Science for Animal Welfare Conference 2026 DAY 1 Stream A (Beveridge Hall)

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video’s value lies in its comprehensive documentation of the 2026 centenary conference, offering a blend of historical perspectives and current research in animal welfare science. The opening talk by Sophia Hepple builds a compelling argument connecting Major Charles Hume’s early philosophies to modern psychological concepts such as moral disengagement, effectively framing historical insights into contemporary relevance. The argumentation is robust, supported by evidence from Hume’s papers (as cited in the transcript) and logical progression from moral agency to blind spots. The diversity of speakers and topics ensures a rich cross-section of the field, from ethics to applied studies in cattle and poultry welfare. However, as a conference recording, the depth of each presentation is limited by time constraints, and the transcript reveals only the beginning of the first talk, so the full argumentative rigor of all talks is not contained in the provided transcript excerpt.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is generally high, given the institutional affiliations of speakers (e.g., University of Manchester, University of Aberdeen, Stanford University) and the conference’s link to a longstanding organization (UFAW/Science for Animal Welfare). The opening citation of Major Charles Hume’s works, such as ‘Man and Beast’ (1962), and mention of specific historical events (e.g., the 30-year campaign against rabbit traps) lend authenticity. The title accurately represents the content, clearly indicating the conference, date, and stream. No explicit URLs or external sources were listed in the provided description; therefore, source verification relies on the credibility of the speakers and the transparent historical references. The structure of the conference, with structured talks and discussions, supports a rigorous format, but the lack of detailed citations in the transcript prevents full independent verification.

The title accurately reflects the video content as a recording of Day 1, Stream A of the Science for Animal Welfare Conference 2026, held at Beveridge Hall.

8/10

The conference features presentations from diverse institutional researchers and historical accounts from a well-established organization (formerly UFAW). The opening includes references to primary sources and peer-reviewed work, but the recording is a live stream with limited verification of claims; however, the scientific background of speakers and the conference's centenary context lend credibility.

• 00:00Welcome to the conference from CEO Dr Huw Golledge
• 21:29(Hu)Man and Beast – Where are our blind spots now? - Sophia Hepple, Animal and Plant Health Agency, UK
• 45:55The ethical core of ULAWS/UFAW and its early developments -
• 1:08:03'Sympathy without sentimentality': UFAW's contribution to the past, present (and future?) of cultures of animal care - Robert Kirk, University of Manchester, UK
• 1:26:30Science for animal welfare: Building on Hume's legacy - Mike Radford, University of Aberdeen, UK
• 1:47:28Symposium 1 Discussion: The future of animal welfare science
• 2:27:10Early Career Researcher of the Year Award presentation and The challenge of interspecies welfare comparisons - Heather Browning, University of Southampton, UK.
• 2:55:30What drives treatment decisions and NSAID use in pre-weaned calves? A mixed-methods study of farmers and veterinarians - Ginny Sherwin, University of Nottingham, UK
• 3:29:49Foster cow–calf rearing in dairy systems: Implications for welfare, behaviour, and productivity: A scoping review - Ryann McCready, University of British Columbia, Canada
• 3:49:27Pigs as fussy as cats: how individual differences in food preferences shape behavioural testing trajectories - Irene Camerlink, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
• 3:52:52Rethinking positive animal welfare indicators: The composition of grooming behaviour in calves - Laura Whalin, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Norway
• 3:56:20Heat stress as a chronic welfare challenge in dairy cattle: Moving from physiological indicators to valid measures of affective state - Serdal Dikmen, Bursa Uludağ University, Turkey
• 4:01:41Individual differences in dairy heifer motivation to access space -
• 4:05:05Questions with the short talk speakers
• 4:15:50Effects of dark brooder rearing on hippocampal plasticity in adult laying hens - Matthew Craven, Newcastle University, UK
• 4:36:19Pragmatism bias in farmed animal welfare science - Eva Read, London School of Economics, UK
• 4:55:41Beyond fear reduction: how experience and selection history shape chickens' (Gallus gallus domesticus) use of humans as social buffers - Vitor Ferreira, INRAE, France
• 5:14:07Social facilitation in hens' use of edible enrichments: Do birds of a feather peck together? Madeleine McAuley, University of Guelph, Canada
• 5:17:27Methods to assess physiological effects of keel bone fracture development and healing in commercial laying hens - Kathrin Hinz, Aarhus University, Denmark
• 5:20:54The effects of pecking blocks on laying hen distribution and piling events in commercial barns - Violet Hipkin, University of Guelph, Canada
• 5:24:09Validation of an automated system for at-slaughter assessment of footpad dermatitis and hock burn in broiler chickens - Bas Rodenburg, Utrecht University, Netherlands
• 5:28:05Questions with the short talk speakers
• 5:34:46does it take to make a difference? Joseph Garner, Stanford University, USA