Kate Parkes
RSPCA farmed animal welfare scientist
Kate Parkes is section manager for pigs and poultry in the RSPCA’s farm animals department, where she leads on meat chicken welfare and oversees and supports the development of the RSPCA’s evidence-based welfare standards, of these other species which must be met by RSPCA Assured members.
Kate has more than 20 years of experience in animal welfare science. She joined the RSPCA in 2005 and has held a range of scientific roles, including senior scientific officer, before moving into her current position.
Earlier in her career, she studied biological sciences at the University of Oxford, graduating in 2001, before completing an MSc in applied animal behaviour and animal welfare at the University of Edinburgh in 2003, where she graduated with distinction. Her research explored perching behaviour in laying hens, helping shape her focus on practical welfare improvements in farming systems.
Kate specialises in pig and poultry welfare and contributes to the ongoing development of welfare standards and approaches to assessing welfare outcomes.
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