Animal welfare competition tests critical thinking, ethical judgement skills

More than 270 people representing over two dozen North American and European universities recently participated in the 24th annual AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest (AWJAC). The event, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, requires students and veterinarians to apply science-based methods and ethical standards to assess the welfare of animals in a variety of settings.

Species covered in this year’s contest scenarios involved lactating dairy cows—which required extra biosecurity measures because of highly pathogenic avian influenza—along with laboratory frogs (Xenopus laevis), African penguins in a zoo, and dogs in a commercial breeding environment.

AWJAC, held November 22-24 at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, is an opportunity for contestants to hone their critical thinking, reasoning, and communication skills.

The first contest was held in 2001 at Michigan State University when it was the Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest. It was modeled after traditional livestock, horse, and meat judging competitions.

Today, AWJAC is open to undergraduates, veterinary students, graduate students, and AVMA member veterinarians, who have an opportunity to practice their assessment skills and present their findings to an expert panel of scientists and veterinarians with special expertise in animal welfare.

This year’s expert panel comprised the following members: Drs. Angela Wilson, Jennifer Walker, Brandon Treichler, Heather Neave, Blythe Philips, Marko Horb, Judith Stella, Kathy Campitelli, Carlo Siracusa, Stephanie Allard, Jen-Yun Chou, and Carly O’Malley.

The keynote address was given by Dr. Suzanne Millman, a professor of animal behavior and welfare at Iowa State University and leader in animal welfare research and policy. Dr. Millman discussed advancements in animal care standards within swine, dairy, and poultry systems.

Her keynote was dedicated to Dr. Angela Baysinger, a longstanding supporter of AWJAC and president-elect of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, who passed away earlier this year. Her research contributed to the greater understanding of animal welfare in food animal medicine and beyond.

“After attending this year’s Animal Welfare Assessment Contest, I have come away deeply impressed by the dedication and expertise demonstrated by all participants this year and encouraged about the future state of animal welfare in veterinary medicine,” AVMA President Sandra Faeh said in a statement.

“Their ability to assess and navigate real-world animal welfare scenarios is not only a testament to their education but also a promising indicator of the future of veterinary medicine,” Dr. Faeh continued. “As we continue to face complex challenges in animal health and welfare, events like this play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of veterinary professionals to lead with knowledge and compassion.”

Winners of the 2024 contest are as follows:

Interactive Assessment, Individual: Undergraduate, Junior Division—Alexis Steffens, Iowa State University; Undergraduate, Senior Division—Julia Greenlee, Iowa State University; Veterinary Student Division—Anna Schilling, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine; Graduate Student Division—Heidi Rinehart, University of Illinois.

Interactive Assessment, Team: Undergraduate, Junior Division—University of Vermont; Undergraduate Senior Division—University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Team Red; Veterinary Student Division—University of Prince Edward Island, Team 1; Graduate Student Division—University of Guelph.

Undergraduate, Junior Division, Individual: First place—Sydney Anglin, University of Tennessee, Team 2; second place—Ava Swenson, University of Illinois; third place—James Wheeler, Texas A&M University, Team Hullabaloo; fourth place—Alexis Steffens, Iowa State University; and fifth place—McKinley Slover, Texas A&M University, Team Hullabaloo.

Undergraduate, Junior Division, Teams: First place—Texas A&M University, Team Hullabaloo; second place—University of Vermont, Team 1; third place—Texas A&M University, Team Howdy; fourth place—Texas A&M University, Team Whoop; and fifth place—Aims Community College, Team 1.

Undergraduate, Senior Division, Individual: First place—Brooke Casey, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Team Red; second place—Aditri Singh, Rutgers University; third place—Alli Matzek, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Team Red; fourth place—Grace Regier, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and fifth place—Sophia Yabut, Michigan State University.

Undergraduate, Senior Division, Teams: First place—University of Wisconsin-River Falls; second place—Colorado State University; third place—Purdue University; fourth place—University of Minnesota; and fifth place—Rutgers University.

Veterinary Student Division, Individual: First place—Shyanne Hall, University of Minnesota, Team Gold; second place—Finnerel Schaeffer, University of Minnesota, Team Maroon; third place—Anna Mueller, University of Minnesota, Team Maroon; fourth place—Katie Davis, University of Minnesota, Team Gold; and fifth place—Mo Usavage, University of Minnesota, Team Gold.

Veterinary Student Division, Teams: First place—University of Prince Edward Island, Team 2; second place—University of Guelph; third place—University of Prince Edward Island, Team 1; fourth place—University of Minnesota, Team Maroon; and fifth place—University of Minnesota, Team Gold.

Graduate Division, Individual: First place—Madeline Winans, The Ohio State University; second place—Hayley Sutherland, Purdue University; third place—Anna Nicklas, University of Guelph; fourth place—Lyndsay Ritzler, The Ohio State University; and fifth place—Courtney Archer, University of Minnesota.

Graduate Division, Teams: First place—University of Guelph; second place—Purdue University, Team Gold; third place—The Ohio State University; fourth place—Purdue University, Team Boilermaker Special; and fifth place—Michigan State University.

A version of this story appears in the February 2025 print issue of JAVMA