Writtle College Animal Behaviour and Welfare Principal Lecturer Dr Jonathan Amory has been invited to the House of Lords for an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Brambell Report, which revolutionised the way the world views animal welfare.
Professor the Lord Trees is hosting the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) event at the House of Lords on 3 June.
The Brambell Report was presented after Brit Ruth Harrison wrote Animal Machines, which described intensive livestock and poultry farming practices. As a result of the uproar from the British public, the Government appointed a committee to look into the welfare of farm animals and, in 1965, the Chair, Professor Roger Brambell, presented its 85-page report, which became known as The Brambell Report.
The report introduced the concept of the Five Freedoms which have become the linchpin of animal welfare considerations and research.
Dr Amory is on the organising committee for the annual student conference for UFAW – which sees those studying at Writtle, Hartpury, Moulton, and Brooksby-Melton colleges present their animal welfare research.
He also leads the Cow Tracking Project, which uses remote positioning technology to track changes in dairy cow behaviour indicative of lameness and mastitis.
He said: “The 1965 Brambell Report made an immense contribution to the welfare of animals, not only in the UK, but across the world. It is a great honour to be invited to mark the anniversary of this work.”