In dieser spannenden Folge sprechen wir mit Kathia Gillandt, Tierärztin mit Schwerpunkt Tierverhalten, über ein Thema, das in der modernen Nutztierhaltung ein immer mehr Aufmerksamkeit verdient: die kuhgebundene Kälberaufzucht.

Gemeinsam gehen wir den wichtigsten Fragen auf den Grund:

• Was versteht man genau unter kuhgebundener Kälberaufzucht – und welche Modelle gibt es (Mutterkuh, Ammenkuh, Teilzeitkontakt)?

• Worin unterscheiden sich die Systeme in der Haltung von Fleisch- und Milchkühen?

• Warum gilt diese Form der Aufzucht als besonders tiergerecht – und welche Vorteile bringt sie für Kuh und Kalb?

• Gibt es wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse, die die positiven Effekte belegen?

• Welche praktischen Herausforderungen treten bei der Umsetzung auf – und welche Welche Kühe eignen sich als Ammen besonders gut, und wie funktioniert die Gewöhnung von Kuh und Kalb?

• Wie sieht der Alltag auf einem Betrieb mit kuhgebundener Aufzucht aus?

• Schließlich werfen wir auch einen Blick auf die politischen und rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen sowie auf die Frage, was Betriebe beachten sollten, die über einen Umstieg nachdenken.

Ein tiefgehendes Gespräch über Tierwohl, Praxis und die Zukunft einer tiergerechteren Landwirtschaft.

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What does good welfare really look like for bears and other non-human animals living in zoos—and how can we measure it in meaningful, practical ways?

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Anna Fourage, animal welfare expert, to explore the development of welfare assessment tools for captive bears, with a special focus on zoos across Asia and Thailand. She is the operation manager and trustee at "For Tigers", holds an MSc in International Animal Welfare, Ethics, and Law from the University of Edinburgh, and just finished her PhD in anthropology researching the role of zoos in Thailand. Anna shares key insights from recent research on creating a composite welfare assessment tool for hibernatory bears, unpacking its major findings, strengths, and current limitations.

We dive into the reliability of keeper ratings as welfare indicators across different institutions, discussing the real challenges of intra- and inter-rater consistency. Together, we explore which behavioural, physiological, and environmental indicators are currently the most valid for assessing bear welfare.

Beyond the science, this conversation tackles the practical and ethical realities of zoo welfare. How can welfare tools be designed to be both scientifically robust and realistically usable, especially in resource-limited settings? What are the biggest barriers facing Thai zoos in improving welfare standards?

We also broaden the lens to the global ethical challenges of keeping large mammals in captivity, discussing the evolving mission of modern zoos—balancing conservation, education, and animal welfare—and how visitors can be meaningfully engaged in that mission.

An essential listen for anyone interested in animal welfare science, zoo ethics, conservation, andthe future of captive wildlife care.

Dive deeper...

Environmental Parameters as Indicators of Bear Welfare (Fourage et al. 2025)- https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.70010

High Prevalence of Dysfunctional Animal–Visitor Interactions in 225 Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums (Fourage et al., 2024)- https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14223167

Increase in the number of captive lions in Thailand suggests ineffective legislation (Fourage et al., 2025) https://doi.org/10.1007/s44353-025-00040-4

If you have any comments, suggestions or questions, please email: podcast.daretocare@gmail.com.

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Have you ever wondered whether dogs or cats can truly thrive on a plant‑based diet? And what are the environmental consequences of vegan versus non‑vegan pet diets in the context of our global challenges like climate change?

In this episode, we bring you scientifically grounded insights - perfect for sparking thoughtful conversations at your festive table. Our expert guest is Andrew Knight, Veterinary Professor of Animal Welfare, whose research on vegan pet food has been widely featured in international news outlets.

Together, we explore:

• Studies on the health outcomes of pets fed plant‑based diets and whether these can be nutritionally sound.
• The acceptance among animals and their guardians in practice.
• Hands-on advice and reliable resources for anyone interested, from curious pet parents to veterinary students and practitioners.

Enjoy, feed your mind, and share this exciting interview!

If you wish for more details:

https://sustainablepetfood.info

https://www.andrewknight.info

https://www.youtube.com/c/andrewknight

Key infographics:

Environmental benefits:

https://aknight.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Pet-food-sustainability-2023-PNG.png

Vegan cat health:

https://aknight.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vegan-cat-health-outcomes-2023-png.png

Vegan dog health:

https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S240584402411609X-ga1_lrg.jpg

Key research in this area:

http://aknight.info/articles/pet-food

https://sustainablepetfood.info > tabs at top

If you have any comments, suggestions or questions, please email: podcast.daretocare@gmail.com.

We are always happy about feedback!

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