Dr Poppy Statham
B.Sc.(Lanc.), M.Sc.(Edin.), PhD(Bristol)
Expertise
I am a researcher in animal behaviour and welfare and Network Manager of the Animal Welfare Research Network (www.awrn.co.uk).
Current positions
Senior Research Associate Network Manager
Bristol Veterinary School
Contact
Press and media
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Biography
Having completed a Masters in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Edinburgh in 2001, I started working as a technician / research assistant in farm animal behaviour and welfare. First studying the ability of laying hens to negotiate moves between perches at Heriot-Watt University, then pre-weaning mortality of pigs on commercial farms in the UK at the University of Bristol. The latter enabled me to visit over 100 pig farms around the UK and gave me some insight to the challenges both for farmers and pigs on commercial farms.
Following this I studied for a PhD in pig welfare, focusing on tail-biting behaviour and how it develops, a subject that still fascinates me. Since then I have worked on a variety of research projects, including the effects of transport on sheep, how early life experience affects how sheep cope with handling and movement later in life and comparing preference test outcomes with other welfare indicators in laying hens. My most recent research project was on automatic measurements of startle responses in pigs. This involved validating startle as a measure of affective state in pigs and working with colleagues in the Computing Department to develop image analysis techniques that could detect and measure the amplitude of startle reactions in individuals, small groups and finally on commercial farms.
Since 2016 my main role has been as Network Manager for the Animal Welfare Research Network. Further information about the AWRN can be found here: www.awrn.co.uk.
Research interests
- Assessment of animal welfare
- Development of abnormal behaviour especially tail-biting in pigs
- Individual differences between animals
- Outcome measures of welfare
My PhD was in "Effects of experience and individuality on tail-biting in pigs". This longitudinal study followed over 700 undocked pigs from birth to slaughter weight in commercial conditions and examined the development and prediction of tail-biting, the effect of straw provision on their occurrence and why only some pigs bite and others get bitten. We varied the provision of bedding and recorded their position in the teat order (see photo below), weight, behaviour and performance in specifically designed propensity-to-chew tests (see photo below).
Fourteen outbreaks occurred in total and there was considerable variation in the form of biting, number of biters, speed of development and level of damage (see example in photo below), suggesting that there may different outbreak types which require further detailed classification.
Raised activity levels were noted in the 72 hours prior to an outbreak. Behaviour observations indicated that the presence of damaging tail-biting and tail-tucked under postures were more prevalent in groups which went on to develop outbreaks of tail-biting. These measures have potential for prediction of some outbreaks. Further details are available in our article in Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
In this particular study straw had limited effect on pigs' behaviour or on the occurrence of outbreaks. A number of possible explanations for this are being examined.
Further information about Dr Poppy Statham can be found here.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Promoting positive research culture through lab handbooks
Role
Co-Principal Investigator
Description
With funding from Research England during 2023 we (the Animal Welfare and Behaviour group based at Bristol Veterinary School) developed and produced a handbook. We are a diverse group, and…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Veterinary SchoolDates
01/01/2023 to 31/07/2023
Publications
Recent publications
14/09/2023Producing a group handbook to improve research culture and inclusivity – our experiences
A survey of handling and transportation of UK farmed deer
Animal Welfare
Quantifying defence cascade responses as indicators of pig affect and welfare using computer vision methods
Scientific Reports
The Defence Cascade as an on-farm measure of welfare
ISAE UK & Ireland Regional Meeting
Factors affecting the ability of sheep to rest during time in markets in Great Britain
Animal Welfare
Related people
Dr Neill Campbell
Reader
School of Computer Science
Dr Sion Hannuna
Senior Lecturer
School of Computer Science
Dr Liz Paul
Senior Lecturer
Bristol Veterinary School
Professor William Browne
Professor and Head of School
School of Education
Professor Michael Mendl
Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare
Bristol Veterinary School