University LINKs Scheme

University of Prince Edward Island (Canada)

Dr M S Cockram
Dept of Health Management
Email: mcockram@upei.ca

2023:

The Atlantic Veterinary College sent 10 veterinary students to the AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest this year split into two teams (first-year team: Samantha Shute, Kyra Norton, Abigail Penney-Wiseman, Sinead Riordon, Madison King; second-year team: Catherine LeBlond, Gabrielle Doiron, Veronica Sohasky, Tsukasa Iwamoto, Lillie Black). This was also the first year that an undergraduate student, Kalya Dalpe, competed in the contest.

The contest was held at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in River Falls, Wisconsin, USA. A total of 232 students representing 24 universities across North America participated in the contest.

The contest consisted of three individual welfare assessments and a team scenario. The species assessed in this year’s competition were Farmed Bison, Tortoises in a Zoo, and Cage-Free Laying Hens. The group scenario was an interactive walk-through of a Laboratory Rat facility. Each scenario was presented live, followed by a period of time to allow students to submit their choice of which facility had better welfare. Each student then prepared a three-minute oral presentation defending their choice for the individual competition, including the positive and negative aspects of each facility along with suggestions for how to improve the animals’ welfare. For the group presentation, teams presented an animal welfare assessment of the laboratory rat facility and were allotted 10 minutes to defend their reasoning to a panel of animal welfare experts.

The contest allowed students to apply their knowledge to real-world animal welfare challenges. “It was a great opportunity to put into practice what we were learning in our animal behavior and welfare class”, said participant Abigail Penney-Wiseman. Students were also able to gain experience with animals that they were not familiar with, as Gabrielle Doiron stated: “It’s a very fun way to learn a lot about species that we do not get to learn about in our normal veterinary curriculum”. The event also provided the opportunity for students to network with animal welfare experts and other students interested in animal welfare. “The contest provided a unique chance to connect with like-minded students and be able to speak to experts in the field who had great advice for us about careers in animal welfare”, commented Kyra Norton.

The AVC’s teams brought home five awards in the veterinary division, including placing 1st overall team (second-year team), 5th overall team (first-year team), 1st in the team scenario (second-year team), 2nd overall individual (Catherine LeBlond) and 3rd overall individual (Abigail Penney-Wiseman). Our participation in this year’s competition would not have been possible without the funding provided by the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. We are extremely grateful for this funding along with all the help from our coach Dr. Katy Proudfoot, as well as third-year coaches Lily Mitchell, Brianna Forbes, Devyn Enwright, Alyssa McGee, and Cassandra Smith.

Back row (L-R): Lillie Black, Samantha Shute, Kyra Norton, Abigail Penney-Wiseman, Sinead Riordon, Madison King
Front row (L-R): Catherine LeBlond, Gabrielle Doiron, Veronica Sohasky, Tsukasa Iwamoto, Kayla Dalpe

2022:

Report from the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island team on their participation in the veterinary division of the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest hosted by the AVMA in November 2022.

AVC’s team as a whole consisted of five first-year veterinary students: Tsukasa Iwamoto, Gabrielle Doiron, Hannah Kennedy Laura Groves and Rebecca Michelin; five second-year veterinary students: Brianna Forbes, Devyn Enwright, Alyssa McGee, Lily Mitchell, and Cassandra Smith; and a graduate student, Hannah Spitzer.
The contest was held at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. 157 students representing 23 universities across North America participated.

This year’s contest consisted of three individual welfare assessments and a team scenario. The species that were assessed in this year’s competition were Octopus in Aquarium, Dairy-Beef Calves, and Show Chickens: Fancy Layers. The group scenario was an interactive scenario on Shelter Dogs and Cats. Each scenario was presented live, followed by a period of time to allow students to submit their choice of which facility or home had better welfare. Each student then prepared a three-minute oral presentation defending their choice for the individual competition, including the positive and negative aspects of each facility/home along with suggestions for how to improve the animals’ welfare. For the group presentation teams presented the pros and cons of the facility, made a recommendation for a long-term facility change to improve welfare, and were allotted 10 minutes to defend their reasoning as a team. They presented their reasoning to a panel of animal welfare experts.

