Education

Post-doctoral fellow at McGill, Queen’s and Concordia Universities
DPhil, Department of Zoology, Oxford1988
BSc and MSc, Biology, McGill University

Research Interests

Dan works with students and colleagues in the Animal Welfare Program using behavioural and other non-invasive measures to objectively assess various aspects of animal well-being. One focus of recent work is the dairy cow, and welfare issues important in this species.

Current projects include work on cow comfort and free-stall design, calf rearing and calf housing. We are also  pursuing new projects on the welfare of laboratory, companion and wild animals.

In his graduate and postdoctoral work Dan focused on acoustic communication and vocal behavior in wild birds and mammals. He has now turned his interests to the development of objective methods of assessing animal well-being. This more recent work includes more basic research on how vocal and other behaviors can provide us with information about an animal's physical and emotional state, as well as how these measures can be applied to find better ways of handling animals

For more details, please visit the Animal Welfare Program web site .  

Teaching

Dan Weary and David Fraser offer the undergraduate course Animal welfare and the ethics of animal use during the spring semester. Senior undergraduates with a strong interest in the topic are also able to participate in hands-on research in Animal Welfare by enrolling in the undergraduate thesis course and can take the Graduate Seminar in Animal Welfare

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

Drissler, M., M. Gaworski, C. B. Tucker, D. M. Weary. 2005. Freestall maintenance: changes in bedding over time and the effects on lying behavior of dairy cattle J. Dairy Sci. in press

Huzzey, J.M., M.A.G. von Keyserlingk, Weary, D.M. 2005. Changes in feeding, drinking, and standing behavior of dairy cows during the transition period. J. Dairy Sci. in press.

Vickers, K.J., Niel, L., Kiehlbauch, L.M., Weary, D.M. 2005. Calf response to caustic paste and hot-iron dehorning using sedation with and without local anesthetic. J. Dairy Sci. 88: 1454-1459.

Pinheiro Machado , L.C., D L. Teixeira, D.M. Weary, M.A.G. von Keyserlingk, M.J. Hötzel. 2004. Designing better water troughs: dairy cows prefer and drink more from larger troughs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 89: 185-193.

von Keyserlingk, M. A. G., Brusius, L., Weary, D. M. 2004. Competition for teats and feeding behavior by group-housed dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 87: 4190-4194.

Tucker, C.B., Weary, D.M. 2004. Bedding on geotextile mattresses: how much is needed to improve cow comfort? J. Dairy Sci. 87: 2889-2895.

Ceballos, A., Sanderson, D., Rushen, J., Weary, D.M. 2004. Improving stall design: Use of 3-D kinematics to measure space use by cows when lying down J. Dairy Sci. 87: 2042-2050.

Zdanowicz, M., J. A. Shelford, C. Tucker, D. M. Weary, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk. 2004. Sand and sawdust bedding affect bacterial populations on teat ends of dairy cows housed in freestalls. J. Dairy Sci. 87: 1694-1701.

Tucker, C.B., Weary, D.M., Fraser, D. 2004. Freestall dimensions: effects of preferences and stall usage. J. Dairy Sci. 87:1208-1216.

Fregonesi, J.A., Tucker, C.B., Weary, D.M., Flower, F.C., Vittie, T. 2004. Effect of rubber flooring in front of the feed bunk on the behavior of dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 87:1203-1207.

DeVries, T. J., M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, D. M. Weary. 2004. Effect of feeding space on the inter-cow distance, aggression, and feeding behavior of free-stall housed lactating dairy cows J. Dairy Sci. 87: 1432-1438.

Langford, F. M., Weary, D. M., Fisher, L. 2003. Antibiotic resistance in gut bacteria from dairy calves: a dose response to the level of antibiotics fed in milk. J. Dairy Sci. 86: 3963-3966.

DeVries, T. J., M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, D. M. Weary, K. A. Beauchemin. 2003. Technical note: validation of a system for monitoring feeding behavior of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 86: 3571-3574.

DeVries, T. J., M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, D. M. Weary, K. A. Beauchemin. 2003. Measuring the feeding behavior of lactating dairy cows in early to peak lactation. J. Dairy Sci. 86:3354-3361.

