Rate My Professor Peta Taylor

Dr. Peta Taylor is a lecturer in the School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England. She holds a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience from La Trobe University, a Master of Science in Neuroscience from the University of New England, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science from the University of Melbourne. Her research specializations include the behaviour and welfare of commercial poultry, focusing on ranging behaviour, environmental enrichment, and welfare assessment in free-range systems. Taylor has contributed to Poultry Hub Australia projects and provided educational content for the Bachelor of Agriculture program.

Prominent publications co-authored by Taylor during her association with UNE encompass "Ranging behaviour of commercial free-range broiler chickens 1: Factors related to flock variability" (Animals, 2017), "Frequent range visits further from the shed relate positively to free-range broiler chicken welfare" (Animal, 2020), "An effective environmental enrichment framework for the continual improvement of production animal welfare" (Animal Welfare, 2023), "Effect of pecking stones and age on feather cover, hen mortality, and performance in free-range laying hens" (Poultry Science, 2020), "Ranging behavior relates to welfare indicators pre- and post-range access in commercial free-range broilers" (Poultry Science, 2018), and "Anticipatory behavior for a mealworm reward in laying hens is reduced by opioid receptor antagonism but not standard feed intake" (Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 2020). These works have informed practical improvements in poultry housing and management. Additionally, Taylor engages in editorial roles as senior editor for the International Society for Applied Ethology and participates in animal welfare policy through advisory committees.