Meet the researchers: Mary Baxter and Niamh O'Connell

Mary Baxter is a post-doctoral researcher at Queen's University Belfast, working in poultry behaviour and welfare. Niamh Elizabeth O'Connell is Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast. Their AWF-funded research focusses on environmental enrichment strategies for broiler breeders (parents of broiler - meat - chickens) to improve their welfare and reduce aggression-related issues.

Q: Can you introduce yourself??

Mary: My name is Mary and I am a post-doctoral researcher at Queen's University Belfast, working in poultry behaviour and welfare. I am originally from Suffolk in England and moved to Liverpool to do a BSc in Bioveterinary Science and then to Edinburgh for an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare before heading to Northern Ireland to complete my PhD. I finished my PhD in broiler environmental enrichment in 2017 and decided to settle in Northern Ireland, staying on with the Animal Behaviour and Welfare unit at QUB ever since.??

Niamh: I’m Niamh and am based in the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast where I’m Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare.? I’m originally from County Wicklow in Ireland and studied Agricultural Science at University College Dublin before moving to the Netherlands to complete an MSc in Animal Science.? I then took up an animal welfare research position at (what is now) the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and completed a PhD at Queen’s University Belfast before moving to an academic post at the university.

Q: What are you currently working on and what does it involve??

We are currently working on an AWF-funded project on broiler breeders, which are the parent flocks of broiler chickens that we rear for meat. We are drawing on our experience with broiler chickens to try and make positive changes to breeder housing and environments. ?

Our study centres on developing and testing various enrichment strategies designed to promote natural behaviours in broiler breeders, including perching, pecking, and dust bathing.

We start by testing different versions of these enrichments to see if the birds have a preference, and then we compare houses with the most preferred enrichments against unenriched houses to see how these changes make a difference to production, behaviour and welfare outcomes.? ?

Q: What led you to work on this project? What made you apply for the AWF grant??

We have never worked with broiler breeders before but have always wanted to expand our work to include them. A number of our?environmental enrichment projects with other types of poultry have resulted in changes to on-farm policy and practice, and we were always on the lookout for a way to do similar work with broiler breeders. When the Breeding for Better Welfare theme was announced, we knew that broiler breeders fit extremely well within the call for projects that allowed animals to meet demand without compromising their welfare. We were delighted to have our proposal funded and to move forward with our ideas for broiler breeders.?

A number of our?environmental enrichment projects with other types of poultry have resulted in changes to on-farm policy and practice, and we were always on the lookout for a way to do similar work with broiler breeders.

Q: What fuelled your passion to study the topic??

Mary: My interest in chickens started back when my long-suffering parents let me keep a big flock of pet chickens in our garden. They were all characters and I loved each of their personalities. Even though pet chickens have become more popular in recent years, there is a huge disconnect between the animal and the meat for most people. So little is understood about how we rear and slaughter poultry, and the individual always gets forgotten when rearing thousands of birds in each house. I have devoted my career so far to trying to improve commercial conditions for poultry and hope we can continue to draw attention to their needs.?

I have devoted my career so far to trying to improve commercial conditions for poultry and hope we can continue to draw attention to their needs.

Niamh: I first became involved in chicken welfare research about 15 years ago and this has now become my main programme of work.? I’m fascinated by these complex, emotional, intelligent birds, and I welcome any opportunity to find effective and feasible ways to enrich their environment. ?There is very little existing research on environmental enrichment for broiler breeders and we can’t simply assume that what works with other types of chickens will work for them.? We therefore really need this (and other!) on-farm research to develop tailored enrichment approaches.

There is very little existing research on environmental enrichment for broiler breeders and we can’t simply assume that what works with other types of chickens will work for them.?

Q: What is your favourite aspect of the project??

Mary: Being able to work on commercial farms and with farmers is a huge positive of all our projects. It means we can get their advice, see the real-world conditions of poultry and make sure we can present the industry with enrichment strategies rooted in a desire to improve animal welfare but also practical for commercial housing.

Niamh: This project has been a real education for me in this system of production, and also in the birds themselves.? It has highlighted a future path for us in our research and I’m grateful for that.?

Q: Why is this project important/necessary??

Broiler breeders play a crucial role in the farming industry, yet, as mentioned, they have received relatively little public or research attention. For example, between 2000 and 2017, only four studies specifically focused on environmental additions? - a stark contrast to the research conducted on enrichment for laying hens and broiler chickens.? Breeders mustn't be left behind in the progress we make as animal welfare scientists, and we hope that this project will contribute to our understanding of their needs and to future enrichment policy.?

Broiler breeders play a crucial role in the farming industry, yet, as mentioned, they have received relatively little public or research attention.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about your job as a researcher??

Mary: Without a doubt, I love when our research is used to make real-world changes or is used as an evidence base for changing welfare standards.

Niamh: What Mary said!? Also getting to spend time with farm animals is still one of the most enjoyable parts of the job for me.? Watching their behaviour and chatting with farmers never ceases to inspire new research.

I love when our research is used to make real-world changes or is used as an evidence base for changing welfare standards.

?Q: What would you like to achieve with your research/project??

We hope to provide the industry with an outline of realistic changes they can make to breeder housing that could have a positive impact on animal welfare.

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking for a similar career??

Mary: Most elements of creating and running a scientific project can be taught with the right supervisors and support, but the most important part of research is sharing your findings so if you have a love of writing or presenting then you will get the most out of your career.

Niamh:? This career path offers an opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of animals through research and education.? We are rightly inspired by the pioneers of our science but it’s important to not be afraid to challenge traditional approaches so that the science continues to evolve. Working outside of your comfort zone and with different disciplines is often where the greatest advances are made.??