Alexandra Harlander is honored with the Poultry Welfare Research Award

This award recognizes original research on poultry welfare in any discipline that has been published in the last five years (2017-2021).

Dr. Harlander's interest for the impact of husbandry on animal behaviour and physiology blossomed from her childhood, growing up in the Austrian Alps around farm animals. The overarching goal of Alexandra's research is to improve poultry welfare. To this end, she has worked with laying hens, broilers, turkeys, quails and ducks. While her research is grounded in her veterinary training, she has not shied away from immersing herself in various other disciplines. Indeed, she has borrowed ideas and techniques from these complimentary fields to build a multidisciplinary research portfolio, characterized by interdisciplinary efforts and collaboration. Her research has three main pillars: behaviour and the gut-brain axis; keel injuries and environmental design; exposure to excreta and welfare. The creativity in study design within these research pillars and her curiosity to sample new territories have led Alexandra to be one of the most creative researchers in poultry welfare science. In addition to a rich research landscape, Alexandra is an enthusiastic teacher and student mentor, working with students and colleagues both locally, in the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, and around the world to improve the lives of poultry and, in turn, those who care for them. Many of her undergraduate and graduate students are positioned in the poultry industry, have continued their education at the Veterinary College, authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications, and awarded 18 national and international "Best student presentation prizes” between 2015-2021, including PSA and 3MT Awards. The successes of her students bring Alexandra great joy and are a point of pride for the Faculty.