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FAQs

General

Q: Why have an animal welfare assessment contest?

A: As welfare assurance schemes continue to evolve across North America and beyond, there is an increasing need for objective, skilled evaluators who are well trained in traditional animal sciences and welfare issues.

Today's animal science departments and veterinary colleges are relied upon to prepare their graduates to address such ever-evolving changes in the industry. The Animal Welfare Assessment Contest® provides our future leaders with training to gather and evaluate information for addressing societal concerns in an unbiased way. It is essential for animal science students to be able to synthesize the results of animal welfare research to make critical evaluations of animal welfare conditions under widely differing scenarios.

Evidence for the effect of judging teams on attitudes toward a specific discipline has been established by Squires et al. (1991). The competitive venue facilitates motivation and information retention, while the process of integrating a wide range of information into one final decision and oral presentation mirrors the interdisciplinary skills needed for real life welfare assessment.

In 2002, faculty at Michigan State University developed an Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest, now known as the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest® or AWJAC®, to provide a tool for positively affecting attitudes of students toward the welfare of agricultural and other animals. There is powerful potential in integrating welfare assessment into a competitive learning environment that has been part of the traditional animal science culture for decades.

Q: How does the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest® work?

A: Participants representing their respective universities compete as a team and/or individuals to evaluate animal welfare scenarios and earn scores.

The AWJAC relies on hypothetical, realistic computer-viewed scenarios containing performance, health, physiologic and behavioral data. These are evaluated by students individually to determine which animals or facility has a higher level of welfare. Each scenario consists of two hypothetical situations representing animals in typical settings. Scenarios may include physiological data, video clips, still photos, behavioral responses, husbandry and housing information, and time budgets. After viewing each scenario, students are asked to rank the welfare of the animals or facilities. Students are then provided time to prepare more detailed analyses in the form of a brief oral presentation to an expert judge defending their reasoning as to why one situation demonstrates a higher level of welfare than another. Students are allowed to use whatever resources they have available in their preparation period—however, having too many materials to review can take up valuable preparation time. The use of the internet during contest time is prohibited. Students are allowed to take a single, one-sided 3" x 5" index card with them as reference while presenting oral reasons.

At the fall contest, students also participate as a team or individually in a live assessment exercise, typically conducted at an operating animal facility. Individuals or teams of three to five students give presentations to a panel of judges; this may include recommendations for welfare-related changes at the facility.

A panel of judges, with expertise on the welfare of the species in question, view each individual or team presentation and awards are presented to the top scoring individuals and teams. Knowledge of welfare science and the art of persuasion in the presentation are key factors used in scoring.

For more information about the contest, please watch our Know Before You Go video.

Q: Who can participate in the contest?

A: Students from any university or veterinary college may assemble a team for competition or compete as individuals. It is not necessary that the students be animal science majors or specializing in food animal medicine, although background knowledge of the species in question is needed to make educated assessments. This knowledge can be gained through life experiences and from the university curriculum; however, it is also important that participants practice presenting oral arguments that show acquired knowledge pertinent to both general welfare issues and the specific species being evaluated.

Participation

Q: Can veterinarians participate?

A: Up to eight AVMA member veterinarians have the opportunity to take part in the event as non-competitive participants and earn CE credits. See registration details and apply.

Q: Can veterinary technicians participate?

A: Up to 5 veterinary technicians have the opportunity to take part in the event as non-competitive participants and earn CE credits. To be eligible to participate, veterinary technicians must be a member of NAVTA. See registration details and apply.

Q: Can veterinary technician students participate?

A: Yes, veterinary technician students can register for the undergraduate division. See registration details and apply.

Q: Can I attend the contest without participating?

A: Due to the nature of the contest we do not allow for outside observers. If you are interested in attending, please consider coaching a team, or participating in the appropriate category as an individual or part of a team.

Getting started and preparing

Q: How does our university start a team for the contest?

A: It is important to involve motivated students as the exercise requires students who have critical thinking skills, are able to readily express thoughtful interpretations, and can develop original ideas. Time commitment is also essential. As the contest draws nearer, the team may want to commit more time to practicing and perfecting oral presentation skills.

The first priority should be establishing a practice schedule that works well for both the coach and team members. Meeting weekly has worked well for some teams.

In the beginning, it will be beneficial to provide general literature on animal welfare science to study, after which time the team can move on to studying each relevant species for the contest.

After learning from these materials, teams should practice evaluating sample scenarios and become comfortable presenting oral reasons in front of an audience. Videotaping practice sets of oral reasons can be helpful in identifying areas in need of improvement.

Please see our AWJAC Coaching Tips document and/or AWJAC Coaching Tips and Team Preparation video for more information

Q: What are scenarios like?

A: Welfare assessment scenarios are presented through both live visits to animal facilities and with digital multimedia presentations using PowerPoint. View sample scenarios.

Q: How do I prepare?

A: See all preparation resources, including a reference list, sample scenarios, examples of oral assessments, and a rule book. Additional tips include:

  • Solicit a team of interested individuals (3 to 5 students per team). Some previous coursework in animal welfare is helpful. Identify a faculty coach. Coaches should meet with students to review relevant background material.
  • Discuss current animal care practices across a variety of animal uses. Allow students to debate potential welfare concerns and benefits of different approaches to housing, husbandry, and transport.
  • Evaluate different scenarios using the samples provided on this website, video tapes, hypothetical data, and other useful media. Students should be encouraged to integrate a variety of physiologic, health, and behavioral indicators of well-being into their assessment of welfare.
  • Practice presenting oral assessments.

Q: What if the photos of animals shown in advertisements on the website and in the brochure is not a perfect match to breed/species of animal featured in the scenario?

A: Try to remember that a cow is a cow, no matter what breed. Additionally, for exotic species, there may be a lack of literature for one specific breed or species, so you may have to use literature about other breeds or species and apply critical thinking and scientific reasoning in your evaluation.

Other

Q: Can I use the contest logo to make shirts, bags, etc.?

A: To use the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest® logo, you must receive authorization.

Q: Is there more information about the traveling trophies?

A: Awarded to the highest placing team in each Division, the trophies feature original artwork by Lynne Millman, Blandford, NS, Canada.

Q: Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

A: If you have additional questions about AWJAC, please contact Dr. Sharon Kuca at (847) 285-6713 or AWJACatavma [dot] org (AWJAC[at]avma[dot]org).