Dr Troy Gibson

PhD, PGDipSci, BSc
Associate Professor in Animal Welfare Science

Department: Pathobiology and Population Sciences

Campus: Hawkshead

Research Groups: Brain Health and Behaviour

Research Centres: RVC Animal Welfare Science and Ethics

Troy is a Senior Lecturer in Animal Welfare Science. His research interest includes animal welfare during slaughter, painful husbandry procedures and vertebrate pest control. The focus of Troy's research is the development of practical approaches that aim to improve the welfare of animals under the influence of humans.

Troy graduated from Lincoln University (New Zealand) with a BSc in physiology in 2001. After spending two years working for a pharmaceutical company he returned to higher education and completed a PGDipSci with Distinction in physiology and PhD from Massey University (New Zealand).

In 2008 Troy joined the Royal Veterinary College first as a Research Associate in Animal Welfare Physiology, then Assistant Lecturer and in 2012 became a Lecturer in Animal Welfare Science. In 2017 Troy was promoted to Senior Lecturer.

Troy is a member of the UK Farm Animal Advisory Committee (FAWC) and the Zoological Scoiety of London (ZSL) Animal Welfare Committee.
 

Troy’s current research interests include animal welfare of livestock during routine husbandry procedures, welfare during slaughter and wildlife management.

Dalla Costa, F.A., Gibson, T.J., Octavio Oliveira, S.E., Gregory, N.G., Faucitano, L., and Dalla Costa, O.A. (2020). Evaluation of blunt force trauma for dispatching neonatal piglets on-farm. Journal of Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa204

Gibson, T.J., King, E., Spence, J., and Limon, G. (2019). Pathophysiology of concussive non-penetrative captive bolt stunning of turkeys. Animals. 9 (1049). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121049

Hing, S., Hampton, J.O., and Gibson T.J. (2019). Animal welfare and the killing of wildlife by captive bolt in Australia. Australian Zoologist. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2018.035

Gibson, T.J., Octavio Oliveira, S.E., Dalla Costa, F.A.,and Gregory, N.G. (2019). Electroencephalographic assessment of pneumatically powered penetrating and non-penetrating captive-bolt stunning of bulls. Meat Science.151, 54-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.01.006

Dalla Costa, F.A., Gibson, T.J., Octavio Oliveira, S.E., Gregory, N.G., Coldebella, A., Faucitano, L., and Dalla Costa, O.A. (2019). On-farm pig dispatch methods employed in Brazil and stockpeople attitudes on their use. Livestock Science.221, 1-5.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.01.007

Octavio Oliveira, S.E., Dalla Costa, F.A., Gibson, T.J., Dalla Costa, O.A., Coldebella, A., and Gregory, N.G. (2018). Evaluation of brain damage resulting from penetrating and non–penetrating stunning in Nelore Cattle using pneumatically powered captive bolt guns. Meat Science. 145, 347-351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.07.016

de la Cruz-Cruz, L., Gibson, T.J., Guerrero, I., Napolitano, F., Mora, P., and Mota-Rojas, D. (2018) The welfare of water buffaloes during the slaughter process. Livestock Production. 212, 22-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2018.03.014

Octavio Oliveira, S.E., Gregory, N.G., Dalla Costa, F.A., Gibson, T.J., Dalla Costa, O.A., and Paranhos da Costa, M. (2018). Effects of high airline pressure in stunning cattle with pneumatically powered penetrating and non-penetrating captive bolt guns. Meat Science. 140, 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.02.010

Gibson, T.J., Rebelo, R.B., Gowers, T.A., and Chancellor, N. (2018) Electroencephalographic assessment of concussive non- penetrative captive-bolt stunning of turkeys. British Poultry Science. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2017.1401215

Hambleton, S.Y.N., and Gibson, T.J. (2017). A study investigating the attitudes and opinions of cattle farmers and veterinarians in the United Kingdom on the use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) for post-disbudding analgesia of calves. 26, 323-334. Animal Welfare. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.26.3.323

Octavio Oliveira, S.E., Gregory, N.G., Dalla Costa, F.A., Gibson, T.J., Paranhos da Costa, M. (2017). Efficiency of low versus high airline pressure in stunning cattle with a pneumatically powered penetrating captive bolt gun. Meat Science. 130, 64-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.04.007 

Gibson, T.J. & Jackson, E.L. (2017). The economics of animal welfare, OIE Scientific and Technical Review. 36, 125-135. 10.20506/rst.36.1.2616

Jackson, E., and Gibson, T. (2016). The economics of animal health and welfare. International Animal Health Journal, 3 (2), 14-18. http://animalhealthmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-Economics.pdf

Gibson, T.J., Taylor, A.H., & Gregory, N.G. (2016). Assessment of the effectiveness of head only and back-of-the-head electrical stunning of chickens. British Poultry Science, 57 1-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2016.1156648 

Limon, G., Gozales-Gustavson, E.A., and Gibson, T.J. (2016). Investigation of the humaneness of slaughter methods for guinea pigs (Cavia porcelus) in the Andean region. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2016.1138116   

Gibson, T.J., Dadios, N., and Gregory, N.G. (2015). Effect of neck cut position on time to collapse in halal slaughtered cattle. Meat Science. 110, 310-314. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.03.026

