Peter John White

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at The University of Sydney

Dogs chew on both nutritive and non-nutritive items as part of their food acquisition, ingestive behaviour, self-care, and social interactions. Various definitions distinguish chewing from related oral activities, such as gnawing, masticating, and biting. Surprisingly, despite chewing being a ubiquitous behaviour in dogs, its relevance to a dog’s c...

Simple Summary Livestock husbandry procedures inflict long-term pain and inflammation, with implications for animal welfare and production. Current formulations of pain relief available to livestock producers, including topical anaesthetics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are limited in their duration of action, only lasting 24–72 h. The...

Simple Summary It is well established that animals feel pain akin to humans, although the expression of that pain is not as easy to perceive, especially considering that many species actively conceal or disguise pain, distress, or weakness. Current methods of husbandry practices used to improve welfare or production cause inherently painful tissue...

Simple Summary Meloxicam is an effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) suitable for ameliorating pain in sheep. Pain caused by husbandry procedures and other inflammatory conditions in sheep can persist for an extended time beyond the duration of action of currently available formulations of NSAIDs. This study investigates a novel su...

Simple Summary Australian sheep undergo several surgical procedures as per industry standard lamb marking, including surgical castration. Electroencephalography (EEG) has been used successfully to assess pain in sheep previously. In this study, the EEG was measured over time to assess castration pain and analgesic efficacy in conscious lambs in com...

Simple Summary Tongue-ties (TTs) are commonly used in racing to restrain a horse’s tongue to aid a rider’s/driver’s control of the horse and optimise upper airway function. Nosebands (NBs) may also be employed for similar purposes. This article reports on a survey that asked people involved in Thoroughbred (TB) and Standardbred (SB) racing whether...

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging disease of cattle in Kazakhstan and the means of transmission remains uncertain. In the current study, retention of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV) by three Stomoxys species following intrathoracic inoculation was demonstrated under laboratory conditions. A virulent LSDV strain was injected into the thorax of...

Lumpy skin disease is an important emerging disease posing a threat to the livestock industry worldwide. Moreover, factors involved in disease transmission in the field and at farm level remain unidentified. This research was based on a retrospective cross-sectional study using a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews with affec...

In this study, Stomoxys species (S. calcitrans, S. sitiens and S. indica) were examined to improve on the current technique for mass rearing using a method of combined incubation parameters. Moreover, the reproductive potential of immature forms at various stages of development was defined. Immature forms of stable flies were incubated according to...

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging disease in cattle in Kazakhstan and the means of transmission remains uncertain. In the current study, acquisition of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV) by Stomoxys species following intrathoracic inoculation was demonstrated under laboratory conditions. Flies were injected with a virulent LSDV strain into the t...

Simple Summary Commercial genotypes of broiler chickens reared for meat purposes in intensive rearing systems are selected for fast growth and high breast yield and kept under conditions that may negatively affect normal behavioural patterns and reduce activity levels. Besides, quantitative feed restriction, used in the field to manipulate chicken...

Simple Summary Nosebands are commonly used in many equestrian and racing disciplines. Despite common industry knowledge regarding the correct adjustment of nosebands, there seems to be a trend of overtightening nosebands and exposing horses to high pressures that restrict normal behaviours. Thus, there are concerns that nosebands could have harmful...

Temperature is used as an indicator of animals' response to external stimuli and thus it could potentially be used as an indicator or poor animal welfare and meat quality. Remote monitoring of temperature can be achieved using infrared thermography (IRT) at the farm of origin before animals are sent to slaughter. Relationships between temperatures...

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging disease in Kazakhstan, and currently the means of transmission is uncertain. In the current study, mechanical transmission of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) by Stomoxys species from infected to naive animals was demonstrated under laboratory conditions. Flies partially fed on LSDV-infected cattle were placed...

Simple Summary Australian sheep undergo painful procedures such as castration as part of routine husbandry practices, usually without any pain relief. Pain can be difficult to measure in prey animals like sheep due to their propensity to hide their pain behavior; and due to the complexity of the impact of a commercial production environment and int...

