Educational Opportunities and Resources
Upcoming Webinar
Sows Need Space: Understanding Sow Welfare and Federal Efforts to Undo State Animal Welfare Laws
Abigale Zoltick, DVM, MSc, DACAW (Board Member & Director of Education, VAFAW)
Gwendolen Reyes-Illg, DVM, MA (President & Co-Executive Director, VAFAW)
Cameron Krier Massey, JD, MPH, MSc (Co-Executive Director, VAFAW)
Tuesday, June 16, 2026​​​​​​
5 pm PT / 8 pm ET
Free RACE-approved CE credit for VAFAW members.
This webinar will explore federal efforts to undo state laws, such as Proposition 12 and Question 3, that prohibit the extreme confinement of farm animals. Numerous states have adopted restrictions on intensive confinement systems, including gestation crates for pregnant pigs and battery cages for egg-laying hens, due to well-documented animal welfare concerns. Research has consistently shown these systems cause significant physical harm and psychological distress.
After the Supreme Court upheld Proposition 12, attention has shifted to Congress, where new efforts could undermine these animal welfare protections. As the issue continues to generate debate among policymakers, producers, consumers, and veterinarians, this webinar will examine what is at stake and the important role you can play in shaping the policy conversation.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Develop an understanding of sow behavior and welfare​.
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Learn about the use of gestation crates and research showing the physical harm and psychological distress caused by extreme confinement.
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Build an understanding of group housing—an alternative to crates—and how to optimize sow welfare in these systems.
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Learn the difference between state laws that impose production bans and those that also include bans on the sale of products derived from animals raised in extreme confinement.
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Review the Supreme Court case to strike down Proposition 12 and past advocacy by veterinarians on this issue.
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Learn about congressional efforts to undo state laws protecting farm animals from extreme confinement, including recent passage of the Farm Bill by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Past Webinars
PERSPECTIVES ABOUT FITNESS FOR TRANSPORT ACROSS BEEF AND DAIRY SUPPLY CHAINS
May 5, 2026​​​​​​
Lily Edwards-Callaway, MS, PhD (Associate Professor, Colorado State University)
Click here for a video replay.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Define fitness for transport.​​​
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Examine current industry data to understand fitness-for-transport-related challenges.​​
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Discuss the factors that make fitness-for-transport decisions complex across supply chain factors.​​
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Evaluate different perspectives of veterinarians and other supply chain stakeholders regarding fitness-for-transport decisions.
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ONE HEALTH PERSPECTIVES ON PREVENTING BIRD FLU​
February 10, 2026​​​​​​
A two-speaker webinar
Click here for a video replay.
One Health Approach to HPAI and the Impacts of Intensive Poultry Production
Thijs Kuiken DVM, PhD, DACVP
Professor of Comparative Pathology
Department of Viroscience
Erasmus MC
Dr. Kuiken examines the HPAI H5 Goose/Guangdong outbreak, its links to intensive poultry production, and response strategies including vaccination and reducing farm size and density, using a One Health approach.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES​:
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Learn how the epidemiology of HPAI H5 virus of the Goose/Guangdong lineage differs from other HPAI viruses​​
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Gain an understanding of how intensive poultry production impacts the health of humans, animals, and the environment​​
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Explore One Health-based responses to these impacts
Feedback from the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Vaccination Program in France
Charles Martins Ferreira, DVM
Deputy Counselor for Agricultural Affairs
Embassy of France to the United States
Dr. Martins Ferreira reviews HPAI in France, the vaccination program and its results, surveillance, current epidemiology, and trade considerations.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Gain an understanding of reasons for adopting a vaccination campaign to target HPAI
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Learn how to design and implement a successful HPAI vaccination program, including the need for a robust surveillance system to track virus circulation
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Explore strategies for negotiating trade bans associated with HPAI vaccination
ACHIEVING HIGHER-WELFARE LIVING ENVIRONMENTS FOR FARM ANIMALS
October 18, 2025​​​​​​
Research, industry, and veterinary voices come together to share insights on bridging the gap between animal welfare science and on-farm implementation of higher-welfare practices.
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RECOGNIZING AND MANAGING PAIN IN CATTLE
Eduarda Bortoluzzi, M.V., M.S., Ph.D. (Kansas State University)
July 16, 2025​
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Click here for a video replay.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Develop an understanding of why pain management is essential for animal health and welfare.
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Gain insight into the challenges associated with identifying and managing pain.
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Learn about current options for pain management and plans to advance welfare.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL GROUP HOUSING OF SOWS
Jeremy Marchant, Ph.D. (Organic Plus Trust)
May 8, 2025
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Click here for a video replay.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Understand how intensive sow housing developed and how it impacts sow health and welfare
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Apply knowledge of pig natural behavior to mitigate health and welfare challenges
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Describe how different elements of sow housing fit within the Five Domains model of animal welfare
A BETTER MEANS TO A HUMANE ENDING?
Nitrogen Anoxia for the Mass Depopulation of Livestock
Jeffrey Hill, MSc (President, Livestock Welfare Strategies, and Member, Board of Directors, VAFAW)
February 25, 2025
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Click here for a video replay.
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Click here for the powerpoint presentation.
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Click here for a nitrogen whole house gassing resource.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Gain insight into the importance of improving depopulation systems to better protect animal welfare​​
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Develop an understanding of the different nitrogen-based methods for mass depopulation, including their mechanism of action and requirements for preparedness
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Learn to compare N2-based methods to other depopulation methods and apply this knowledge to help clients in selecting the option(s) best suited to their circumstances
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Learn to recognize critical factors in applying inert gassing technologies and the value of integrating real-time depopulation process monitoring and audit programming
HUMANE ENDINGS:
Navigating the Ethical Maze of Animal Welfare in Depopulation Practices
Jessica Elisabeth Martin, B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc., Ph.D., FHEA (Newcastle University)
October 30, 2024
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Click here for a video replay.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Understand the ethical considerations in depopulation
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Recognize the importance of human responsibility
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Assess the practicality of depopulation methods
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Explore innovative depopulation solutions
HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA:
Vaccines and Vaccination Programs for Poultry
Erica Spackman, MS, PhD (Research Microbiologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
August 21, 2024
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This was a live-only event. A replay is not available.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Understand vaccine availability for avian influenza in poultry.
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Identify critical components of successful avian influenza vaccination programs.
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Explain metrics of efficacy and correlates for vaccine-induced protection for avian influenza in poultry​.
PAIN IN FARM ANIMALS:
Understanding the Barriers to Mitigation & Improving Welfare
Abigale Zoltick, DVM (Director of Education, VAFAW)
May 8, 2024
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Click here for a video replay. ​
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This webinar is relevant for veterinarians and others who treat farm animals, as well as anyone committed to advancing farm animal welfare via policy reforms.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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​Understand pain physiology and its connection to animal welfare.
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Identify causes of pain in farm animals, including management procedures and diseases.
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Explore the scarcity of FDA-approved drugs for pain in farm animals, resulting in extra-label use.
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Investigate barriers to on-farm pain management and their impact on animal welfare.