The contest provided students with an opportunity to practice their animal welfare assessment skills, strengthen their presentation and communication skills, and learn how to work as a team. The students were able to take their passion for animals and animal welfare and put it into action. They were challenged to go beyond their current knowledge and learn more about certain animal species, current welfare measures that are in place for these animals and learn how to make recommendations to improve welfare for the given scenario. The experience that these students had will influence their approach to animal welfare in their careers as veterinarians.
The AVC’s teams were successful in placing 2nd overall team (veterinary division), 3rd overall team (veterinary division), and 4th overall individual (graduate division). AVC graduate student Hannah Spitzer was also awarded 1st place in the live scenario (individual division).

Our participation in this year’s competition would not have been possible without the funding provided by the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. We are extremely grateful for this funding along with all the help from our coaches Dr. Michael Cockram and Dr. Katy Proudfoot.

Back row (L-R): Brianna Forbes, Rebecca Michelin, Cassandra Smith, Devyn Enwright
Middle row (L-R): Lily Mitchell, Hannah Spitzer, Alyssa McGee, Tsukasa Iwamoto
Front row (L-R): Laura Groves, Hannah Kennedy, Gabrielle Doiron

2021:

Report from the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island team on their participation in the veterinary division of the Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest hosted by the AVMA in November 2021.

269 participants representing 28 universities and eight countries took part in this year’s competition. Alongside the two-day competition, were presentations on animal welfare across all different fields.

AVC’s team consisted of five first-year veterinary students: Brianna Forbes, Devyn Enwright, Alyssa McGee, Lily Mitchell and Amy Stoyles.

This year’s contest consisted of two online individual welfare assessments, with a team interactive scenario. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all segments of the competition were hosted virtually. The species that were assessed in this year’s competition were psittacines as pets, and cats in a research setting. The group scenario was an interactive scenario on boar studs. Each scenario was presented live online followed by a period of time to allow students to submit their choice of which facility or home had better welfare. Each student then prepared a three-minute oral presentation defending their choice for the individual competition, including the positive and negative aspects of each facility/home along with suggestions for how to improve the animal’s welfare. Similarly, for the group presentation teams presented the pros and cons of the facility, and were allotted 10 minutes to defend their reasoning as a team. They presented their reasoning to a panel of animal welfare experts.

The AVC’s team were successful in placing 4th in the team winners division for the Veterinary Student Division and placed 1st as a team for the interactive assessment.

Our participation in this year’s competition would not have been possible without the funding provided by UFAW. We are extremely grateful for this funding along with all the help from our coaches Dr. Michael Cockram and Dr. Katy Proudfoot.

2020:

North Carolina State University, USA November 2020: 20th Annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest

In November 2020 the LINK scheme once again helped support students from the University of Prince Edward Island to participate in the Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Assessment Contest. Open to veterinary students, undergraduates, and graduate students, this annual contest teaches students to assess the welfare of animals in a variety of settings using science-based methods and reasoning. Participants have to weigh evidence presented to them from a number of different case scenarios (this year turkeys and cheetahs in captivity) and then present a reasoned evaluation of their assessment of the situation.

Hosted virtually by North Carolina State University, over 170 contestants across 32 universities and seven countries participated. Unlike previous years, where students worked in groups, this year because of COVID-19 all students competed individually.

The contest provided the Atlantic Veterinary College students - Karen Yetman, Nima Morady and Lindsey Bailey - with an invaluable opportunity to practice their animal welfare assessment skills, network with other students and industry professionals and strengthen their presentation and communication skills. They report: “Our passion for animal welfare was put into action as we were challenged to go beyond our current knowledge and seek current welfare research and recommendations to assess welfare in different settings using science-based methods and reasoning. We will carry this experience and what we have learned into our future careers in vet med as we hope to enhance both small and large animal health and welfare.”

Karen Yetman was also successful in winning the veterinary student division as well as having the highest overall score in all divisions within the competition. She said: “I have always had an interest and passion for animal welfare and this competition allowed me to further develop my animal welfare assessment skills. It will be incredibly valuable to carry science-based reasoning and welfare assessment skills along with the ability to communicate these findings and recommendations with producers in what I hope will be a long career in large animal medicine. I hope to aid producers with the recognition that animal welfare is inextricably linked to production to enhance both the animal’s welfare and their productivity.” On behalf of the others Karen thanked UFAW for its support and the input and help of the team’s coaches - Professor Michael Cockram and Dr Katy Proudfoot.

2019:

Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA in November 2019

In November 2019, the LINK scheme once again helped support students attend and participate in the veterinary division of the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest held at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA – from both the University of Prince Edward Island and Iowa State University. These contests seek to teach students to assess the welfare of animals in a variety of settings using science-based methods and reasoning and contestants are judged on how well they presented and justified their positions.

Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada (LINK: Professor Mike Cockram)

The Atlantic Veterinary College team consisted of veterinary students (left to right in the photograph): Kendall Wyman, Jess Rose, Christine Engel, Lindsey Bailey and Nima Morady

Kendall Wyman (Class of 2022) submitted the following report on the competition:

It’s still crazy how quickly time flew by during the weekend of the 19th annual Animal Welfare Assessment Contest at Colorado State University. This weekend was filled with excitement surrounding current animal welfare topics, and it was shown through the passion radiating off of motivated, eager students from 25 different schools across North America, Brazil and Europe, from varying undergraduate, graduate and veterinary programs. To top it all off, the presence of Temple Grandin, the woman who set the standards for animal welfare in so many ways was just another way this conference made such an impact on all the students in attendance. As Nima Morady (Class of 2023) said, “This experience not only allowed me to learn so much about assessing welfare, but it also provided me the opportunity to meet some welfare pioneers. I would do it again in a heartbeat”.

Throughout the weekend, students were provided four opportunities to exhibit their understanding of animal welfare, first through the team judging assessment practical on sheep slaughter and secondly, during the day of the individual assessments. On this day, students were given three scenarios; one on zebrafish welfare, one on African painted dog welfare and the third on broiler chicken welfare. With roughly one hour to prepare a three-minute speech on why they sided with “Farm A” or “Farm B” for example, the pressure to get their facts and opinions straight was on. As Christine Engle (Class of 2023) said, “I learned about species I may have never had the opportunity to learn about otherwise and got to learn from some of the leaders in animal welfare. It was an experience I’ll never forget, and it gave me insight into what a career in animal welfare might look like”.

Once the students in all categories had completed their speeches, it was up to the judges to explain which scenario they deemed had better welfare. This feedback was the cherry on top of the weekend, especially when Professor Grandin spoke on the sheep slaughter scenario, and our team had picked up on every aspect she pointed out. This was especially rewarding to our team of “first-timers”, as several of us had very little knowledge on welfare prior to this experience. “I went into this not knowing anything about animal welfare and came out of it with more critical thinking skills to assess animal welfare on various species. I got to travel to Colorado, network, and meet Temple Grandin. My rating: 10/10, would recommend to a friend”, said Lindsey Bailey (Class of 2023).

Overall, the five of us had gained a profound amount of information on animal welfare, in such a short period of time; an experience in which we will never forget.

“Though I’d always had an interest in animal welfare, I’d had limited opportunity to educate myself about it. The AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest sounded like a great opportunity, and in actuality, it exceeded all my expectations. I learned not just about species and industry-specific care, but about how to systematically approach and evaluate welfare and quality of life in a more general sense. Coupled with the opportunity to meet giants in the discipline like Dr. Temple Grandin, I will carry what I gained during my experience in Colorado forward with me into my career for many years to come”. - Jess Rose (Class of 2021).

We are grateful for the support we received from the Universities Federation of Animal Welfare. We also thank our coaches at the Atlantic Veterinary College, Dr Michael Cockram and Dr Katy Proudfoot, who helped us to prepare for the contest.

Photo 2 Meeting Temple Grandin: From left to right: Kendall Wyman, Lindsey Bailey, Christine Engel, Professor Temple Grandin, Nima Morady, Jess Rose.

Photo 3: Smiles after group presentation on the animal welfare of sheep slaughter. From left to right: Jess Rose, Lindsey Bailey, Kendall Wyman, Christine Engel, Nima Morady.

2018:

Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA in November 2018

Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada (Professor Mike Cockram)

In November 2018, the LINK scheme helped support the attendance of three students from Atlantic Veterinary College to participate in the veterinary division of the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest held at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA – the 18th of these annual events. The team consisted of veterinary students (left to right in the photograph) Colleen Griffen, Alix Kusch and Cortney Jones.

The contest, which was attended by a record number of participants – 145 from 22 universities from the United States, Canada and Italy, teaches undergraduates, graduate and veterinary students to assess the welfare of animals in a variety of settings using science-based methods and reasoning and using live and computer-based assessments. Participants are evaluated on their decisions and by how well they presented and justified their positions to a team of judges.