Multiple physiological and neuroendocrine changes consistent with stress and pain have been demonstrated in cattle spayed via the Willis dropped ovary technique (WDOT). The procedure is routinely conducted without the use of anaesthetics or analgesics and has major implications for animal welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a topica...

This paper describes a multimodal brochure assignment in an undergraduate animal science subject with a mixed cohort of animal science and veterinary science students. The assignment involved group work and peer feedback that allowed students to improve their brochures prior to submission. Support for the communication aspects of the assignment was...

Simple Summary Group housing of growing rabbits is currently used in commercial farms to improve animal welfare. However, these systems have shown some weaknesses, mainly associated with the aggressive behavior exhibited among rabbits. Environmental enrichment can offer additional space and a sheltered area in which an animal can protect itself fro...

Contraception is increasingly used to manage breeding opportunities in conservation-dependent species. This study aimed to determine the efficacy, duration of effect, optimal dose and potential side effects of Suprelorin contraceptive implants in Tasmanian devils, for use in the conservation breeding program. In our pilot study, Suprelorin was foun...

Plasma pharmacokinetic profiles and the anti-inflammatory efficacy of meloxicam were determined when administered subcutaneously (SC) or intramuscularly (IM) to sheep. Merino ewes were initially injected with 0.1 mL of oil of turpentine into a forelimb to induce inflammation, followed by either 1.0 mg/kg or 2.0 mg/kg of meloxicam administered eithe...

Data sets of plasma pharmacokinetics of meloxicam when administered at 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg both SC and IM to sheep; and the physiological and behavioural response data. (XLSX)

Simple Summary Ensuring a good state of welfare in farm animals is important for ethical reasons and sustainability of livestock industries. Addressing pain in farm animals during and following surgical husbandry procedures is a significant component of animal welfare. Until recently, practical constraints associated with delivery of traditional fo...

To assess the effects of a topical anaesthetic (TA) and buccal meloxicam (BM) on behaviour, maximum wound temperature and wound morphology following amputation dehorning of beef calves, 50 unweaned Hereford calves were randomly allocated to: (1) sham dehorning / control (CON, n = 14); (2) amputation dehorning (D, n = 12); (3) amputation dehorning w...

Background New educational approaches are needed to improve student understanding of the wider sociological and ecological determinants of health as well as professional responsibilities in related areas. Field trips allow students to observe interaction between plant, animal and human communities, making them an ideal tool for teaching One Health...

Simple Summary The pain caused by surgical procedures performed routinely for managing livestock husbandry is recognised as a significant animal welfare issue for food security. In recent years, there has been progress encouraging the uptake of pain relief in extensively managed livestock operations, with research and development offering options f...

Although the pain caused by castration of calves is a significant animal welfare issue for the beef industry, analgesia is not always used for this procedure, largely because of practical limitations associated with injectable forms of pain relief. Novel analgesic formulations have now been developed for livestock to allow topical and buccal admini...

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of a vapocoolant spray to provide local anaesthesia for piglets during ear notching. Study design Randomized study Animals A total of 11 10 day old and forty 3 to 5 day old large white piglets. Methods Temperature validation studies using thermocouples and a temperature data logger were conducted on dead and li...

The use of pain relief during castration and dehorning of calves on commercial beef operations can be limited by constraints associated with the delivery of analgesic agents. As topical anaesthetic (TA) and buccal meloxicam (MEL) are now available in Australia, offering practical analgesic treatments for concurrent castration and dehorning of beef...

The aim of this study was to do determine the efficacy of the topical anaesthetic Tri-Solfen® in the amelioration of the pain of castration in piglets. The trial was conducted over a three day period, and blocked across six litters with 12 piglets treated on days one and two, and 16 on day three. The piglets were randomly allocated by weight and li...

Anonymised dataset. This is the dataset used for analysis in this trial. (XLSX)

In captive breeding programs, it is becoming increasingly important to maximize the retention of genetic diversity by managing the reproductive contribution of each individual, which can be facilitated through the use of selective contraception. This becomes critical when captive populations are held for several generations, and managers must preve...

en Contraception has an established role in managing overabundant populations and preventing undesirable breeding in zoos. We propose that it can also be used strategically and selectively in conservation to increase the genetic and behavioral quality of the animals. In captive breeding programs, it is becoming increasingly important to maximize th...

