited by Dr. Joy Mench. The series contains books edited by Dr. Mench (Advances in Poultry Welfare, Advances in Agricultural Animal Welfare- Science and Practice) and Dr. Cassandra Tucker (Advances in Cattle Welfare).
Elsevier published a series of books, Advances in Farm Animal Welfare, edited by Dr. Joy Mench. The series contains books edited by Dr. Mench (Advances in Poultry Welfare, Advances in Agricultural Animal Welfare- Science and Practice) and Dr. Cassandra Tucker (Advances in Cattle Welfare).
September 18, 2017
Dr. Mary Bonaparte-Saller (Animal Behavior Graduate Group '16), a former student of Dr. Joy Mench's, accepted the UC CE 4-H Academic Advisor position in Orange County. Congratulations Mary!
Dr. Mary Bonaparte-Saller (Animal Behavior Graduate Group '16), a former student of Dr. Joy Mench's, accepted the UC CE 4-H Academic Advisor position in Orange County. Congratulations Mary!
An example of the cooling system used in this project
September 6, 2017
Dr. Cassandra Tucker and her MSc's student Alycia Drwencke were featured in the following video reports and articles for their work on cooling cows with the California Energy Commission (CEC):
Dr. Cassandra Tucker and her MSc's student Alycia Drwencke were featured in the following video reports and articles for their work on cooling cows with the California Energy Commission (CEC):
- UC Davis finding ways to cool cows (ABC 10)
- UC Davis researchers looking to keep cows cooler (CBS 13)
- Keeping cows cool with less water and energy (Central Valley Business Times)
Horback Lab manager Maggie Creamer, Photo: Nicole Boliaux, The Chronicle
August 14, 2017
Dr. Kristina Horback was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle in an article about how her research may inform pork producers on how to manage social aggression in group housing. Click here to read more!
Dr. Kristina Horback was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle in an article about how her research may inform pork producers on how to manage social aggression in group housing. Click here to read more!
June 23, 2017
PhD Candidate Sarah Adcock (Tucker Lab) was awarded the National Milk Producers Federation Hintz Memorial Scholarship for her work on disbudding pain in dairy calves. Congratulations Sarah!
PhD Candidate Sarah Adcock (Tucker Lab) was awarded the National Milk Producers Federation Hintz Memorial Scholarship for her work on disbudding pain in dairy calves. Congratulations Sarah!
Photo: Gregory Urquiaga, UC Davis
June 13, 2017
Dr. Kristina Horback was interviewed by UC Davis on her research on pig personality. Click here to read more and to watch a video highlighting her current work with piglets!
Dr. Kristina Horback was interviewed by UC Davis on her research on pig personality. Click here to read more and to watch a video highlighting her current work with piglets!