Abstract Submissions Invited for FSVO/UFAW Symposium: Humanely Ending the Life of Animals

The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) and the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) invite abstract submissions for their upcoming symposium ‘Humanely Endling the Life of Animals’. The symposium will be held in Bern, Switzerland on 6­­-7 March 2024.

Innovative, solution driven abstract submissions that help to further our understanding of four key areas are invited:

• More humane solutions for mass depopulation of surplus animals (eg day old male chicks) or emergency killing (eg highly contagious diseases, zoonotic disease, or other emergency purposes);
• Humane stunning and killing for aquatic species (including wild-caught fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, experimental animals (eg zebra fish), emergency killing;
• Approaches for more humane killing or alternatives to killing for control of ‘pest’ species (eg selective baits, immunocontraception, alternatives to glue traps, and anticoagulants as rodenticides);
• Submissions on any novel developments in humane killing not covered by the other sessions.

Abstract submissions from all industry sectors (livestock, laboratory, research, commercial) that seek to provide solutions, offer innovative insights, provide examples of successful implementation or offer ways to better characterise the animal welfare impacts of existing methods are welcome. Several presentation formats are available to choose from (long talk, short talk and poster presentations). All abstracts must be submitted via the form with a deadline of 23 October 2023. For further information, visit: ufaw.org.uk/bern2024

Dr Martin Reist, Head of Animal Health and Welfare at the FSVO, said: “We should constantly strive to improve our treatment of animals. We have a duty to constantly improve the methods for humanely ending the lives of animals and to apply the best methods stringently. That is why we are delighted to be hosting this symposium in collaboration with UFAW.”

Dr Huw Golledge, Chief Executive and Scientific Director of UFAW, concluded “This is the fourth symposium we’ve held with FSVO. We share a common commitment to finding the most humane ways to kill animals in all the scenarios where humans are faced with this difficult, but often necessary task. This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the latest scientific research, and we hope lead to real-world changes meaning that many animals will be killed more humanely.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) is an international independent scientific and educational animal welfare charity and membership society. UFAW’s vision is a world where the welfare of all animals affected by humans is maximised through a scientific understanding of their needs and how to meet them. We aim to achieve this by discovering what matters to animals, developing scientific solutions to animal welfare problems, and disseminating evidence-based animal welfare information. UFAW promotes an evidence-based approach to animal welfare by funding scientific research, supporting the careers of animal welfare scientists and by disseminating animal welfare science knowledge both to experts and the wider public. 

UFAW’s work relies on the support of members, subscribers, and donors. To learn more about our work, to become a member of UFAW, or to donate, please visit www.ufaw.org.uk/

Media Contact: Luisa Dormer (media@ufaw.org.ukmedia@ufaw.org.uk)