Flower, F., Weary, D. M. 2003. The effects of early separation of the dairy cow and calf. Anim. Welfare 12: 339-348.

Tucker, C.B., Weary, D.M., Fraser, D. 2003. Effects of three types of free-stall surfaces on preferences and stall usage by dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 86:521-529.

Lessard, M., Taylor, A.A., Braithwaite, L., Weary, D.M. 2002.  Humoral and cellular immune responses of piglets after castration at different ages. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 82: 519–526.

Jasper, J., Weary, D.M. 2002. Effects of ad libitum milk intake on dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 85, 3054-3058.

Marchant-Forde, J.N., Marchant-Forde, R.M., Weary, D.M. 2002. Responses of dairy cows and calves to each other's vocalizations after early separation. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 78, 19-28.

Ceballos, A., Weary, D. M. 2002. A note on the effects of a food reward on improving entrance to the parlor. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 77, 249-254

Pitts, A.D., Weary, D.M., Fraser, D., Pajor, E.A., and Kramer, D.L., 2002. Alternative housing for sows and litters. – Part 5. Individual differences in the maternal behaviour of sows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 76, 291-306.

Weary, D.M., Pajor, E.A., Bonenfant, M., Fraser, D., Kramer, D.L., 2002. Alternative housing for sows and litters. – Part 4. Effects of sow-controlled housing combined with a communal piglet area on pre- and post-weaning behaviour and performance. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 76, 279-290.

Pajor, E.A., Weary, D.M., Caceres , C., Fraser, D., Kramer, D.L., 2002. Alternative housing for sows and litters. – Part 3. Effects of diet quality for piglets on pre- and post-weaning behaviour and performance. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 76, 267-277.

Chua, B., Coenen, E., van Delen, J., and Weary, D.M. 2002. Effects of pair versus individual housing on the behavior and performance of dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 85, 360-364.

Thomas, T.J., Weary, D.M., and Appleby, M.C. 2001. Newborn and 5-week old calves vocalize in response to milk deprivation. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 74, 165-173.

Appleby, M.C., Weary, D.M., and Chua, B. 2001. Performance and feeding behaviour of calves on ad libitum milk from artificial teats. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 74, 191-201.

Taylor, A.A., Weary, D.M., Lessard, M., and Braithwaite, L.A. 2001. Behavioural response of piglets to castration: the effect of piglet age. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 73, 35-43.

Tucker, C.B., Fraser, D. and Weary, D.M. 2001. Tail docking dairy cattle: effects on cow cleanliness and udder health. J. Dairy Sci. 84, 84-87.

Flower, F. and Weary, D. 2001. Effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf: 2. Separation at 1 day and 2 weeks after birth. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 70, 275-284.

Taylor, A.A. and Weary, D.M. 2000. Vocal response of piglets to castration: identifying procedural sources of pain. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 70, 17-26.

Faulkner, P. and Weary, D.M. 2000. Reducing pain after dehorning in dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 83, 2037-2041.

Weary, D. and Chua, B., 2000. Effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf: 1. Separation at 6 h, 1 day and 4 days after birth. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 69, 177-188.

Cloutier, S., Weary, D.M. and Fraser D. 2000. Can ambient sounds reduce distress in piglets during weaning and handling? J. Appl. Anim. Welfare Sci. 3, 107-116.  

Pitts, A., Weary, D.M., Pajor E.A. and Fraser, D. 2000. Mixing at young ages reduces fighting in unacquainted domestic pigs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 68:191-197.

Weary, D.M. and Taszkun, I. 2000. Hock lesions and free-stall design. J. Dairy Sci. 83: 697-702.

Pajor, E.A., Weary, D.M., Fraser, D. and Kramer, D.L. 1999. Alternative housing for sows and litters: 1. Effects of sow-controlled housing on responses to weaning. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 65: 105-121  

Weary, D.M., Pajor, E.A., Bonnenfant, M., Ross, S.K., Fraser, D. and Kramer, D.L. 1999. Alternative housing for sows and litters: 2. Effects of a communal piglet area on pre- and post-weaning behaviour and performance. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 65: 123-135.

