The 12th Annual Robert Dixon Memorial Animal Welfare Symposium

The 12th Annual Robert Dixon Memorial Animal Welfare Symposium
Happy as a pig? Understanding the welfare needs of farmed pigs

Would it surprise you to know that nearly 1.5 billion farmed pigs are slaughtered for food every year around the world? Here in Australia pig production is a relatively small industry, with around 4,000 pig farms and 2.4 million pigs farmed at any given time. However, as consumer awareness of animal production increases so too does the concern over animal welfare, ethics and the sustainability of pig production. But what makes pigs happy? What are the welfare and ethics concerns regarding pig production in Australia, and how sustainable is the industry given recent worldwide outbreaks of disease and the potential effects of climate change?
Join our panel of experts, who bring together a wealth of experience of sustainable pig farming, animal welfare science, certification programs, ethics, policy and advocacy, to discuss the challenges of improving pig welfare.
This event is funded by the Jessie Mary Briggs Bequest and presented in collaboration with the Centre for Veterinary Education, in memory of the late Dr Robert Dixon. For many years, Robert held the faculty position of Associate Dean for Animal Welfare while serving on the University’s Animal Ethics Committee.