Animal category: Cattle

Climate Change and Livestock Welfare in the Alps: A Comprehensive Review

Cornale, P., Senatore, R., Battaglini, L.M., Baratta, M.

Published in 2025

Review showing that climate change poses a serious threat to the welfare of mountain animals farmed in extensive systems, with cattle being particularly vulnerable to heat stress and fodder shortages. The study highlights the need for integrated adaptation strategies that reconcile welfare, Adaptation of the animal to the environment, and the sustainability of mountain systems.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Go to document

A scoping review of (dis-)incentives for animal welfare-improving farming practices

Trevor Woolley, Sharon Pailler, Jonathan McFadden, Zach Raff, Sharon Raszap Skorbiansky, Kevin Kuruc

Published in 2025

Analysis of the literature on economic incentives and barriers to the adoption of animal welfare practices animal welfare the perspective of producers. Costs are a major barrier, while certain improvements to the rearing environment can benefit health and productivity.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Go to document

European Parliament: answer to priority question P-003765/2025: Commission response to ongoing animal welfare breaches in transport and the need to ban live animal transport to safeguard animal welfare

Question: Anja Hazekamp (The Left). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

In response to a parliamentary question on the ban on the transport of live animals, the European Commission acknowledges serious animal welfare problems during transport, particularly at borders, and emphasizes Member States' responsibility to effectively enforce existing rules. It highlights immediate operational measures, such as cooperation with Turkey and Bulgaria and the improvement of procedures via TRACES, along with an ongoing legislative review to strengthen animal protection. While supporting the increased use of trade in meat and genetic materials, the Commission takes the view  that the transport of live animals remains, in certain cases, necessary for the functioning of the relevant sectors.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Go to document

BeBoP : Evaluer le bien-être des taurillons : des indicateurs revus pour gagner en faisabilité sans perdre en fiabilité

Agathe Cheype, Beatrice Mounaix, Jerome Manceau, Vincent Gauthier, Quentin Delahaye, Claire Dugue, Laure-Anne Merle, Xavier Boivin

Published in 2025

A study validating 14 welfare indicators for young bull calves. They are generally reliable and can be used routinely despite certain lmitations on direct observations. To help overcome the latter, a video-based Deep Learning tool has performed promisingly, automating behavioral measurements and enhancing their reliability. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Go to document

Rapid loss of consciousness in cattle following nonstun slaughter: evidence from a systematic review

Hascalovici JR, Schipper HM, Regenstein JM, Rosen SD, Zivotofsky A, St-Jean G, Freilich S, Morrison TJ, Rabkin SW, Haut S.

Published in 2025

Systematic review analyzing 15 studies on slaughter without stunning in cattle. According to four studies considered to be of good quality, cattle generally lose consciousness in less than 10 seconds, provided that slaughter without stunning is carried out correctly and under optimal conditions.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Go to document

Provision of a method for the economic valuation of animal welfare benefits suitable for use in policy appraisal

Richard Bennett, Kelvin Balcombe, Heather Maggs

Published in 2025

A new tool developed by the University of Reading that assigns well-being scores (0–100) to farming systems and links them to British households' willingness to pay to improve farming conditions.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Bovines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Go to document

Behavioural adaptations of livestock to environmental stressors: implications for welfare and productivity

Oke OE, Eletu TA, Akosile OA, Fasasi LO, Adeniji OE, Ojedokun MZ, Oni AI

Published in 2025

Synthetic article analyzing behavioral adaptations associated with environmental stressors in livestock and emphasizing the importance of assessment tools and targeted management strategies for the improvement of animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Go to document

The road to reform: in support of a strong revision of animal transport rules

Gabriela Kubikova

Published in 2025

Guidance note on reforming European regulations on the transport of live animals

Document Types: Opinions

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

Go to document

A review: effect of different floor surfaces and space allocation on the welfare and performance of indoor finishing beef cattle

Keane, M. P., Cuevas-Gómez, I., Earley, B.

Published in 2025

Review analyzing the effects of floor type and available space on the welfare and performance of beef cattle. Soft flooring, straw bedding and sufficient space improve comfort and locomotor activity, while allometric equations help the more precise calculation of space requirements.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Go to document

A survey on management of milk feeding, weaning and housing of conventional and organic dairy calves in Europe

Otten, N.D., Welk, A., Jensen, M.B.

Published in 2025

Results of a scientific survey on dairy calf management in Europe. It suggests that there are discrepancies between research recommendations and current practices regarding milk quantity and feeding frequency, as well as weaning. Legislative or industry recommendations are mainly followed in organic production in a small proportion of countries.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Go to document