1. The Animal Welfare Foundation
  2. Education & Debate
  3. The Discussion Forum

The AWF Discussion Forum

AWF Discussion ForumThe AWF Discussion Forum is an annual event that brings together expert speakers, veterinary and animal welfare professionals, students and parliamentarians to confront current welfare issues and inspire change.  It offers great networking opportunities that continue into the evening.

This flagship event has raised the profile of many serious animal welfare issues and has helped influence policy decisions, leading to changes in the regulations and laws governing the welfare of animals.

The programme is carefully designed to appeal to a wide range of delegates who are encouraged to engage fully in the discussions which form an integral part of each session.

  1. “The AWF Discussion Forum just gets better year on year. It's highly valued by all, not only for the discussion, but the conversations that take place in the margins.”

    John Blackwell, Veterinary Surgeon

  2. “From a student perspective it was interesting to see the views and proposals people had on choices that would potentially alter our future careers.”

    2017 student delegate

  3. “"Always one of the highest quality events of the year." ”

    2016 Delegate

Discussion Forum 2021

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News

  1. Project in a pandemic: what an AWF student grant taught me about research

    The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, both personally and professionally. Normal routines had to be adapted, and pre-pandemic plans changed. For our 2020 student grant recipients, this was especially true. In this blog, Kerry Long talks us through her experience of carrying out her project ‘Identifying maternal and post-natal effects on […]
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  2. Meet the speakers – Q&A with Jimmy Turnbull

    As the drive for cheap, efficient and environment-sparing livestock agriculture continues to grow, can intensive farming ever be good for both welfare and sustainability? That is just one of the questions we will be asking ourselves at this year’s Discussion Forum. Recently we spoke to Professor Jimmy Turnbull, vet, aquaculture specialist and Discussion Forum speaker, […]
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  3. Funding research for better welfare

    AWF funds five new research projects designed to move the dial on key animal welfare issues.
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  4. BVNA ‘This is Us 2020’

    Calling vet nurses! We are thrilled to announce that AWF will be hosting a debate as part of BVNA’s ‘This is Us 2020’, a two-day online event dedicated to celebrating veterinary nursing. AWF has previously held animal welfare debates at BVNA Fringe and we welcome the opportunity to continue having these important discussions, but with […]
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  5. Completing research in a pandemic – a student’s experience

    Funding student research is an important part of what we do, giving students an insight into the world of research and the opportunity to make a practical difference to animal welfare. In 2019 we granted funding to Sheryl Bradley, an MSc student of International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law at the University of Edinburgh, for […]
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  6. Meet the speakers – Q&A with Dan Brockman

    At this year’s Discussion Forum we will be debating whether uncontrolled treatment innovations are detrimental to animal welfare. As the range of treatments available to our pets becomes more extensive year on year and often increasingly invasive, we want to ask, can this ever be justified? One of our speakers is Professor Dan Brockman, Director of […]
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  7. Meet the speakers – Q&A with Mike Appleby

    For this year’s AWF Discussion Forum, taking place on Monday 8th June, we have invited a number of farm welfare experts to debate and discuss whether intensive farming can be good for welfare and sustainability. We caught up with Discussion Forum speaker Mike Appleby, a specialist in behaviour, husbandry and welfare of farm animals, to […]
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  8. Despite extensive knowledge, cattle vets are still failing lame cows

    Cattle lameness is still a prevalent issue despite a perceived extensive knowledge base. The need for an open, honest dialogue amongst the veterinary profession on what needs to be done next was why AWF agreed to host a debate on the subject at this year’s BCVA Congress. The motion, ‘Despite extensive scientific knowledge, cattle vets […]
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  9. Cattle vets are still failing lame cows – Post debate Q&A with speakers

    What is your interest/experience in the subject? Nick: I have been active as a lameness researcher and veterinary advisor for over 17 years, and with an interest in lameness since before I qualified over 20 years ago. Sara: I already had an interest in cattle lameness when I graduated as a vet nearly 15 years […]
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  10. The elephant in the consult room: we are failing obese pets

    The veterinary profession has identified obesity as one of the biggest health and welfare concerns facing our pets. As an example, the Pet Food Manufacturers Association found that 51% of dogs and 44% of cats are overweight or obese. Yet despite this growing problem, veterinary professionals are struggling to acknowledge pet obesity or discuss it […]
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