The three students write:

‘Typically, the competition is broken down into a team assessment of a live animal scenario, and individual assessments of three paper-based scenarios that depict data from two different farms or owners. This year, the live scenario was assessing the welfare of polo ponies and determining whether they were fit to play in the next round of a polo match. The individual scenarios included dairy goats, egg-laying ducks, and green iguanas! For each scenario, we were required to detail the positive and negative welfare aspects of each scenario and develop an argument for which farm or owner was providing better welfare for their animals. Our oral presentations were made in front of a panel of judges consisting of welfare experts and veterinarians with a speciality in each species being discussed.

Taking part in this contest allowed us to build confidence in not only in our researching abilities but also by communicating information and presenting within a limited time constraint. The judges provided us with information on the different welfare topics before the competition and then afterwards, discussed the major issues related to each scenario. The iguana scenario was especially informative and added to our limited knowledge of reptile husbandry. One of our highlights was meeting with Temple Grandin, a renowned expert and activist for animal welfare.

Our participation would not have been possible without the guidance of our coach Dr. Michael Cockram, our student mentor Hanna Hone, and our specialist coach on the welfare of green iguanas, Dr. Jonathan Spears. In addition, we thank all of the staff and faculty who dedicated their time and expertise in creating the scenarios and carrying out the event.

We walked away with a vastly improved knowledge of current issues and developments in the field, and the confidence to develop and share our own opinions on animal welfare in our future careers. As veterinary students, we hope to become involved in animal welfare issues in future practice to improve the welfare of our patients both in the clinic and on the farm.’

2017:

In November, three students from the Atlantic Veterinary College, Melanie Stuart, Colleen Griffin and Hanna Hone participated in the 17^th Annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging/Assessment Contest at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.

They write: “The contest was an incredible opportunity to engage and develop our analytical skills in regards to animal welfare assessments. There was a team assessment of a group of finisher pigs on the teaching farm, and then we had to evaluate the welfare of contrasting scenarios for each of the following topics: farmed fish, meat rabbits and racing greyhounds. With these unique circumstances come the added pressures of developing a well thought out argument and a short speech that was presented to some of the very professionals that have advanced the understanding and application of welfare for these species. The competition challenged our critical thinking, communication and public speaking proficiencies while giving us the chance to bond and interact with other students from across North America who share the same passion for animals and their welfare. We were able to network and pick the brains of specialists and advisors from other teams during mixers and breaks. This would not have been possible without the guidance of our supervisor Dr. Michael Cockram, our student mentor Jolene Vermeulen and specialist coaches (Drs Spears, Hammell and Brown) who helped us prepare for the contest. In addition we would like to thank all the staff and faculty that dedicated their precious time and knowledge to creating the scenarios and setting up and running the event.

It was also a pleasure to get a tour of the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine by one of the students themselves where we were able to appreciate their large and advanced facilities and labs. We had a lot of fun traveling and supporting each other as a team and would highly encourage more students to attend in the upcoming years.

It was a challenge for sure and has identified areas where we can improve but are proud of the work we accomplished. We walked away with a vastly improved knowledge of animal welfare and current developments in the field as well as gained amazing experience in developing in-depth opinions on welfare. Events that provide an opportunity for learning with the added competitive nature are rare, and we are very grateful for funding and support that has allowed us to take advantage of this opportunity.

Left to right Hanna Hone, Colleen Griffin and Melanie Stuart

2016:

2016 Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest, USA

The Annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging & Assessment Contest is an established event for veterinary schools in North America. The contest aims to teach ethical reasoning, encourage objective assessment of animal welfare on the basis of scientific theory and data, promote critical thinking, and improve communication skills. Participating students are given the opportunity to weigh evidence and present their findings to an expert panel of scientists and veterinarians in a logical and persuasive manner.

The 16^th of these contests was held at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio and, with the support of the LINK scheme, three veterinary students from the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island were able to attend.

The AVC team of Jolene Vermeulen, Emily Seidl and Natalie Wright had spent several months preparing for the competition, coached by Dr Cockram and species specialists Dr Spears and Dr. Rodriguez-Lecompte), and at the contest each student was provided with contrasting scenarios for the management of guinea pigs, pedigree dogs purchased from a breeder and meat sheep. There was also a live animal team assessment of laying hens.