Appleby, M.C., Weary, D.M., Taylor , A.A.  and Illmann, G. 1999. Vocal communication in pigs: who are nursing piglets screaming at?. Ethology, 105: 881-892.

Weary, D.M. and Fraser, D. 1999. Partial tooth-clipping of suckling pigs: effects on neonatal competition and facial injuries. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 65, 21-27.

Weary, D.M., Appleby, M.C. and Fraser, D. 1999. Responses of piglets to early separation from the sow. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 63, 289-300.

Robert, S, Weary, D.M. and Gonyou, H. 1999. Segregated early weaning and welfare of piglets. J. Appl. Anim. Welfare Sci., 2, 31-40.

Weary, D.M. and Fraser, D. 1998. Replication and pseudoreplication: a comment on Phillips (1998). Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 61, 181-183.

Weary, D.M., Phillips, P.A., Pajor, E.A., Fraser, D. and Thompson, B.K. 1998. Crushing of piglets by sows: effects of litter features, pen features and sow behaviour. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 61, 103-111.

Weary, D.M., Braithwaite, L.A. and Fraser, D. 1998. Vocal response to pain in piglets. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 56, 161-172.

Weary, D.M. and Fraser, D. 1997. Vocal responses of piglets to weaning: effect of piglet age. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 54, 153-160.

Fraser, D., Weary, D.M., Pajor, E.A. and Milligan, B.N. 1997. A scientific conception of animal welfare that reflects ethical concerns Animal Welfare 6: 187-205.

Weary, D.M., Ross, S.K. and Fraser, D. 1997. Vocalizations by isolated piglets: a reliable indicator of piglet need directed towards the sow. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 53, 249-257.

Weary, D.M., Lawson, G. and Thompson, B.K. 1996. Sows show stronger responses to isolation calls of piglets associated with greater levels of piglet need. Anim. Behav., 52, 1247-1253.

Weary, D.M., Pajor, E.A., Fraser, D. and Honkanen, A.-M. 1996. Sow body movements that crush piglets: a comparison between two types of farrowing accommodation. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 49, 149-158.

Weary, D.M., Pajor, E.A., Thompson, B.K. and Fraser, D. 1996. The relationship between piglet body condition and proximity to the sow: a trade-off between feeding and the risk of mortality by maternal crushing? Anim. Behav., 51, 619-624.

Horn, A.G., Leonard, M.L. and Weary, D.M. 1995. Oxygen consumption during crowing by roosters: talk is cheap. Anim. Behav., 50, 1171-1175.

Fraser, D., Kramer, D.L., Pajor, E.A. and Weary, D.M. 1995. Conflict and cooperation: sociobiological principles and the behaviour of pigs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 44, 139-157.

Weary, D.M. and Fraser, D. 1995. Signalling need: costly signals and animal welfare assessment. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 44, 159-169.

Weary, D.M. & Fraser, D. 1995. Calling by domestic piglets: reliable signals of need? Anim. Behav., 50, 1046-1055.

Weary, D.M. and Kramer, D.L. 1995. Response of eastern chipmunks to conspecific alarm calls. Anim. Behav., 49, 81-93.

(For publications in 1994 and earlier please e-mail Dr. Weary)

Chapters in Conference Proceedings

Weary, D.M. 2005. Alternative management and housing to improve the well-being of dairy calves. Proceedings from "Dairy Calves and Heifers: Integrating Biology and Management". NRAES, Ithaca, NY. P. 66-73.

Weary, D.M. & von Keyserlingk, M.A.G. 2004. Lameness research at UBC. In: Official Proceedings 39th Annual Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference. Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference, Seattle WA. p. 99-104.

von Keyserlingk, M.A.G., DeVries, T. & Weary, D.M. 2004. Feeding behavior and comfort and feed bunk. In: Official Proceedings 39th Annual Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference. Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference, Seattle WA. p. 89-98.

Fraser, D. & Weary, D.M. 2004. The culture and science of animal welfare. AquaNet Fish Welfare Workshop, Campbell River, BC, September 27, 2004.

