The Division of Animal Welfare within the Veterinary Public Health Institute of the University of Bern (UBERN) is a leader in assessing animal health and welfare. The university is involved in multiple EU projects. The research group supervised by Dr. Toscano operates as a collaboration between UBERN and the Swiss Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), a branch of the Swiss government responsible for monitoring and implementing national animal welfare policies

The team is experienced in tracking of individual laying hens in aviaries and outdoor areas by RFID and in assessing the health and welfare status of hens by using radiographs, plumage scoring, and scoring of toe-pecking wounds. Toe-pecking is the field of expertise of Dr. Gebhrardt. 

In addition, movement patterns are visualized and analysed in relation to health and welfare issues of individual laying hens. 

They cooperate with the main suppliers of layer genetics and studies on genotyped hens.

Social Media

Dr. Sabine Gebhardt-Henrich

Postdoctoral Researcher

Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ)

sabine.gebhardt@unibe.ch 

Dr. Michael J. Toscano

Group Leader of ZTHZ

Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ)

michael.toscano@unibe.ch

Dr. Alex Johny

Postdoctoral Researcher 

Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ)

alex.johny@unibe.ch 

An address must be specified for a map to be embedded