Dr Steven McCulloch

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Biography

Steven is Senior Lecturer in Human-Animal Studies and Programme Leader for the BA Animal Welfare and Society, and part of the University’s Animal Welfare Research Group.

Steven qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2002 from Bristol University and holds a BA Philosophy from Birkbeck College, London University. He has a PhD from the RVC, London for his thesis ‘The British animal health and welfare policy process: accounting for the interests of sentient species’. Steven is a diplomat of ECAWBM and a recognised veterinary specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law.

Steven’s research is focused on the science, ethics and policy of animal protection and he has published widely in these areas. He has been invited to speak about his research at the UK Parliament in Westminster and the EU Parliament in Brussels. He has presented his research at international and national conferences including the UK Centre for Animal Law, the BVA AWF, UFAW, ECAWBM, the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights, and the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum.

Steven is head of research for the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation. He is Section Editor for Animals in Public Policy, Politics and Society for the journal Animals and he coordinates the monthly ‘Everyday Ethics’ column in the professional veterinary journal In Practice.

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Areas of expertise

Steven has expertise in animal welfare science, ethics, policy and law. He has published reports on non-stun slaughter, farrowing crates, British public opinion on farm animal welfare, and mandatory labelling policy. He has published research on UK government policy making, political party manifestos and animal protection policies, bovine TB and badger culling, food sustainability and farm animal welfare education in England, the welfare of wild fish in commercial fisheries, and CITES and the wildlife trade. He has also published several articles and reports on public beliefs and attitudes on animal welfare. Steven has argued that the veterinary profession must be strong advocates for animal rights to better protect animal welfare.

Steven’s earlier research focused on UK government policy making and the impacts of Brexit on animal welfare. His research found that UK government policy excludes the interests of sentient animals, and proposed animal welfare impact assessment and ethical analysis to include the consideration of sentient species. In 2021, Steven was invited to give oral evidence to the Parliamentary EFRA Committee inquiry into the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill. Steven submitted a REF2021 impact case study on Animal welfare impact assessment, Brexit, and sentience policy.

Publications

Journal articles

Jones, A., McCulloch, S. P. and Reiss, M. J. (2024) Stakeholder perceptions of primary school education about food sustainability and farm animal welfare in England. Research in Science and Technological Education. Read it online
Vasileva, I. and McCulloch, S. P. (2023). Attitudes and Behaviours Towards Cats and Barriers to Stray Cat Management in Bulgaria. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. Online publication 16 March. Read it online
Pettit, S. G. and McCulloch, S. P. (2023). Odontocetes (‘Toothed Whales’): Cognitive Science and Moral Standing Are Dolphins Persons? Journal of Applied Animal Ethics Research. Online publication 18 January. Read it online
Huss, A. and McCulloch, S. P. (2023). The Political Salience of Animal Protection in the Netherlands (2012-2021) and Belgium (2010-2019): What do Dutch and Belgian Political Parties Pledge on Animal Welfare and Wildlife Conservation? Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. Vol 36, Issue 4. DOI 10.1007/s10806-023-09899-6. Read it online
Garratt, J. K. and McCulloch, S. P. (2022). Wild Fish Welfare in UK Commercial Sea Fisheries:
Qualitative Analysis of Stakeholder Views. Animals 12, no. 20: 2756. DOI 10.3390/ani12202756. Read it online
Halliday, C. and McCulloch, S. P. (2022). Beliefs and Attitudes of British Residents about the Welfare of Fur-Farmed Species and the Import and Sale of Fur Products in the UK. Animals 12, no. 5: 538. DOI 10.3390/ani12050538. Read it online