Weary, D.M. & Tucker, C. 2004. The science of cow comfort. Advanced Dairy Nutrition and Management 2004. Cornell Total Dairy Management, Ithaca, NY, August 16-19, 2004.

Weary, D.M. 2004. Listening to calves: insights from calf behavior for alternative approaches to calf rearing. Advanced Dairy Nutrition and Management 2004. Cornell Total Dairy Management, Ithaca, NY, August 16-19, 2004.

Tucker, C. Weary, D.M., Rushen, J. & de Passillé, A.M. 2004  Designing better environments for dairy cattle to rest. Advances in Dairy Technology, Volume 16: 39-53. (Proceedings of the 2004 Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, University of Alberta, Edmonton .)

de Passillé, A.M. , Rushen, J. & Weary, D.M. 2004. Designing good environments and management for calves. Advances in Dairy Technology, Volume 16: 75-89 (Proceedings of the 2004 Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, University of Alberta, Edmonton.)  

Rushen, J., de Passillé, A.M., Tucker, C. Weary, D.M. Designing better environments for cows to walk and stand. Advances in Dairy Technology, Volume 16: 55-64. (Proceedings of the 2004 Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, University of Alberta, Edmonton.)  

Weary, D.M. 2003. Alternative approaches to calf rearing. Proceedings of the Joint Meeting of the Ontario Agri Business Association and the Ontario Association of Bovine Practitioners, Guelph, Ont., April, 2003. (update of text prepared for Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, 2001).

Weary, D.M.  & Tucker, C. 2003. The science of cow comfort. Proceedings of the Joint Meeting of the Ontario Agri Business Association and the Ontario Association of Bovine Practitioners, Guelph, Ont., April, 2003. Pp. 29-43.

Gaworski, M. A., Tucker, C.B., and Weary, D.M. 2003. Effects of two free-stall designs on dairy cattle behavior. Proceedings of the Fifth International Dairy Housing Conference. January 29-31, 2003, Fort Worth , Texas. Pp. 139-146. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, MI.

Mowbray, L., Vittie, T., and Weary, D.M. 2003. Hock lesions and free-stall design: effects of stall surface. Proceedings of the Fifth International Dairy Housing Conference. January 29-31, 2003, Fort Worth, Texas. Pp. 288-295. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, MI.

Weary, D.M. & de Passillé, A.M. 2002. Gestion alternative des veaux: amelioration du bien-être et de la production. Préparez l’avenir! 26e Symposium sur les bovines laitiers, Centre de Référence en Agriculture et Agroalimentaire du Québec, Québec. (Modified and translated version text first prepared for Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, 2001)

Weary, D.M. 2002. Four fallacies of dairy calf rearing. In: Official Proceedings 37th Annual Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference. Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference, Vancouver, BC, October 9-10 (update of text prepared for Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, 2001) 

Weary, D.M. 2001. Calf management: improving calf welfare and production. Advances in Dairy Technology, Volume 13: 107-118. (Proceedings of the 2001 Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, University of Alberta, Edmonton.)

Tucker, C.B. and Weary, D.M. 2001. Stall design: enhancing cow comfort. Advances in Dairy Technology, Volume 13: 155-168. (Proceedings of the 2001 Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, University of Alberta, Edmonton.)

Bell, E. and Weary, D.M. 2000. The effects of farm environment and management on laminitis. In: Official Proceedings 35th Annual Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference. Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference, Spokane WA .

Fraser, D., Jasper, J. and Weary, D.M. 2000. Environmental enrichment to improve animal welfare: goals, methods, and measures of success. Pages 1283-1294 in M. Balls, A.M. van Zeller and M.E. Halder (editors) Progress in the Reduction, Refinement and Replacement of Animal Experimentation, Developments in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Vol. 31. Elsevier, Amsterdam .

Robert, S, Weary, D.M. and Gonyou, H. 1997. Segregated early weaning and the welfare of piglets. In: Farm Animal Welfare in Canada (Ed. by S. Robert). Pp. 133-140. Lennoxville, Quebec, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada .

