The science behind animal welfare

Professor Mellor, from the Institute of
 Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University, New Zealand, received the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare medal along with Professor Georgia Mason from the University of Guelph, Canada.

Recognition

Professor Mellor’s contributions to animal welfare cover many aspects of the science, including the welfare and development of young animals, how to assess animal welfare comprehensively and systematically, investigating negative experiences such as breathlessness, thirst, hunger and pain and studying positive emotional states in a range of animals.

Professor Mellor also led in the development and subsequent refinement of the Five Domains model for animal welfare assessment that has recently been adopted as a key element of the World Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare Strategy.

Opportunities in Edinburgh

David Mellor, who was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1942, first became interested in animals at the age of 13, when he spent a year on his uncle’s farm in South Australia.

After completing a BSc(Hons) at the University of New England (Australia) and deciding to continue his education overseas by studying for PhD in fetal physiology, he was drawn to Edinburgh by Professor A. St G. Huggett, previously of St Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London, then a major figure in the field.

Following Professor Huggett’s death in 1968 the position of Head of the Physiology Department at Edinburgh’s Moredun Research Institute was left vacant and, after graduating with a PhD in 1969, Professor Mellor was appointed to the role. He stayed at the Institute for a further 18 years during which time he led the design of a purpose-built fetal physiology research unit and the establishment of the then internationally recognised Perinatal Studies Group.

A special place

While in Edinburgh David also took an active role in the pastoral side of university life including as sub-warden and then briefly a warden at Pollock Halls of Residence. It was at Pollock in 1967 that he met his first wife Gourie Nag, a fellow international PhD student who sadly died in 1982.

In 1988 Professor Mellor moved on from Edinburgh and headed back to the southern hemisphere as Professor and Head of the Department of Physiology and Anatomy in the then Veterinary Science Faculty (now the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences) at Massey University in New Zealand.

He has now been at Massey for 27 years in various professional roles and has continued his research into in fetal and neonatal physiology, with substantial extensions into animal welfare science and bioethics related to the use of animals for human purposes.

Despite recognised academic success, a second marriage to Lynda and a home in the beautiful New Zealand countryside, Edinburgh retains its professional and personal significance.

Edinburgh, the University, the Institute and Scotland all have a very special place in my affections. Happily, I have been able to visit on five occasions since 1988, most recently with Lynda, to catch up with friends and make formal presentations to the Veterinary School and the Scottish Rural College.

Related links

The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE)

The Moredun Research Institute

Massey University