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Professor Rick D'Eath

Professor Rick D'Eath

headshot rick d'eath

Rick D'Eath

 0131 651 9356

  rick.death@sruc.ac.uk

Animal & Veterinary Sciences,

SRUC, Roslin Institute Building,

Easter Bush, Midlothian

EH25 9RG

More details

Biography

My research uses animal behaviour as a way to measure animal welfare, or to understand and solve animal welfare problems which involve behaviour.

  • Behaviour-related welfare problems in pigs: social aggression, tail biting and mounting, and genetics of animal temperament in relation to these problems.
  • Hunger in ration-fed animals (dry sows and broiler breeder chickens). Using behaviour, motivation, neurophysiology and gut physiology to understand, measure and ameliorate the problem.
  • Precision livestock farming- collaborating to develop and validate agri-technology such as machine vision cameras and other sensors to monitor behaviour, health and welfare on farm.
  • Analysis of how wider drivers and issues impact animal welfare and policy (including trade, regulations, economics and climate change). 

Leading Ideas

  • Agricultural Systems and Land Management
  • Livestock Diseases
  • Livestock Welfare

Area of Strategic Research Programme

Further information the Scottish Government's Strategic Research Programme is available

  • Theme 2: Productive and sustainable land management and Rural Economies
  • 2.2 - Livestock Production, Health, Welfare, and Disease Control
  • 2.2.7 Welfare assessment techniques
  • 2.3 - Productive and Sustainable Land Management
  • 2.3.1 Improvement of livestock