Weary, D.M. 1995. Behavioural approaches to animal welfare assessment. In: Animal Science Research and Development: Moving Toward a New Century (Ed. by M. Ivan), Pp. 455-463. Ottawa , Centre for Food and Animal Research.

Fraser, D., Phillips, P., Thompson, B.K., Pajor, E., Weary, D. and Braithwaite, L. 1995. Behavior and misbehavior in the lactating sow and litter. In: Management and Nutrition of the Lactating Sow, Pp. 1-17. Des Moines , American Association of Swine Practitioners.

Book  Chapters

Fraser, D. and Weary, D.M. 2004. Applied animal behavior and animal welfare. In: The Behavior of Animals: Mechanisms, Function and Evolution (Ed. by J.J. Bolhuis and L.-A. Giraldeau). Blackwell, Oxford , pp. 345-366.

Weary D.M. and Fraser, D. 2004. Rethinking painful management procedures. In: The Well-Being of Farm Animals: Challenges and Solutions (Ed. by G. J. Benson and B.E. Rollins). Blackwell, Oxford , pp. 325-338.

Fraser, D. and Weary D.M. 2004. Quality of life for farm animals: linking science and ethics. In: The Well-Being of Farm Animals: Challenges and Solutions (Ed. by G. J. Benson and B.E. Rollins). Blackwell,   Oxford , pp. 39-60.

Lund , V. and Weary, D.M. 2003. Understanding animal behaviour and its use in organic animal husbandry. In: Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture (Ed. by M. Vaarst, S. Roderick, V. Lund and W. Lockeretz). CABI, Wallingford , U.K. pp. 95-110.

Weary, D.M. and Fraser, D. 2002. Social and reproductive behaviour. In: The Ethology of Domestic Animals: an Introductory Text (Ed. by P. Jensen). CAB International, Wallingford , pp. 65-77.

Fraser, D., Milligan, B.N., Pajor, E.A., Phillips, P.A., Taylor , A.A. and Weary, D.M. 1998. Behavioural perspectives on weaning in pigs. In: Progress in Pig Science (Ed. by J. Wiseman, M.A. Varley and J.P. Chadwick). Nottingham University Press, Nottingham , pp. 121-140

Weary, D.M. 1996. How birds use frequency to recognize their songs. In: Neuroethological Studies of Cognitive and Perceptual Processes (Ed. by C.F. Moss and S. Shettleworth ) Pp. 138-157. Boulder , Westview Pres

Fraser, D., Phillips, P., Thompson, B.K., Pajor, E., Weary, D. and Braithwaite, L. 1995. Behavioural aspects of piglet survival and growth. In: The Neonatal Pig: Development and Survival (Ed. by M. Varley), Pp. 287-312. Wallingford U.K. , CAB International.

Phillips, P., Fraser, D., Thompson, B.K., Buckley, D., Pajor, E., Weary, D. and Braithwaite, L. 1994. Swine behaviour research at the Central Experimental Farm. In: Advances in Pork Production, Vol. 5 (Ed. by G. Foxcroft), Pp. 37-48. Edmonton , Department of Animal Science, University of Alberta .

Weary, D.M. 1992. The use of operant techniques in studying song perception. In: Playback and Studies of Animal Communication (Ed. by P.K McGregor), Pp. 201-210. New York : Plenum Press.

McGregor, P.K., Catchpole, C.K., Dabelsteen, T., Falls, J.B., Fusabi, L., Gerhart, H.C., Gilbert, F., Horn, A.G., Klump, G.M., Kroodsma, D.E., Lambrechts, M.M., McComb, K.E., Nelson, D.A., Pepperberg, I.M., Ratcliffe, L., Searcy, W.A. and Weary, D.M. 1992. Design of playback experiments: The Thornbridge Hall NATO ARW consensus. In: Playback and Studies of Animal Communication (Ed. by P.K McGregor), Pp. 1-10. New York : Plenum Press.

Additional Activities & Affiliations: 

• Animal Welfare Program
• Centre for Applied Ethics
• UBC Dairy Research & Educations Centre