Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is committed to ensuring high standards of welfare for all managed animals including farmed, laboratory, and companion. We encourage research that seeks to understand and promote the welfare of managed animals in the UK.
Research in a variety of fields can contribute to the aim of this proposal. To fit within this priority, applications should state clearly the likely benefits of the research for animal welfare.
Research under this priority should seek to increase our knowledge of:
- the basic behavioural, neurobiological, immune, metabolic, physiological and tissue responses of animals to their environmental conditions
- the consequences of human intervention, genetic selection and management, including agricultural intensification, for the normal function of animals
- the incidence and alleviation of disease, pain and mental disorders.
Areas within the priority include:
- measures of welfare, including developing and validating new measures
- welfare related health/disease
- housing, husbandry, agricultural intensification and environmental impacts on welfare
- the influence of production traits on animal welfare
- relevant behaviour, cognition and perception
- pain and nociception
- the impact of early life challenges on development and long term health and welfare.
Outputs
Research will inform strategies for improving the conditions and management of farmed, laboratory, companion and other managed animals, with particular reference to the current situation in the UK.
Impact
You should indicate how the research will inform policy and societal implications. We recognise the importance of multidisciplinary collaborations, partnerships and end user support in this area. The priority promotes basic research, but also encourages translation to practical applications, and you should outline your approach in terms of collaborations and engagement with end users.