OVC veterinary team wins four top-five finishes at animal welfare assessment competition

The University of Guelph, also nicknamed the University of Gwelfare, has returned home victorious once again from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Animal Welfare Assessment Competition with multiple top-five finishes.

Undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students flew to Wisconsin on Friday, November 17 alongside 24 other universities to visit the University of Wisconsin at River Falls to test their animal welfare assessment skills.

This year, students assessed the welfare of laboratory rats, farmed bison, cage-free laying hens and tortoises in a zoo environment. They work as individuals or in a team to present their findings to an expert panel of scientists and veterinarians who specialize in animal welfare.

U of G teams are recruited each fall by coaches who lead the team: Professor Derek Haley from OVC’s Department of Population Medicine, and MSc student Lydia Conrad and Professor Tina Widowski of OAC’s Department of Animal Biosciences.

Shortly after the fall semester starts, Haley and Widowski begin hosting information sessions to recruit students from across campus to join the team. Not long after the team has formed, the AVMA announce the four species that will be assessed in competition. Haley and Widowski work together to connect students with experts, farms and zoos in the area to study the welfare needs of each species and participate in mock assessments to enhance their skills ahead of competition.

Students also benefit from having access to expertise and faculty from the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare (CCSAW), a U of G research institute that also provides some funding to the teams for travel costs helped by support from Saputo. Those who participate can put their learnings and practice towards course credit.

“Participating students get a hands-on opportunity to take what they’re learning from peers, coaches and classes and use critical thinking in practice,” says Haley. “Students also take away some amazing skills they can use wherever they’re headed; learning to give feedback to their peers, presenting findings in a vulnerable setting, fortifying a team with the strengths of each individual and building relationships that stay with them long after competition.” 

Read about the 2022 team’s success in the 2023 issue of The Crest.

University of Guelph AVMA welfare assessment wins

Team winners, Graduate Division

• Third place: Sam Hartwig, Rachel Strassburger, Kandra Gillett and Mariah Crevier

Individual winners, Veterinary Division

• First place: Miranda Bie, OVC, Team Gold
• Fifth place: Lucy Morrison, OVC, Team Red

Team winners, Veterinary Division

• Second place: OVC, Team Gold
• Third place: OVC Team Red

Read the full announcements from AVMA

About the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare

The Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, based at University of Guelph, is one of the largest research centres in the world focused on animal well-being. CCSAW has been promoting animal welfare through rigorous scholarship, inspirational education and evidence-based research for over 30 years.

About the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

Serving more than 100,000 member veterinarians, the AVMA is the nation's leading representative of the veterinary profession, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, humans and the environment. Founded in 1863 and with members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 60 countries, the AVMA is one of the largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Informed by our members' unique scientific training and clinical knowledge, the AVMA supports the crucial work of veterinarians and advocates for policies that advance the practice of veterinary medicine and improve animal and human health.