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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 29th November 2017
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Sheep ‘can read each other’s facial expressions’
Sheep are able to show a wide range of facial expressions, particularly those involving ear posture.
Research has important animal welfare implications

Sheep can distinguish each other’s facial expressions, according to new research, which has been described as an important discovery for animal welfare.

The study is the first to suggest that sheep can tell the difference between negative and neutral facial expressions. It is thought that if animals are able to perceive emotions in others, it is likely to affect their own emotional state.

Sheep do not have very developed oro-facial musculature compared to primates, but they are able to show a wide range of facial expressions, particularly those involving ear posture.

Researchers from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) photographed sheep in three situations; their home pens (neutral), during social isolation (negative) and during aggressive social interactions (negative).

The sheep were then trained to associate one type of facial expression with a reward. Half of the sheep learned to associate the image of a negative facial expression with a reward, while the other half were trained to associate a neutral facial expression with a reward.

Once they had learned this task, they had to generalise the discrimination to new images of faces, displaying the same emotions. All sheep managed to learn the task.

Lead author Dr Lucille Bellegarde said: “This study showed for the first time that sheep are not only able to discriminate between facial expressions, but they are also able to perceive the valence – in other words, negative or neutral – of the expressions displayed.

“In terms of animal welfare, it is essential to be able to understand how emotions are perceived between animals reared in groups. Because this emotional perception is likely to affect their own emotional state, it might take just one happy – or unhappy – sheep to make an entire flock happy, or unhappy.”

The study has been published in the academic journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

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RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."