Animal category: Cattle

Dairy Cows Activity under Heat Stress: A Case Study in Spain

Adrián Ramón-Moragues, Patricia Carulla, Carlos Mínguez, Arantxa Villagrá, Fernando Estellés

Published in 2021

Scientific paper on work to assess the effects of heat stress on the behaviour of dairy cows using activity sensors to record 6 different behaviours, ambient temperature and humidity. It shows that raised temperatures and a higher heat index lead to an increase in general activity, changes in feeding habits and a decrease in rumination and resting behaviours, all of which are detrimental to animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002137/2021: The case of the Gulf Livestock 2 vessel and its non-compliance with live animal transport legislation

Question: Marisa Matias (The Left), Anja Hazekamp (The Left. Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Community

Published in 2021

Answer to a question about serious non-compliance found on a Portuguese vessel carrying live calves where poor welfare conditions were evident.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords: Societal issues, Transport

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Progress With Livestock Welfare in Extensive Production Systems: Lessons From Australia

Peter Andrew Windsor

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the animal welfare challenges faced by Australian extensive livestock farming and the improvements already in place to improve animal welfare: the development of standards and guidelines for improved farm animal welfare; improved consideration of welfare in the transport of live animals; better pain management for potentially painful routine livestock practices; and more monitoring and consideration of welfare on farms.

Document Types: Scientific review

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Transport

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Bien-être animal : vers un label européen ?

Vie Publique Editorial Board

Published in 2021

Article summarising the main findings of a study by the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) on animal welfare legislation and the EU labelling project. In the view of the EPRS, the legislation is outdated because of structural changes that have occurred in production systems and because it does not allow for recognition of the fact that animals are sentient beings. Europe-wide labelling is viewed as the best response to the increasing number of labelling systems now operating among Member States.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002470/2021: 'Halal' Islamic slaughtering method. Clarification with regard to consumer protection and compatibility with animal welfare legislation

Question: Gianantonio Da Re (ID). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2021

Parliamentary question on ritual slaughter and halal labelling

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

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

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Good animal welfare by design: An approach to incorporate animal capacities in engineering design

H.J.E. van Weeghel, A.P. Bos, M.H. Jansen, W.W. Ursinus, P.W.G. Groot Koerkamp

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting a method of designing breeding and rearing systems that takes into account the animal as a subject, in order to improve animal welfare. Giving an animal the opportunity to influence its environment through choices and decision making according to its own preferences allows the animal to have positive experiences. The aim of the method is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between human goals and animal welfare in future breeding and rearing systems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

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

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Animal adaptation, Consciousness, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Breeding and Rearing

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Le transport maritime des animaux vivants destinés à l’abattage

Académie vétérinaire de France

Published in 2021

In view of the increasing number of accidents related to the transport of live animals by sea, the Veterinary Academy sets out the existing regulations, identifies the ways these rules can be broken, announces the creation of a working group to issue an opinion on the matter and, pending this, makes a number of recommendations.

Document Types: Opinions

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

Keywords: Societal issues, Stress, Transport

ICAR Poster on Hoof Health - French translation

ICAR

Published in 2021

French translation of a poster showing images of the main hoof lesions to be found in cattle, to enable differential diagnosis to be carried out. It complements the ICAR atlas on hoof health.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords:Pain

Invited review: The welfare of dairy cattle housed in tiestalls compared to less-restrictive housing types: A systematic review

Annabelle Beaver, Daniel M. Weary, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk

Published in 2021

Systematic review of the scientific literature on the comparison of welfare indicators, including emotional status, natural behaviour and health of tethered and loose-housed cows. It shows differences in the prevalence of some diseases between the two types of housing and changes to some natural behaviours in tethered housing. There is insufficient data on the emotional state of the animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Housing, Breeding and Rearing systems, Welfare indicators

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Invited review: The welfare of young calves transported by road

Natalie Roadknight, Peter Mansell, Ellen Jongman, Natalie Courtman, Andrew Fisher

Published in 2021

Threats to animal welfare during transport, listing the specific risk factors and proposing measures to ensure better welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Welfare indicators, Fear, Stress, Transport

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