Dr Troy Gibson
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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Dairy Cow Welfare
People: Charlotte Burn, Jackie Cardwell, Troy Gibson, Natalie Chancellor, Nicola Blackie
This suite of research has the welfare of dairy calves and cows as its focus. It aims to generate practical recommendations to improve cow and calf husbandry and welfare assessment.
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Horse and Donkey Welfare
People: Charlotte Burn, Siobhan Abeyesinghe, Troy Gibson, Christine Nicol, Frederick Daw
Welfare is about more than physical health, so we develop and test welfare assessment protocols to facilitate appropriate treatment and prioritisation of equine welfare issues. Our research has covered horses in England, including geriatric and rescue horses, as well as donkeys and mules in developing countries.
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Stunning and dispatch of animals for slaughter, disease control and population management
People: Troy Gibson, Carlos Rebelo, Theo Demmers, Siobhan Abeyesinghe, Natalie Chancellor, Safiyyah Kader
We currently have a number of different projects investigating the welfare of a range of species during stunning, slaughter (with and without stunning) & euthanasia.
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Wild Animal Welfare
People: Charlotte Burn, Siobhan Abeyesinghe, Troy Gibson, Maria Diez Leon
We run various projects on wild animals, ranging from great apes to sunbears. These include projects that form part of the MScs in Wild Animal Biology and Health. Our work also includes looking into ways wildlife is managed and control, including the asking questions on the the humaneness of different culling methods for 'pests'.