Quy, R.J., Gibson, T.J., Lambert, M.S., Eason, C.T., and Gregory, N.G. (2015). Evaluation of a novel rodenticide: acute sub-lethal effects of a methaemoglobin-inducing agent. Animal Welfare. 24, 427-436. http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/09627286.24.4.427

Gibson, T.J., Quy, R.J., Eason, C.T., and Gregory, N.G. (2015). Welfare assessment of fatal methaemoglobinaemia in adult rats (Rattus norvegicus). Animal Welfare. 24, 417-425. http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/09627286.24.4.417

Gibson, T.J., Bedford, E.M., Chancellor, N., and Limon, G. (2015). Pathophysiology of free-bullet slaughter of horses and ponies. Meat Science. 108, 120-124. doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.06.007

Sharp, T.M., McLeod, S.R., Leggett, K.E.A., and Gibson, T.J. (2015). Evaluation of spring-powered captive bolt guns for dispatch of kangaroo in-pouch young. Wildlife Research. 41, 623-632. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR14094

Gibson, T.J., Whitehead, C., Taylor, O., Chancellor, N., and Limon, G. (2015). Pathophysiology of penetrating captive bolt stunning in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos). Meat Science. 100, 227-231. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.10.022

Gibson, T.J., Mason, C.W., Spence, J.Y., Barker, H., and Gregory, N.G. (2014). Factors affecting penetrating captive bolt gun performance. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10888705.2014.980579

Bell, Y., Gibson, T.J., and Gregory, N.G. (2013). Procurement of equines for the horsemeat trade in Great Britain. Veterinary Record. Link  

Gibson, T.J., Ridler, A.L., Lamb, C.R., Williams, A., Giles, S., and Gregory, N.G. (2012). Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of captive bolt guns as a killing method without exsanguination for horned and un-horned sheep. Animal Welfare. 21, S2, 35-42.  ingentaconnect ID.

Gregory, N.G., von Wenzlawowicz, M., von Holleben, K., Fielding, HR., Gibson, TJ., and Kolesar, R. (2012). Complications during Halal slaughter and Shechita in cattle. Animal Welfare. 21, S2, 81-86. ingentaconnect ID.

Johnson, C.B., Gibson, T.J., Stafford, K.J., and Mellor, D.J. (2012). Pain perception at slaughter. Animal Welfare. 21, S2, 113-122. ingentaconnect ID.

Pickles, K.J., Gibson, T.J., Johnson, C.B., Walsh, V., Murrell, J.C., Madigan, J.E., (2011), Preliminary investigation of somatosensory evoked potentials in equine headshaking. Veterinary Record 168. Pubmed ID 21546406.

Gibson, T.J., Johnson C.B., Murrell, J.C., Hulls, C.M., Mitchinson S.L., Stafford K.J., Johnstone, A.C., and Mellor D.J. (2009). Electroencephalographic responses of halothane-anaesthetised calves to slaughter by ventral-neck incision without prior stunning. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 57, 77-83. Pubmed ID 19471325.

Gibson, T.J., Johnson, C.B., Murrell, J.C., Stafford, K.J., Chambers, P.J., and Mellor, D.J. (2009). Components of electroencephalographic responses to slaughter in halothane-anaesthetised calves: Effects of cutting neck tissues compared with major blood vessels. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 57, 84-89. Pubmed ID 19471326.

Gibson, T.J., Johnson, C.B., Murrell, J.C., Mitchinson, S.L., Stafford, K.J., and Mellor, D.J. (2009). Electroencephalographic response to concussive non-penetrating captive-bolt stunning in halothane-anaesthetised calves. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 57, 90-95. Pubmed ID 19471327.

Gibson, T.J., Johnson, C.B., Murrell, J.C., Mitchinson, S.L., Stafford, K.J., and Mellor, D.J. (2009). Amelioration of electroencephalographic responses to slaughter by non-penetrative captive-bolt stunning after ventral neck incision in halothane-anaesthetised calves. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 57, 96-101. Pubmed ID 19471328.

Mellor, D.J., Gibson, T.J., and Johnson, C.B. (2009) A re-evaluation of the need to stun calves prior to slaughter by ventral-neck incision: An introductory review. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 57, 74-76. Pubmed ID 19471324.

Johnson, C.B., Murrell, J., Gibson, T.J., and Mellor, D.J. (2008). Innovative refinements to anaesthesia techniques can deliver pain research without pain. Proceedings of the 6th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences August 21-25, 2007, Tokyo, Japan. AATEX 14, Special Issue, 97-100.

Gibson, T.J., Johnson, C.B., Stafford, K.J., Mitchinson, S.L., and Mellor, D.J. (2007). Validation of the Acute Electroencephalographic Responses of Calves to Noxious Stimulus with Scoop Dehorning. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 55, 152-157. Pubmed ID 17676078.

Since April 2012 Troy has been the leader of the Animal Husbandry sub-strand and director of Animal Husbandry Extramural Studies (AHEMS) at the RVC. Troy lectures on Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry to all years of the BVetMed course and to 2ndand 3rdyear BSc Bioscience students. He is the module leader on the 3rdyear BSc Applied Animal Welfare course. Troy tutors BVetMed students and has supervised undergraduate and MSc and PhD projects. He is also an external examiner on the University of Cambridge (Department of Veterinary Medicine) course on Principles of Animal Management. 

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