Poultry code review could help unscramble rules allowing cruelty to chickens


Australia is lagging well behind international standards when it comes to the use of battery cages. But in 2017, there is an opportunity for progress.

More than 25 million hens, plus millions of male chicks, are used by the Australian egg industry every year.

Egg production is divided across three primary farming methods - battery cages, barn-laid and free range. This separation in farming styles has led to eggs becoming one of the most confusing, and hotly debated, animal products on the market.



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Vets vulnerable to suicide as mental health ‘check-in’ delivers sobering results


Perth veterinarian Paul Davey is no stranger to the mental health problems that plague his profession. The industry has a high suicide rate compared with the national average, and he remembers a colleague who took his own life the day before he was due to start work with Mr Davey.


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Engineered reptile skin breakthrough could help fight turtle tumors


Researchers studying the virus that causes sea turtles to develop fibropapillomatosis, which is characterized by a proliferation of tumors that interfere with vision, eating and immune system activity, have for the first time engineered reptile skin, which they plan to use to study the virus and hopefully zero in on solutions to stem its spread. The technique was adapted from methods used to grow skin grafts for human use.


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Bubbles not balloons, as Lort Smith joins campaign to protect seabirds


Lort Smith has joined Zoos Victoria and Phillip Island Nature Park’s campaign to protect native birdlife by pledging to stop using balloons at outdoor events.


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Largest-ever study of pets and kids' health finds no link


A large body of research has reported an association between the pet ownership and better health among children. But a new study that is the largest-ever to explore the issue contradicts the common thinking. Researchers did find that children from pet-owning families tended to have better general health, but those differences disappeared when factors such as family income and family housing were considered.


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Why Melbourne could be the cat capital of Australia


MELBOURNE has many titles. Some more official than others. It’s the Most Liveable City, the sporting capital of Australia and arguably home to the best coffee in the world. Turns out our furry felines are friends of the city too.


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