Mace, J. L. and McCulloch, S. P. (2022). Yoga Teachers on Consuming Animals: Dietary Journeys, Barriers to Veganism, and Negotiating Ahimsa. Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology 26: 1-29. doi:10.1163/15685357-20211211. Read it online
Rivera, S. N., Knight, A. and McCulloch, S. P. (2021). Surviving the Wildlife Trade in Southeast Asia: Reforming the ‘Disposal’ of Confiscated Live Animals under CITES. Animals 11, no. 2: 439. DOI 10.3390/ani11020439. Read it online
Mace, J. L. and McCulloch, S. P. (2020). Yoga, Ahimsa and Consuming Animals: UK Yoga Teachers’ Beliefs about Farmed Animals and Attitudes to Plant-Based Diets. Animals 10, no. 3: 480. DOI 10.3390/ani10030480. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2019). Brexit and Animal Welfare Impact Assessment: Analysis of the Opportunities Brexit Presents for Animal Protection in the UK, EU and Internationally. Animals 9, no. 11: 877. DOI 10.3390/ani9110877. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2019). Brexit and Animal Welfare Impact Assessment: Analysis of the Threats Brexit Poses to Animal Protection in the UK, EU and Internationally. Animals 9, no. 3: 117. DOI 10.3390/ani9030117. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). Brexit and Animal Protection: Legal and Political Context and a Framework to Assess Impacts on Animal Welfare. Animals 8, no. 11: 213. DOI 10.3390/ani8110213. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P., & Reiss, M. J. (2018). A Proposal for A UK Ethics Council for Animal Policy: The Case for Putting Ethics Back Into Policy Making. Animals 8, no. 6: 88. DOI 10.3390/ani8060088. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P., & Reiss, M. J. (2017). Bovine Tuberculosis and Badger Control in Britain: Science, Policy and Politics. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. doi: 10.1007/s10806-017-9686-3. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P., & Reiss, M. J. (2017). The Development of an Animal Welfare Impact Assessment (AWIA) Tool and Its Application to Bovine Tuberculosis and Badger Control in England. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. doi: 10.1007/s10806-017-9684-5. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P., & Reiss, M. J. (2017). Bovine Tuberculosis and Badger Culling in England: A Utilitarian Analysis of Policy Options. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. doi: 10.1007/s10806-017-9680-9. Read it online??
McCulloch, S. P., & Reiss, M. J. (2017). Bovine Tuberculosis and Badger Culling in England: An Animal Rights-Based Analysis of Policy Options. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. doi: 10.1007/s10806-017-9685-4. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P., & Reiss, M. J. (2017). Bovine Tuberculosis Policy in England: Would a Virtuous Government Cull Mr Badger? Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. doi.org/10.1007/s10806-017-9687-2. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P., Reiss M. J., Wathes C. M. and Jinman P. (2014). What’s in a word? The RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct and Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons. Viewpoint Article. Veterinary Record. Volume 174, Issue 3. doi: 10.1136/vr.f7520. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2012). A Critique of FAWC’s Five Freedoms as a Framework for the Analysis of Animal Welfare. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. Springer. DOI 10.1007/s10806-012-9434-7. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2012). On the Virtue of Solidarity: Animal Rights, Animal Welfarism and Animals’ Rights to Wellbeing. Journal of Animal Welfare Law. Spring/Summer 2012: 5-15
McCulloch, S. P. (2012). Against an aesthetic basis for animal protection: a reply to David Lamb’s ‘Welfare and aesthetics’. The Journal of the AWSELVA Vol.15 No.1 Winter 2011-2012 Read it online
McCulloch, S. (2011). The Bionic Vet: we don't know where to draw the line. The great debate. The Veterinary Times, Vol 41, No 4: 14
Phillips, C. J. C. and McCulloch, S. (2005). Student attitudes on animal sentience and use of animals in society. Journal of Biological Education, 40 1: 17-24 Read it online

