Welcome to The Animal Echo

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) plays a critical role in collecting, managing and disseminating extensive animal health data. To manage this data, the Organisation is pioneering the Data Architecture Project (DAP), which will establish a central data repository, enabling integration and connectivity across all WOAH datasets.

Smallholder livestock systems face increasing challenges due to climate variability, particularly heat stress, which impacts animal health, welfare and productivity. Traditional productivity measurements, such as milk yield or growth rate, are labour-intensive, costly and fail to capture an animal’s overall adaptability. In response, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are pioneering a novel phenotyping approach using low-cost sensors, video analysis and artificial intelligence (AI).

What if your barn could spot an illness before you do? AI is quietly transforming how we care for animals. Discover how.

Four experts reveal how AI is transforming disease surveillance and veterinary practice In a remote region of California, a wildlife rehabilitation centre uploads routine clinical notes about an injured eagle showing signs of neurological symptoms. Within hours, an AI system flags this case alongside similar reports from across the State, detecting an unusual pattern that might signal an emerging disease outbreak—weeks before traditional surveillance methods would notice.

Globally, the veterinary profession is undergoing a significant gender-related shift, with more women entering the field – including in some developing countries in South-East Asia [1]. However, gender disparities in veterinary services persist across many sectors of animal health, particularly in regions like West Africa [2]. Women already play a pivotal role in animal care, comprising about two-thirds of the world’s animal owners, amounting to an estimated 400 million women globally.

In the field of animal health and welfare, it may initially seem odd to include outcomes of foresight exercises to influence policies or strategies, especially when current policies are based on scientific evidence and draw from forecasting and disease modelling. However, in the face of complex and systemic health issues, scientific evidence alone may not be enough to galvanise action.

In 2022, a group of WOAH staff members set up the Gender Task Force (GTF) to start exploring and discussing the relevance of gender for the Organisation and its Members. Alongside studies documenting the circumstances of men and women in selected countries (Senegal, Togo and 12 nations in Asia), and activities during WOAH’s 90th General Session in May 2023 [1,2], the GTF secured funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through the Systemic Action for Gender Equality (SAGE) programme to support the development of a gender strategy in 2025. This article explores the rationale and benefits of such an initiative.  

Animal diseases are spreading faster than ever; here are four key things you need to know from WOAH’s global report.

The life of a veterinarian is both rewarding and challenging. What does it take to truly thrive as a veterinarian? Dr. Yasmin shares insights.

Through visual storytelling, Matteo de Mayda reveals the fragile Venice lagoon and its deep connection to animal and human health. Discover more.

Discover why biosecurity is a positive driving force like no other.