Animal category: Equines

Review of animal-assisted interventions, factors contributing to their effectiveness, and benefits and risks, including zoonotic risks. It discusses positive animal welfare as a preventive measure to avoid the incidence or transmission of zoonotic diseases during such interventions.

Scientific review examining the specific needs of ruminants and equines, the enrichments studied in the scientific literature and their impact on welfare, knowledge gaps and recommendations for inspections.

Systematic review of the literature on ways to assess the social behavior of adult horses. Most ethograms include indicators of agonistic behavior. The authors recommend placing greater emphasis on affiliative and ambivalent interactions and indifference when assessing the social behavior of horses.

Publication of the papers given at the Agronomic Innovation Forum "Bien-être animal : faire se rencontrer attentes sociétales et professionnelles" (encounter between societal and professional expectations) held on May 5, 2022 at the VetAgro Sup veterinary campus in Lyon.

Review of current animal transport practices in the European Union and possible actions to improve the account taken of the welfare of transported animals.

Answer to a question concerning the fact that the Greek border of Kakavia continues to be used as an exit point for live animals from the European Union (EU) even though it is not recognized as such, and asking whether any sanctions have been taken by the EU against Greece.

Scientific literature review of publications that consider the impact of livestock systems on both the environment and animal welfare. It shows that environmental impact assessment using life cycle assessment (LCA) has a much more consistent, standardized and thorough methodology than animal welfare assessments. It concludes that research is needed to integrate animal welfare assessment into LCA.

Scientific review proposing a new conceptual framework it calls the circular welfare economy (CWE), intended to facilitate the transition to sustainable agriculture. The CWE applies the notion of circularity to welfare, defined as the quality of life as it is perceived by the individual animal itself. It also considers human integrity, defined as openness and honesty, to be a prerequisite for sustainability.

Implementing regulation laying down the necessary necessary for carrying out inspections on vessels carrying livestock. It creates a Europe-wide electronic database so that all data required for inspections is centralised.

DG SANTE audit report concluding that Spain has significantly improved its system of official controls since the previous Commission audit. However, veterinary inspectors do not always have sufficient knowledge or support to carry out controls properly and ports do not have facilities to allow animals to wait in good conditions if they are delayed.