University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Advancing the welfare of food animals through empirical, veterinary-focused strategies stands at the forefront of discourse at the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing’s 11th annual symposium. Scheduled for October 2 at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences, this symposium convenes veterinary professionals and animal welfare scientists to translate welfare theory into actionable, ground-level practices enhancing food animal production systems. This assembly is a pivotal response to an increasingly complex agricultural environment wherein animal health directly impacts productivity, sustainability, and consumer trust.

The symposium, aptly themed “Boots on the Ground: Animal Welfare from the Veterinary Perspective,” emphasizes practical implementation of welfare science through veterinary insight. Its format—a blend of in-person participation and livestreaming—ensures broad accessibility. The event commences with a continental breakfast at 8 a.m. and concludes by 3 p.m., featuring sessions that integrate case studies, scientific data, and veterinary experience to address the tangible realities and challenges of animal welfare in commercial production facilities. This biennial convergence reflects the growing acknowledgment that welfare extends beyond policy frameworks, requiring active, veterinary-led intervention within animal husbandry environments.

Central to the event’s mission is the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing, a collaborative entity housed within the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The Center commits to catalyzing scientific dissemination and catalyzing innovative practices that intertwine animal welfare with ethical and sustainable food production. Under the stewardship of Shawna Weimer, assistant professor of poultry science, the Center leverages research and extension efforts to integrate welfare science with pragmatic solutions aimed at improving the lives of food animals while simultaneously supporting producers and consumers.

Veterinary science serves as the linchpin connecting welfare science and operational reality. The symposium’s focus underscores that livestock welfare is not a mere regulatory checkbox but an essential aspect of animal physiology and psychology, affecting morbidity, productivity, and product quality. Weimer asserts that veterinary action transforms theoretical welfare concepts into modifications on farms and processing centers—what she terms “boots-on-the-ground impact.” This hands-on approach facilitates the early detection of welfare compromise and the application of tailored interventions, significantly improving animal health outcomes.

Notably, the symposium addresses species-specific welfare challenges through expert presentations reflecting a breadth of food animal species and production systems. Jennifer Walker, chief animal welfare officer at Kinder Ground, contributes insights into the applications and limitations inherent in animal welfare auditing—an increasingly adopted but sometimes flawed tool in welfare assurance. Her expertise lays bare the complexities of translating audit outcomes into meaningful welfare improvements, emphasizing the necessity of veterinary-led evaluation and continuous refinement of auditing frameworks.

Similarly, Brooke Kitting, senior veterinarian for Seaboard Foods, offers a deep dive into the intricacies of individualized care in swine production. Her presentation elucidates veterinary strategies for identifying and managing health issues at the individual animal level within high-density production environments, addressing diseases, welfare indicators, and intervention protocols. This veterinary perspective highlights nuanced care plans aimed at mitigating stress and disease burdens, ultimately improving both welfare and production efficiencies.

Kate Barger, principal veterinary consultant for KB Welfare Consulting, brings a global perspective to food animal welfare, contextualizing Arkansas’ experiences within larger international trends. Her discussion delineates the integration of welfare science into diverse regulatory, cultural, and operational frameworks worldwide while advocating for harmonized scientific standards that can uplift welfare practices globally. This international vantage point informs attendees about evolving welfare expectations, consumer-driven demands, and the imperative for veterinary expertise in navigating these changes.

From the turkey production sector, Butterball’s staff veterinarian, Cole Crumpacker, discusses the impact of metapneumovirus—a viral pathogen with significant implications for respiratory health and welfare in turkeys. This session highlights the role of veterinary diagnostics, biosecurity, and management practices in controlling disease outbreaks that adversely affect flock health and welfare metrics. Crumpacker’s analysis underscores the importance of integrating epidemiological data with welfare monitoring to sustain production resilience.

Lastly, Laura Tensa of Wilcox Farms explores the translation of welfare science into tangible farm-level applications. Her presentation bridges academic research and field practice, emphasizing how veterinary guidance can inform adjustments in housing, handling, and health management. This practical approach demonstrates the continuous feedback loop between scientific discovery and real-world implementation, fostering welfare improvements that are both scientifically sound and operationally feasible.

The symposium also provides continuing education credits through the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, reinforcing its value not only as a knowledge dissemination platform but as a professional development opportunity. By engaging veterinarians and welfare auditors alike, the event fosters interdisciplinary collaboration critical for advancing animal welfare standards.

As the agriculture sector confronts mounting challenges—including evolving consumer scrutiny, disease pressures, and climate impacts—the role of veterinary science as an agent of welfare improvement becomes increasingly vital. This symposium encapsulates a forward-thinking model where research, education, and practical action coalesce, enabling stakeholders to drive progress in ethical and sustainable food animal production.

Additional symposium details, including comprehensive agendas, speaker bios, and registration instructions, are accessible via the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing’s official event webpage. Sponsorship opportunities remain open, promoting community investment in enhancing food animal welfare research and outreach endeavors.

For more information regarding the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s research initiatives, operations, and outreach programs, interested parties can explore their extensive resources online or connect through social media platforms, podcasts, and newsletters designed to disseminate agricultural science and extension knowledge.

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Media Contact:
John Lovett
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
Phone: (479) 763-5929
Email: jlovett@uada.edu

News Publication Date: Not explicitly stated

Web References:

• Symposium event page: https://foodanimalwellbeing.uada.edu/events/cfaw-symposium-2025/
• Registration link: https://uada.zoom.us/webinar/register/7017564911156/WN_6hnaNDbrRFCwbAEaAiGCpg
• Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/