Nearly one third of the global fish catch is currently processed into animal feed. Much of this is then used in the growing aquaculture industry, which means we are effectively recycling fish to produce fewer than we started with. As marine stocks become ever more depleted, using fish in this manner is becoming increasingly unsustainable. In some instances, marine species are so heavily fished that they are facing extinction. A new approach is urgently needed.

Carotenoids are nature’s vivid colourants. They give characteristic visual tinges to carrots, corn and canaries, as well as many other brightly hued plants and animals. At this time of year, their effects are particularly obvious as they are responsible for the brilliant yellows and oranges that tint dying autumn leaves.

Toy dogs may look cute, but many were bred for work. The Yorkshire Terrier, for instance, was reared to hunt rats in the cotton mills of Northern England. This accounts not just for its size, but also its curious and highly active disposition. Owners report that these tiny dogs often enjoy long walks and plenty of exercise, so one might expect them to be hearty eaters as well.

December 21, 2016 - One in five US veterans of recent conflicts suffers from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression. This can lead to huge problems, including family breakdown, substance abuse and an inability to re-integrate with wider society.

Researchers at major academic institutions in the United States have been awarded funding through the National Institutes of Health/Mars–WALTHAM™ Public-Private Partnership. These new studies will examine the impact of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in special populations. Research topics funded include:

Obesity in ponies and pleasure horses has been associated with the painful and debilitating hoof condition called laminitis. However, some owners may not recognise when their animals are putting on excessive weight. This is made harder by the fact that ponies and some breeds of horses put on body fat very easily, even on moderate hay or pasture alone. These animals are typically described as ‘good-doers’ or ‘easy keepers’.

7th October, 2011 – A team of researchers has shown that female kittens consume more food and are more likely to be overweight post-neutering when compared with all their littermates. In a 12-month study conducted by Waltham scientists, neutered female kittens consumed more food than their entire littermates for an 18 week period post-neutering and exhibited increased body weight. Despite having very similar food intake beyond the 18 week post-neutering phase neutered kittens were on average 24% heavier than their littermates at 1 year of age.

The 8-week study is one of the first designed to examine if dog interaction might benefit military veterans’ mental health. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University, the University of Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth University examined 33 veterans in Colorado (US), over half of whom identified as struggling with PTSD.