Reports and evidence

McCulloch S., Chaney, P. and Riley, L. (2024). Political Animals: The Democratic and Electoral Case for Strong Animal Welfare Policies in UK General Elections. Humane Society International UK. London, UK. Read it online
McCulloch, S. (2024). Submission to the DEFRA Consultation on fairer food labelling. Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation. UK.
McCulloch, S. (2024). Labelling for Animal Welfare in the UK: Promoting Consumer Choice, Supporting British Farmers and Improving Animal Welfare. Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2023). Farm Animal Welfare in the UK: What Does the British Public Want? Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation.
McCulloch, S. (2022). Banning Farrowing Crates in the UK: Transitioning to Free Farrowing to Meet the Welfare Needs of Pigs. Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation: London, UK. Read it online
McCulloch, S. and Riley, L. (2022). Reforming UK Non-Stun Slaughter Regulation: Assessing Impacts on Meat Exports in Germany, New Zealand, and other Nations with Progressive Licensing and Prohibition Law. Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation: London, UK.
McCulloch, S. P. (2021). Written evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2021). Transcript of oral evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. Read it online

Short articles

McCulloch, S. (2023). British farming methods need reform to match high animal welfare standards. Politics Home: The House Magazine. Read it online
McCulloch S. (2023). Vets must be strong advocates for animal rights. Veterinary Record, Vol. 192, Issue 12. Read it online
Garratt, J. and McCulloch, S. (2023). Wild Fish Feel Pain But They Have No Welfare Protections. Sentient Media. Read it online
McCulloch, S. (2022). The UK must ban farrowing crates. The UK must ban farrowing crates. Vet Record.
McCulloch, S. (2022). Celebrating and discussing progress in animal welfare at the UK Parliament. The UoW Blog
McCulloch, S. (2021). Animal sentience bill is necessary for the UK to be a true world leader in animal welfare. The Conversation
McCulloch, S. (2021). Animal Sentience: The Conservatives would be batty to vote against it. Politics.co.uk
McCulloch, S. P. (2020). The Agriculture Bill, the role of Parliament, and the need for a Trade Commission. ChlorinatedChickenBrexit
McCulloch, S. P. (2020). The Conservative government must protect British food standards in the Agriculture Bill. ChlorinatedChickenBrexit
McCulloch, S. P. (2020). Brexit and animal welfare in a globalized world. YaleGlobal Online
McCulloch, S. P. (2020). A wolf in sheep's clothing. The Ecologist
McCulloch, S. P. (2019). Brexit: bad for animal welfare. The Article
McCulloch, S. P. (2019). Animals don't just feel pain. Why don't politicians understand? The Article
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). Parliament should reject Brexit in the name of animal welfare. The LSE British Politics and Policy Blog
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). How the Conservatives can use Brexit to improve animal welfare governance and their image. The LSE British Politics and Policy Blog
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). How the Political Kaleidoscope of Brexit Poses the Greatest Risks to Animal Welfare. The HuffPost Blog
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). Promoting the Protection of Africa's Elephants at the University of Winchester. The UoW Blog
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). Canadian Seals, English Badgers and Suzy the Parvo Puppy. The UoW Blog
McCulloch, S. P. (2017). The Greatness of a Nation Can Be Judged by How It Treats Its Animals. The HuffPost
McCulloch, S. P. (2017). Brexit, Animal Sentience and Democracy. The UoW Blog
McCulloch, S. P. (2017). Monkey selfies, copyright and animal rights. The UoW Blog
McCulloch, S. P. (2017). General election 2017: what do political party manifestos pledge on animal welfare policy? The UoW Blog
McCulloch, S. P. (2016). Everyday veterinary ethics in 2016. In Practice, 38(10), 526-527. doi: 10.1136/inp.i5703. Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2013). The case of the whelping bitch. In Practice 2014 Vol 36: 102-103 doi:10.1136/inp.g145 Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2013). Is flirting with clients taboo? In Practice 2013 Vol 35: 222-223 doi:10.1136/inp.f2034 Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2012). What if it was your dog? Everyday ethics. In Practice, Vol 34: 494-495 Read it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2011). Financially strapped owner with suffering cat. Everyday ethics. In Practice, Vol 33: 297-298 Read it online

Books and book chapters

McCulloch, S. P. (2017). Singing cadaver. In Fawcett, A. and Mullan, S. (Editors) (2017): Veterinary Ethics: Navigating Tough Cases. 5M Publishing.
McCulloch, S. P. (2017). Food and production animals. In Fawcett, A. and Mullan, S. (Editors) (2017): Veterinary Ethics: Navigating Tough Cases. 5M Publishing.
McCulloch, S P (2017) Informed consent. In Fawcett, A. and Mullan, S. (Editors) (2017): Veterinary Ethics: Navigating Tough Cases. 5M Publishing.
McCulloch, S. P. (2017). Euthanasia or allowed to die? In Fawcett, A. and Mullan, S. (Editors) (2017): Veterinary Ethics: Navigating Tough Cases. 5M Publishing.
McCulloch, S. P. and Reiss M. J. (2017). Killing zoo animals surplus to requirements. In Fawcett, A. and Mullan, S. (Editors) (2017): Veterinary Ethics: Navigating Tough Cases. 5M Publishing.
Heath, S., McCulloch, S., Jacinto, D. and Da Graça Pereira, G. (Editors) (2016). European Congress Animal Welfare and Behaviour Medicine. Cascais, Portugal. ISBN 978-989-99711-0-3.
Wathes, C. M., Corr S. A., May, S. A., McCulloch, S. P. and Whiting, M. C. (Editors) (2013). Veterinary and Animal Ethics: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Veterinary and Animal Ethics, September, 2011. UFAW Animal Welfare Series. Wiley-Blackwell.
McCulloch, S. P. (2013). Agriculture, Animal Welfare and Climate Change. In Wathes, C. M., Corr, S. A., May, S. A., McCulloch, S. P. and Whiting, M. C. (Editors) (2013). Veterinary and Animal Ethics: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Veterinary and Animal Ethics, September, 2011. UFAW Animal Welfare Series. Wiley-Blackwell, pp 84-99.
McCulloch, S. P. (2012). Sustainability, animal welfare and ethical food policy: a comparative analysis of sustainable intensification and holistic integrative naturalism. In Potthast, T. and Meisch, S. (Editors): Climate change and sustainable development: Ethical perspectives on land use and food production. Wageningen Academic Publishers, pp 175-180

