Animal category: Cattle

Scientific article using modelling to assess production losses due to heat stress in two different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Depending on emission levels, economic losses vary between 9.8% and 3 to 7% of the value of beef and milk production worldwide in 2005. These results underline the importance of putting adaptation measures place in to combat heat stress if we are to ensure global food security.

Systematic literature review identifying the behavioral and yield parameters of cows that are the best indicators of lameness and calculating the changes in them during lameness episodes. They include time taken to feed, number of lying periods, time taken to lie down, time spent lying down,  and milk production. The values of all these parameters are significantly altered in the event of lameness, and could be used to detect lameness automatically.

Answer to a question on how the European Commission intends to apply the regulations banning the transport of live animals when temperatures exceed specified thresholds, and whether it intends to carry out additional temperature checks.

Audit report identifying weaknesses in the current system to control the protection of animals transported by sea from Croatia to third countries, including the absence of documented procedures to for the authorization of transporters by sea and the failure of inspectors to identify certain deficiencies. It contains three recommendations to the competent authorities to improve the effectiveness of the official system for the protection of animal welfare during sea transport.

Book offering a comprehensive review of animal welfare and the law. It explores the biological basis for the consideration of animals within a moral framework and traces changes in how we conceptualize animal welfare. It takes a detailed look at the welfare issues associated with many different uses of animals. It includes recent issues such as climate change, pandemics and antimicrobial resistance.

Review intended to characterize dairy and beef farmers' perceptions on the implementation of cattle health and welfare monitoring practices. Most studies were on dairy farmers, for whom the cost of implementation was the main barrier to adopting animal health, welfare and safety practices.

Scientific article comparing the effectiveness of remote compulsory official ante-mortem inspections carried out via video link with on-site inspections, with a view to reducing the need for official veterinarians to travel, thus compensating for the lack of available manpower for these inspections, while also reducing costs and CO2 emissions.

Practical guide to European transport regulations, infringements and penalties by species, and various associated official documents. Containing numerous diagrams and illustrations.

Scientific review of the impacts of heat stress on the production, fertility, health and mortality of dairy cows, and of the advantages and disadvantages of the various strategies that have been proposed for the selction of heat-tolerant cows.

Scientific review of transport and slaughter procedures in Europe since the European regulations on animal transport and welfare came into force in 2009. It identifies the factors affecting animal welfare during these two phases of a farmed animal's life.