Day 2: Gattia Farm visit

On Tuesday morning, after a few interesting background lectures with Paolo Dalla Villa and Stefano Messori on the history of the EU animal welfare policies, legislation of farm animal welfare, and IZSAM activities on welfare, we departed IZS headquarters for our first field trip. After a short bus ride we reached Gattia farm, the research farm for to IZS. We were greeted by some of the farm dogs and the veterinarian in charge of the facility, Michele Podaliri. After a brief introduction about the national, provincial, and local approvals required for carrying out biomedical research on animals, we began our tour.

Our first stop was the medical and surgical rooms where the facility can treat their smaller animals. We then met a couple groups of sheep and lambs, which are part of a study on the effects of folic acid on behavior during and after pregnancy. These sheep are monitored by video surveillance around the clock allowing researchers to review the film to catch any subtle changes. Next we met a 30-year-old retired research horse. Michele explained that after the conclusion of a study animals may be euthanized or allowed to live out their natural lives. Since the horse was in good condition and Gattia has the space and resources to care for him, he is living a long and relaxing retirement. Next to the horse were a handful of mini black pot bellied pigs, while in a barn next door were a boar and a mother and 2 tiny piglets.

Outside there were herds of sheep and goats housed next to the friendliest bull you will ever see. He was bottle raised as part of a study on Blue Tongue Virus. Neighboring the bull were a few ponies that are part of a study on trypanosomes. A short stroll away we fed some leaves to a group of goats and then descended a steep hill to the indoor facilities housing the laboratory rodents. To enter these facilities we were required to don disposable shoe covers, lab coats, hairnets, face masks, and gloved and were advised to keep our voices low, since the animals can tell that we aren’t their usual caretakers. The first building housed mice used for studies of Blue Tongue Virus and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as normal breeding mice. We changed our protective gear to enter the second building where there are guinea pigs, rabbits, and rats. The guinea pigs are kept in large enclosures on the floor with lots of bedding and large hutches. Michele explained that this was not standard, but they found that it is best for their welfare. The animals in this building are part of trypanosome studies.

Our final stop was to the dog shelter, a facility that used to house 130 dogs that were used for behavior studies. Most of these dogs had been transferred to another facility after the conclusion of behavioral studies, but 6 dogs remain in spacious pens. Italy has strict no-kill policies that forbid the euthanasia of dogs unless they are a proven public danger or are gravely ill, so these dogs will live out the rest of their days on the farm under the capable care of the Gattia employees… more on this next week!

It was great to get out in the field and we look forward to many more adventures over the next week and a half!