The post-operative effects of three formulations of topical anaesthetic and a cornual nerve block on the sensitivity of scoop dehorning wounds in calves were compared in two trials. In Trial 1, 21 female Holstein dairy calves aged 8 to 24 weeks were randomly allocated to two groups: (1) scoop dehorning with a post-operative application of a novel t...

Nosebands are becoming tighter in equestrian sport, especially in elite dressage, possibly because they mask unwelcome behaviours that attract penalties. This is concerning, as recent evidence suggests that very tight nosebands can cause a physiological stress response, and may compromise welfare. The objective of this study was to investigate the...

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a vapocoolant spray to provide local anaesthesia for calves during ear tagging and ear notching. Study design: Randomized study. Animals: Twenty Black Angus calves aged 4-16 weeks old. Methods: Temperature validation studies using thermocouples and a temperature data logger were conducted on dead and li...

Restrictive nosebands are common in equestrian sport. This is concerning, as recent evidence suggests that very tight nosebands can cause a physiological stress response, and may compromise welfare. The objective of the current study was to investigate relationships that noseband tightness has with oral behavior and with physiological changes that...

We know from research across all levels of education that feedback and interactive teaching have the greatest positive effect on students’ achievement. However, in higher education, teachers’ constructive feedback often logistically cannot be delivered in time for all students to apply to future tasks. In this article, we report on a study of an in...

Impracticality and cost of existing pain management strategies during surgical castration of beef cattle have limited their widespread implementation on-farm. A farmer-applied topical anaesthetic formulation, originally developed and used commercially to mitigate the pain of mulesing in lambs, was investigated for its potential use for managing pai...

Farmer-applied spray-on TA (Tri-Solfen®) for mulesing has achieved widespread adoption. Currently, over 7million lambs are being treated annually and this indicates a rapidly changing attitude by farmers to livestock welfare and their recognition that if aversive husbandry procedures as used commonly to facilitate management of farmed livestock pop...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a topically applied local anaesthetic and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen, alone and in combination, on the pain sensitivity response of calves to dehorning (mean age 2.2 months). Calves were randomly allocated and blocked by age to one of four groups. Groups were: scoop deh...

Congenital chondrodystrophy of unknown origin (CCUO) has been reported in beef cattle worldwide. A trace mineral deficiency in pregnant dams has been suggested as causing the deformities seen in CCUO calves. An extended outbreak of CCUO in Australia between 2002 and 2009 provided an opportunity to examine the pattern of trace mineral status in gest...

The apparatus that riders use to restrain or communicate with horses have progressed over time. With the increased awareness of animal welfare, the use of some of these devices are now questioned more deeply. Many equestrian disciplines have rules about apparatus to which competitors must adhere. In this study we aimed to identify the routine use o...

Since late 2005 a revolution in farmer attitudes to pain management for livestock during aversive husbandry procedures has been developing on Australian wool sheep farms, attributable to the introduction of a farmer applied spray-on topical anaesthetic formulation that provides pain relief for lambs at mulesing (Trisolfen®, Bayer Animal Health, Aus...

Congenital chondrodystrophy of unknown origin (CCUO), often referred to as 'acorn calf disease' or congenital joint laxity and dwarfism (CJLD), has been reported in beef cattle in Canada, the United States, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. An association of CCUO with grazing drought-affected pastures, feeding hay-only or silage-only...

A case-control study was conducted on 46 farms in south-eastern Australia with a recent history of congenital chondrodystrophy of unknown origin (CCUO) between 2002 and 2007. For each farm data was collected using face-to-face interviews concerning the management of case and control mobs during the gestation period in which affected calves were bor...

Reports of congenital chondrodystrophy of unknown origin (CCUO) have been anecdotally associated with periods of drought during the gestation period of affected beef calves. Reported sporadically in the past, the incidence of CCUO has increased in south-eastern Australia and has been reported every year between 2002 and 2007. A maternal nutritional...

Basic animal-handling skills are essential for any veterinary practitioner to work safely and confidently. This short article offers the reflections of two students who undertook training in basic animal-handling skills at the University of Sydney as part of the Veterinary Science degree program. Several students attending their final-year clinical...