Animal category: Cattle

Europen Commission - Overview report on transport of unweaned calves during long journeys

DG Health - European Commission

Published in 2025

EU Commission report on the practices of Member States while transporting unweaned calves over long distances, highlighting the vulnerability of the latter and the challenges involved in protecting their welfare. It identifies inconsistencies in the application of rules, particularly in terms of categorization, feeding, hydration and the keeping of logbooks. It recommends strengthening official controls and harmonizing practices to better guarantee the welfare of these animals during transport.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

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Cow comfort, behavior and welfare with specific reference to dairy cattle: A review

Damodaran Sreekumar & Veerasamy Sejian

Published in 2024

Review on optimizing dairy cow comfort

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

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A systematic review and meta-analysis of physical environmental enrichment to improve animal welfare-related outcomes in indoor cattle

Unsal G, Johnson KF, Stergiadis S, Bennett R, Barker ZE.

Published in 2025

Systematic study showing that enrichment of the physical environment significantly improves the welfare and certain behaviors of calves and heifers in indoor housing, particularly play and growth.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

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Assemblée nationale : Réponse écrite à la question n°5528 : Prise en compte du bien-être animal

Question: Mr. Jean-Michel Brard (Loire-Atlantique (9th district) - Horizons & Indépendants). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

Answer to a question from a member of the French Assemblée Nationale who highlights the fact that in food product labelling the issue of animal welfare remains a secondary matter, despite the strong expectations of the public. In its reply, the government states that, for now, it favors a voluntary approach, with no specific labelilng requirements, and that it is supporting research into the best way of displaying information on farming methods.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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Assemblée nationale : Réponse à la question n°2219 : Maltraitance animale dans certains abattoirs français

Question: Mr. Jean Laussucq (Paris (2nd constituency) - Ensemble pour la République). Answer: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Question from a French Deputy on acts of abuse in certain abattoirs.  In its answer, the government reminds the Deputy of the existence of a control and intervention system in abattoirs, stating that it remains vigilant over the application of the three key actions in operation since 2021 with regard to abattoirs: support, control, sanction.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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Assemblée nationale : réponse à la question n°4154 : Contrôle des conditions d’abattage des animaux dans les abattoirs

Question: Mr Karim Benbrahim (Loire-Atlantique (1st district) - Socialistes et apparentés). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Answer from the French Government to a question from a member of the National Assembly on abattoir monitoring and controls. The Ministry states that the work to control slaughtering conditions by government-appointed agents amounts to the equivalent of more than 1,200 full-time posts. Additionally, a national inspection force is brought in for complex cases, which can impose sanctions up to and including closure  in the event of serious failings.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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Measuring minds: Understanding the mental states of dairy cattle in different management conditions

Heather W. Neave

Published in 2025

Review of a symposium on the  assessment of how the mental states of dairy cattle (positive emotions and cognitive functions in particular) are affected by management practices. It highlights the behavioral, physiological and cognitive indicators available and the potential of emerging automated on-farm monitoring technologies.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

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Financements régionaux et transition de l'élevage : quels leviers pour des modèles plus durables ?

CIWF France, JimL

Published in 2025

Report on the uses to which funding from the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) is put by certain French Regional authorities. The study, which focuses on capital and set-up grants, highlights the levers available regionally to support the transition to more sustainable forms of livestock farming that respect animal welfare.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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Professional emotional neutrality and the role of background emotion work in the slaughterhouse

Marcel Sebastian

Published in 2025

Article analyzing how abattoir workers develop an emotional distance from the killing of animals through intense and often unconscious emotional work. It highlights the importance of background emotions in morally sensitive occupations, making an original contribution to the sociology of work and emotions.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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Assemblée nationale : réponse à la question n°5909 : Transition vers un élevage hors-cage en France

Question: Mr Pouria Amirshahi (Paris (5th constituency) - Écologiste et Social). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Question from a Member of Parliament on support for farmers to achieve an effective  transition to cage-free farming in France. The government points out that cage-free farming is growing in France. It provides supporte for this process through assistance with capital expenditure and national coordination, while calling for harmonization at European level so that farms can remain competitive.  

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Pigs, Poultry

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