News about Animals

Ethicists’ commentary on weighing owner and veterinarian judgments on the best course of treatment

Ethical question of the month, March 2023 A client contacts you after a distressing incident in an emergency clinic with her 8-year-old English bulldog. The dog has some respiratory compromise typical of the breed but…

A critical review of animal-based welfare indicators for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in zoos

This review provides an overview of current valid and promising welfare indicators along with identified gaps in knowledge, relevant for the provision of a methodology for assessing and monitoring welfare of captive…

Qualitative Behaviour Assessment for zoo-housed polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

This study aimed to assess the ability of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) to discern emotional state in zoo-housed polar bears, and further to investigate its validity through associations to behavioural and…

Spaghetti-armed egghead strives to move people with facts

Hans Henrik Bruun is an especially active voice of reason in public discourse about the present and future of Danish nature. Whenever engaging, he often greets strong emotions with facts. This year's recipient of…

Spaghetti-armed egghead strives to move people with facts

Hans Henrik Bruun is an especially active voice of reason in public discourse about the present and future of Danish nature. Whenever engaging, he often greets strong emotions with facts. This year's recipient of…

Ethicists’ commentary on expertise and personal views when advising clients

Ethical question of the month, February 2023 I’ve been asked by a client if getting into chicken farming is too risky given what’s happening with avian influenza. This client has inherited a farm that can hold up to 30…

Various ways towards animal product limiting - practical and social engagements in dietary change

This paper explores how people engage in the practicalities of animal product limiting and how they communicate about the dietary changes they are making in interpersonal interactions.

Evaluation of the value of genetic testing for cystinuria in the Danish population of English bulldogs

In this study, the occurrence of three mutations in the Danish population of English bulldogs was investigated. Seventy-one English bulldogs were genotyped using TaqMan assays.

Ethicists’ commentary on hierarchies of animal “value”

Ethical question of the month, January 2023 A recent media article on the needs of chimpanzees that are “so closely related to humans” caused me to reflect that people, including veterinarians, tend to ascribe more valu…

Danish researchers discover birds with neurotoxin-laden feathers

An expedition into the jungle of New Guinea has resulted in the discovery of two new species of poisonous birds by researchers from the University of Copenhagen. Genetic changes in these bird species have allowed them t…

Multidimensional sustainability assessment of pig production systems at herd level – The case of Denmark

Pig production systems vary in their ability to meet key sustainability goals such as lowered environmental impact, lowered climate impact, reduced land use, economic viability, and improved animal welfare. These goals…

Researchers get to the “bottom” of how beetles use their butts to stay hydrated

Beetles are champions at surviving in extremely dry environments. In part, this property is due to their ability to suck water from the air with their rear ends. A new collaborative study by researchers from the…

Researchers get to the “bottom” of how beetles use their butts to stay hydrated

Beetles are champions at surviving in extremely dry environments. In part, this property is due to their ability to suck water from the air with their rear ends. A new collaborative study by researchers from the…

Assessing welfare risks in unowned unsocialised domestic cats in Denmark based on associations with low body condition score

Paper on welfare risks in unowned unsocialised domestic cats in Denmark based on associations with low body condition score. Published open access in Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica.

Ethicists’ commentary on medicine for geriatric zoo animals

Ethical question of the month, December 2022 In zoo animal medicine, the timing of humane euthanasia for quality-of-life issues is an ethical challenge. Should we engage in “therapeutic relentlessness” on captive wild…

Newsletter January 2023

The overall goals of EliteOva have since the start on Dec 1, 2017, been to implement ultrasound-guided ovum pick up (OPU) as well as in vitro production (IVP) and genomic selection of embryos in Danish cattle breeding…

Contraception is the future of rat control

University of Copenhagen researchers have gotten yeast cells to brew triptolide, a substance typically extracted from a rare Chinese plant. Their research makes it possible to control rats with the substance on a large…

Contraception is the future of rat control

University of Copenhagen researchers have gotten yeast cells to brew triptolide, a substance typically extracted from a rare Chinese plant. Their research makes it possible to control rats with the substance on a large…

Ethicists’ commentary on fabricating the cause of death

Ethical question of the month, November 2022 Veterinary pathologists regularly encounter numerous cases in which a diagnosis cannot be determined. In one such case, a healthy, indoor-only, 12-year-old, neutered male,…

Change in transfer and breeding instruction forms and reviewing the department’s SOPs

Please read the information here.

Power shutdown at the Biocenter

The power shutdown applies to the entire basement in building 2. It will affect ventilation and other installations in animal facility, including lights (electronic board 2.01.AB). If the shutdown gives rise to…

Mapping of initiatives to prevent inherited diseases and exaggerated phenotypes in dogs

Report on initiatives to prevent inherited diseases and exaggerated phenotypes in dogs. Funded by the Danish Knowledge Centre for Animal Welfare, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

Construction work near the Biocenter - Test piloting performed

The piloting will begin on Monday Janurary 30th, and it is expected to last approx. 10 working days. AEM is still in dialogue with the contractor, and should you experience any irregularities, you are very welcome to…

Construction work near the Biocenter - Test piloting

As mentioned, the construction work involves driving 32 steel piles into the ground during the month of February. A meeting with the contractor and the Maintenance Department was held yesterday due our concern for the…