Jolene Vermeulen from AVC writes ‘It was great to get the opportunity to use the knowledge we had gained and meet other students that were enthusiastic about welfare issues.... I achieved the 5^th highest individual score in the veterinary division. This competition was a two-fold experience, it allowed us to delve into some welfare issues that we may not be exposed to in our veterinary education as well as give us the opportunity to achieve personal growth in our public speaking and communication. All three of us are very grateful for having had the opportunity to work together for this competition over the last few months. It is an experience that we will highly recommend to our peers. Sincere thanks for support that made our attendance at the competition possible.’

left to right Natalie Wright, Emily Seidl and Jolene Vermeulen

2015:

Through the LINK scheme, UFAW supported the attendance of five veterinary students from The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island, Canada—Ashley Butt, Kelsey Goodick, Elizabeth Moses, Mary-Claire Sanderson, and Jolene Vermeulen—to participate in the the 15^th Annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging & Assessment Contest November 14-15, 2015, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

Twelve teams from nine veterinary schools in North America participated in the annual competition, which aims ‘to provide a unique educational experience while strengthening student vocabulary and reasoning skills’. Each student was provided with contrasting scenarios for the management of llamas, Asian elephants, and urban versus rural draft horses. They were required to assess and evaluate the welfare of the animals in each situation and present their reasoning to a judge. There was also a live animal team assessment of Jersey dairy heifers. Dr Michael Cockram was the team coach with additional specialist coaching at AVC from Dr Kathleen MacMillan and Dr Shawn McKenna.

Ashley Butt, one of the students writes: ‘Being a part of the 2015 AVC AWJAC Team helped us to build that confidence by developing enhanced knowledge of animal welfare, as well as better our skills in communication and public speaking...... I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to work with such an excellent team over the last few months. It has been a gratifying experience that I will highly recommend to my peers and colleagues’.

The AVC team finished sixth in the veterinary division of the competition.

2014:

Through the LINK scheme, UFAW supported the attendance of five veterinary students to attend and compete in the the 14^th Annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging & Assessment Contest at Michigan State University USA.

A team of five veterinary students from the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island, Canada, travelled to the 14^th Annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging & Assessment Contest at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA in November 2014. Team members Tim Cashin (Class of 2015), Jessie Dowe (Class of 2016), Jessica Rock (Class of 2015), Ashley Scholten (Class of 2015), and Alden West (Class of 2016) spent several weeks preparing for the competition under the instruction of Dr Michael Cockram. Students were coached extensively on the four topics covered for this year’s competition- Captive Seals, Shelter Cats, Grow-Finish Swine, and Beef Cow-Calf Production. Additional coaching on specific topics was provided by Drs Daoust, Hurnik and McKenna.

The first day of the competition featured lectures on each topic by experts in those respective fields; Dr. Michael Noonan for Captive Seals, Dr. Sheilah Robertson for Shelter Cats, Dr. Madonna Benjamin for Grow-Finish Swine, and Dr. Joseph Stookey for Cow-Calf Production. Following the morning lectures the team travelled to the MSU Beef Farm to complete a live assessment and team presentation on various aspects of welfare noted at the facility. A meet and greet dinner was held that evening for all competitors and provided a great networking opportunity. On the second day of the competition, students assessed three presented scenarios each involving a comparison of animal welfare between two facilities, (one each for Captive Seals, Shelter Cats, and Grow-Finish Swine). Each student then provided oral reasons for each scenario stating why one facility provided better welfare than the other.

After two hectic days of competition, awards were presented. The AVC team came 4th in the veterinary division out of 12 teams from 10 different veterinary schools from North America and Ireland. They were second in the veterinary division for the team assessment of the beef farm. Team members fared well in terms of individual scores. Tim Cashin was the third highest performing individual student in the veterinary division.

The students who represented AVC at the 2014 Animal Welfare Judging & Assessment Contest greatly appreciated the opportunity to be part of the competition, and offer a sincere thank you to UFAW, The American Veterinary Medical Association and the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre for their financial support to attend the contest.

The AVC team of Ashley Scholten, Tim Cashin, Jessica Rock, Jessie Dowe and Alden West (left to right) after they received a plaque from Dr Janice Siegford – extreme left (contest organisers) for 4^th place in the veterinary division.

Tim Cashin receiving a plaque from Dr Janice Siegford for 3rd highest scoring individual student in the veterinary division at the animal welfare judging contest.

2013:

UPEI have used their link money to help some of their students attend an Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging & Assessment Contest, held this year the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. This contest is open to teams of students with an interest in animal welfare and is seeks to teach ethical reasoning, encourages objective assessment of animal welfare on the basis of scientific theory and data, promotes critical thinking, and improves communication skills. UPEI entered a team of five veterinary students who finished 2nd. Congratulations.

http://issuu.com/upei/docs/sjdawc_springsummer2013_issuu/8

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