Animal category: Equines

Scientific article presenting the available methods to control or confine of farm animals through the use of electric shocks and reminding readers that their use, which is likely to cause pain, must be ethically justifiable and provide clear welfare benefits. It sets out the potential welfare implications of each method.

bonds, environmental influences on social behavior and welfare, mechanisms and development of social behaviors, ways to promote positive social interactions and minimize disruptions to basic social bonds

Scientific review of equine sleep characteristics: what is "normal" sleep in horses? what methods are used to measure it? what factors affect sleep quality or quantity? and are changes in sleep quality and/or quantity associated with negative impacts on horse welfare? The review identifies knowledge gaps for future research.

A scientific review, analyzing how tools for the assessment of equine welfare, quality of life and equine perceptions of quality of life, define and operationalize these concepts. It discusses how appropriate these tools are to the assessment of quality of life as part of end-of-life decision-making for chronically-ill or elderly horses.

Press release containing the details of the application decree for the French law to combat the mistreatment of animals. This information concerns the practicalities surrounding the certificate of commitment and knowledge which is now compulsory for the purchasers of pets and keepers of equines.

Scientific article comparing the stress levels of recreational (riding school), working (police), and free-roaming horses that have been assessed as having a positive welfare evaluation by the AWIN protocol, by measuring hair cortisol levels. Free-ranging horses have the highest hair cortisol levels.

Scientific paper presenting the results of an online survey on owners' perception of noise anxiety in horses. Two distinct groups of horses are identified - highly anxious and moderately anxious -  and owners describe the management strategies they adopt, discussing their effectiveness. 

Report presenting the findings of the study conducted by the Commission's (DG SANTE) on consumer awareness of animal-welfare standards and the demand for additional information. It also describes existing animal-welfare labelling schemes in the EU and assesses their design and impact.

Announcement of a book on the slaughter preparation and slaughter of animals for human consumption. After a general chapter on welfare assessment using animal-based indicators, individual chapters are devoted to different species: cattle, fish, horses, pigs, poultry, sheep and non-traditional slaughter species. The book ends with a chapter on mobile slaughter.

Scientific paper using a Delphi method to compare equine stereotypic behaviour (ESC) and human OCD looking at neurological, etiological and behavioural aspects, causal factors and welfare effects. It identifies the advantages and disadvantages of having ESCs recognised as OCDs.