three people standing

Paying it forward — family’s donation to create animal welfare ‘win-wins’

Already a leader in the field, the U of C’s vet school will expand research 
to help both producers and the animals in their care


Reading Time: 3 minutes It is, by any measure, a lot of money. But her family’s $5-million donation to the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine for animal welfare research is money well spent, says Cochrane-area rancher Wynne Chisholm. “We love animals and have a soft spot for cows. Cow-calf is underserved in terms of research,” said Chisholm, […] Read more

man and woman standing in a country field by a wood-post fence

Ranchers give $5-million gift to boost animal welfare research

Jack Anderson and daughter Wynne Chisholm want U of C to be ‘No. 1 in terms 
of animal care and welfare research in the world’

Reading Time: 3 minutes Father and daughter cattle ranchers with a passion for animal care and welfare have donated $5 million to support research at the University of Calgary. Building on a commitment to best practices and the use of technology in their own operations, J.C. (Jack) Anderson and his daughter Wynne Chisholm from W.A. Ranches made the gift, […] Read more


Technology such as infrared thermography brings hard data — instead of opinion — to the animal welfare debate, says Ed Pajor, a professor of animal welfare at the University of Calgary.  Photo: Jill Steele

Stress tool could have a big impact

Infrared thermography provides a quick and non-invasive way to 
measure stress, and that has big implications for livestock producers

Reading Time: 5 minutes A new ‘eye’ on how animals respond to stressful situations is providing researchers with a valuable tool that could one day have a big impact on how livestock are treated. Infrared thermography — or IRT — can tell a lot of stories by measuring body heat in a specific area. Using a device that looks […] Read more