Animal category: Cattle

What are farm animals thinking?

David Grimm

Published in 2023

Article summarizing recent research on the mental faculties of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, describing the importance of this work   in better addressing the needs of the above species, and explaining why it had not previously been  arried out.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Consciousness, Memory, Metacognition, Personality, Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships

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Review: castration - animal welfare considerations

Gabriela A. Marquette,Stephanie Ronan, Bernadette Earley

Published in 2023

Scientific review of scientific assessments of the impact of castration on cattle welfare, including pain and injury, stress, inflammation, effects on the immune system and on production levels. It describes the different methods of castration, the pain responses associated with each, and how age and pain mitigation strategies affect these responses.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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The use of animal-based measures at slaughter for assessing the welfare of beef cattle on farm: EFSA AHAW Network exercise

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Marika Vitali, Gizella Aboagye, Sean Ashe, Chiara Fabris, Yves Van de Stede, Denise Candiani

Published in 2023

Report listing those animal-based measures that the AHAW network considers useful to record and monitor in abattoirs as a means to assess the on-farm welfare of cattle. The information contained in this report will be used to draw up EFSA's scientific opinion on the welfare of cattle on farm, due in 2025.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, Carcass quality, Stress, Livestock farming system

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On-farm slaughter and emergency slaughter in Sweden: Prerequisites for reducing food loss of pigs and cattle

Rasmus Björn & Albin Kauppi

Published in 2023

Master's report on the attitudes and interests of abattoirs and the main stakeholders in the Swedish livestock industry regarding the establishment of or increase in the use of on-farm slaughtering and emergency on-farm slaughtering.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

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Current Knowledge on the Transport by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves

Kelly Buckham-Sporer, Bernadette Earley, Sonia Marti

Published in 2023

Scientific review of the physical and psychological stressors involved in road transport for cattle of all ages, and the consequences of transport-related stress on animal welfare, health and performance.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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European Parliament: written answer to question E-002691/2023 : Will the Commission make slaughter with stunning the new standard in Europe?

Question: Annika Bruna (ID), Gilles Lebreton (ID), Ivan Vilibor Sinčić (NI), Eric Minardi (ID), France Jamet (ID), Marie Dauchy (ID), Catherine Griset (ID), Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE), André Rougé (ID), Elżbieta Kruk (ECR), Dominique Bilde (ID). Reply: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2023

Answer to a question on whether the European Commission is ready to ban slaughter without stunning and extend this ban to imported meat from animals slaughtered in third countries.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002548/23: Distinction between slaughter animals and breeding animals in connection with animal welfare during transport

Question: Niels Fuglsang (S&D). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2023

Answer to a question on whether it makes sense to distinguish between animals for slaughter and animals not intended for slaughter when transporting animals.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords: Transport

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How might the public contribute to the discussion on cattle welfare? Perspectives of veterinarians and animal scientists

Beth Ventura, Daniel M Weary, Marina AG von Keyserlingk

Published in 2023

Scientific article seeking the views of veterinarians and zootechnicians on concerns over the welfare of cattle expressed by members of the public and on how public opinion should be taken into account when developing ways to improve welfare. Those interviewed consider the general public to lack knowledge of livestock farming and believe that its members need to be educated in order to gain a better understanding of the issues. They could contribute to improving welfare by paying higher prices for animal products.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system

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Measuring dairy cow welfare with real-time sensor-based data and farm records: a concept study

A.H. Stygar, L. Frondelius, G.V. Berteselli, Y. Gómez, E. Canali, J.K. Niemi, P. Llonch, M. Pastel

Published in 2023

Scientific article presenting an algorithm designed to assess the welfare of dairy cows based on sensor data (accelerometer and/or lactometer) and farm records. It concludes that the algorithm alone cannot not provide a sufficiently sensitive and specific assessment of cow welfare, but that there is merit in combining it with farm-based welfare measurement visits.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators

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