Kate Parkes

Kate joined the Farm Animals Department of the RSPCA in 2006 having previously worked as a Scientific Officer for another animal welfare.


Kate specialises in pig and laying hen pullet production and welfare. Roles include on-going development of the RSPCA’s welfare standards for pigs and of the Society’s Welfare Outcome Assessment programme for breeding and finishing pigs. Kate is also responsible for provision of scientific/technical information and advice on farm animal welfare issues, both within the RSPCA (e.g. technical support for the Society’s pig welfare campaigning) and externally (e.g. to Governmental and non-Governmental bodies).


Following a degree in Biological Sciences from Oxford University in 2001, Kate continued her strong interest in animal behaviour by completing Edinburgh University’s MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare with distinction in 2003.


Her MSc research project investigated perching behaviour and its motivation in the laying hen, and it was this and the research environment that increased her interest in farm animal welfare issues.


Kate represents the RSPCA at meetings of the Pig Health and Welfare Council.