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About David
Professor David Main is a veterinary surgeon and Professor of Production Animal Health and Welfare in the Agriculture, Food and the Environment faculty at the Royal Agricultural University, where he holds qualifications BVetMed, PhD, CertVR, DWEL, DipECAWBM (AWSEL), MRCVS and serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor. His career includes former chairmanship of the Home Office Animals in Science Committee for six years, membership of the Farm Animal Welfare Council, Soil Association Council, and current membership of McDonald’s Global Chicken Sustainability Advisory Council. These roles underscore his influence in animal welfare policy and oversight of scientific procedures involving animals, including contributions to government strategies promoting non-animal research methods.
Main's research specializations encompass the science and practice of knowledge exchange, animal welfare assessment and improvement strategies, and animal welfare education within production animal systems. He led the AssureWel project in collaboration with RSPCA and Soil Association, integrating welfare outcomes into farm assurance certification schemes; developed the Healthy Feet Project, adopted widely across the UK dairy industry; and coordinated the EU H2020 Hennovation project exploring participatory approaches to innovation in the laying hen sector. Ongoing projects include constructing a conceptual framework for health-related quality of life assessment in calves with pneumonia through partnership with Zoetis Outcomes Research, co-developing strategies for broiler system redesign to meet the Better Chicken Commitment, and identifying best practices in dairy-bred beef calf rearing funded by AHDB Beef and Lamb. His scholarly impact is evidenced by highly cited publications such as 'Assessment of the welfare of dairy cattle using animal-based measurements: direct observations and investigation of farm records' (Veterinary Record, 2003, 794 citations), 'Assessment of positive welfare: A review' (The Veterinary Journal, 2008, 703 citations), 'Assessment of the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys, using health and behaviour parameters' (Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2005, 515 citations), and 'Assessment of lameness prevalence and associated risk factors in dairy herds in England and Wales' (Journal of Dairy Science, 2010, 474 citations). Professor Main received the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2026 New Year Honours for services to animal welfare and the RSPCA Assured Queen Victoria Silver Medal in 2025 for significant contributions to improving farm animal lives in the UK.
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