Conference papers and academic presentations

McCulloch, S. P. (2024). Labelling for Animal Welfare in the UK: Promoting Consumer Choice, Supporting British Farmers and Improving Animal Welfare. UK Animal Law Conference 2024. Birmingham City University.
McCulloch, S. P. (2024). Farm Animal Welfare in the UK: What Does the British Public Want, and Should Government Policy Reflect Public Opinion? UK Animal Law Conference 2024. Birmingham City University
McCulloch, S. P. (2024). Vets must be strong advocates for animal rights. Welfare, ethics and rights session. British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation Discussion Forum. London, UK.
McCulloch, S. P. (2024). Labelling for Animal Welfare in the UK: Promoting Consumer Choice, Supporting British Farmers and Improving Animal Welfare. DEFRA research seminar. Online.
McCulloch, S. P. (2023). What is animal welfare? Concept, definition, and policy implications. DEFRA research seminar. Online.
McCulloch, S. P. (2023). What does the British public want for farmed animals in the UK? The human-farm animal bond expressed through survey data. 5th Annual Meeting of the EVCBMAW. European Congress of Behavioural Medicine and Animal Welfare. Pisa, Italy.
McCulloch, S. P. (2023). What do we mean by animal welfare? Critique of the three circles model and a proposal for a new definition. UFAW online animal welfare conference: Advancing animal welfare science. Watch it online (1:20)
McCulloch, S. P. (2023). Speech at the Crate Escape Parliamentary reception. Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation. UK Parliament.
McCulloch, S. P. (2022). Animal protection policy in the UK: A case of regulatory capture? Independent office for animal welfare. Animal Ask. Online.
McCulloch, S. (2022). The UK Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act: What an the EU and rest of the world learn from British sentience policy? 4th Annual Meeting of the EVCBMAW. European Congress of Behavioural Medicine and Animal Welfare. Mallorca, Spain.
McCulloch, S. (2022). The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act and the role of the Animal Sentience Committee. European Animal Rights Law Conference 2022. Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law. St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge. Watch it online.
Sparks, P. and McCulloch, S. (2022). National mechanisms to represent animals in policy. Animalaw: Visions for the Future. UK Centre for Animal Law (A-Law) and UFAW. Watch it online (56 min to end)
McCulloch, S. P. (2021). Promoting high animal welfare standards abroad, implications for future trade policy, and banning the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening. Animal health, welfare, and standards in the UK. Westminister Food & Nutrition Forum policy conference.
McCulloch, S. P. (2021). Animal welfare policy in the UK one-year post-Brexit: Assessment of opportunities and threats. Animal Law, Policy and Ethics Conference. UK Centre for Animal Law (A-Law).
McCulloch, S. P. (2021). Government decision making on wild animal welfare: Applying impact assessment and dealing with moral disagreement. Wild Animal Welfare: Does it matter? Can it be assessed? How can it be optimised? Wild Animal Welfare Committee (WAWC). Watch it online (start 46 min, end 1.06 min).

McCulloch, S. P. (2020). Representing sentient animals in public policy. UK Centre for Animal Law. Watch it online.
McCulloch, S. P. (2019). Making a Difference for Farmed Animals in the EU - Where to Start? The New Political Term: What’s On the Horizon for Animals? Eurogroup for Animals. European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium.
McCulloch, S. P. (2019). The British animal health and welfare policy process: Animal welfare impact assessment and ethical analysis as reforms to account for the interests of sentient beings Second Conference on Animal Law, Ethics and Policy. LJMU. Liverpool, UK.
McCulloch, S. P. (2019). Brexit and animal welfare impact assessment: would British animals vote to leave the EU? Second Conference on Animal Law, Ethics and Policy. LJMU. Liverpool, UK. Watch it online
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). The future of animal rights. RebLaw UK 2018. London, UK.
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). A proposal for a UK Ethics Council for Animal Policy: The case for putting ethics back into policy making. ECAWBM Annual Congress. Berlin, Germany.
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). The British animal health and welfare policy process: accounting for the interests of sentient species. ECAWBM Annual Congress. Berlin, Germany.
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). Political accountability mechanisms for animal welfare. ALAW/Link Symposium. London, UK.
McCulloch, S. P. (2018). Panellist. Implementing Sentience Policy. APGAW. London, UK.
McCulloch, S. P. (2017). Would a virtuous government cull Mr Badger? The Application of Animal Welfare Impact Assessment and ethical analysis to bovine TB and badger control policy options. Badger Trust Annual Conference. Preston, UK.
McCulloch, S. P. (2016). Animal welfare, the Five Freedoms and the Good Life Scale. ECAWBM Congress. Cascais, Portugal.

Book reviews

McCulloch, S. P. (2013). Harrison R (2013), Animal Machines. CABI. Animal Welfare 22: 493-495
McCulloch, S. P. (2013). Eadie E. (2013), Understanding Animal Welfare: An Integrated Approach. Palgrave Macmillan. Animal Welfare 22: 299-300
McCulloch, S. P. (2012). Akhtar A. (2012), Animals and Public Health: Why Treating Animals Better is Critical to Human Welfare. Palgrave Macmillan. Animal Welfare 21: 440-442

Steven’s publications can also be found on ResearchGate and on Academia.edu.

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