The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) is looking to invest £70,000 in research covering the topic: “Breeding for better welfare: enabling human behaviour that leads to animals experiencing a better life”.

AWF is calling on UK-based researchers to submit proposals that answer this call, with a particular focus on breeding issues.

The charity, which uses veterinary and scientific knowledge to improve animal welfare, will award a combined total of £70,000, including £40,000 from the Norman Hayward Fund to go towards research into horses, cattle and sheep, and £30,000 for research on any species from the AWF general funds.

Chair of AWF Julian Kupfer said: “AWF’s Research Call for 2023 gives a unique opportunity for researchers to utilise human behaviour change science to positively advance animal welfare through innovative research, bridging the gap between knowledge and real-world impact leading to animals experiencing a better life.”

Past AWF-funded projects include Dr Rowena Packer’s 2020 investigation into the motivations and behaviours of UK owners acquiring puppies during lockdown. Nicknamed ‘Pandemic puppies’, this original AWF funding has since leveraged a further £200,000 of funding for follow-on projects.

In 2022, Dr Sandra Baker’s “An assessment of the relative welfare impacts of different rat control methods” research findings supported BVA glue traps policy and informed the 2022 Glue Traps Offence Act.

The deadline for research proposal submissions is 9am on Friday, August 4, 2023.