Laboratory for Comparative Animal Welfare Studies

Our goal at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NVH) is to fully integrate our animal welfare research program with the training of veterinary students and with the regular activities carried out at the school. It is our goal to collaborate with organizations in Norway and abroad to develop animal welfare indicators. The Laboratory for Comparative Animal Welfare Studies has the capability to offer services to the NVH community and will serve as a resource for the development of the Norwegian Center of Excellence in Animal Welfare Science.

Photo: Line Klæth, NVH

The laboratory is equipped to collect real time behavioural data, via computer tracking software, on animals kept in our teaching hospital, including animals kept in surgical recovery rooms.

It is our goal to create a comprehensive video-library of pain related conditions and associated criteria to, subjectively and objectively, assess animal pain and to teach pain assessment protocols.

The laboratory is also equipped to develop and to validate biomarkers to study welfare indicators in different animal species. Central to the development and validation of welfare biomarkers will be the use of multiplex bead array assays. The laboratory has expertise on the measurement of animal welfare biomarkers in samples obtained using non-invasive protocols.

The laboratory will be a valuable resource to existing Nordic initiatives to optimize teaching of animal welfare science.

It is our long-term goal to develop collaborative protocols with higher education institutions, official veterinary services, animal industry and governmental organizations to enhance animal welfare.