Animal category: Pigs

The use of high expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)

Published in 2024

EFSA opinion assessing the suitability of high expansion foam in container as a new stunning and killing method for poultry and pigs. It concludes that, for laying hens and broilers and for pigs weighing between 15 and 41 kg, this is an effective and animal-friendly alternative method, subject to compliance with the specified technical conditions and procedures, and to staff training.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Euthanasia, Welfare indicators, Stress

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Family pigs' and dogs' reactions to human emotional vocalizations:a citizen science study

Fanni Lehoczki, Paula Pérez Fraga, Attila Andics

Published in 2024

Scientific article on a study testing whether the emotional contagion provoked in dogs by human sounds of distress is the result of their selection for cooperation with humans or is rooted in the universal signals of emotion. The authors compared the reactions of dogs and pigs to recordings of human crying and humming. Dogs became agitated when listening to crying, which the authors interpret as emotional contagion, while pigs were stressed by humming, which the authors interpret as neophobia (fear of the new).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Dogs, Pigs

Keywords : Human-animal relationships

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Application of deep learning for livestock behaviour recognition: A systematic literature review

A. Bohan, M.S. Rafaq, M.J. Hasan, F. Asghar, A.K. Bashir, T. Dottorini

Published in 2024

Systematic literature review listing and describing deep learning systems already in use to recognise farm animal behaviors, covering the behaviors involved, their descriptions in the studies, estimates of their accuracy and precision, and their limitations.

Document Types: Scientific review

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

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

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How is pig welfare assessed in studies on farrowing housing systems? A systematic review

Bianca Vandresen, Jen-Yun Chou, Maria José Hötzel

Published in 2024

Systematic review analyzing methods to assess the welfare of sows and piglets in different housing systems in the period around farrowing and lactation: it looks at conventional farrowing crates and alternative systems (loose farrowing pens, group housing, outdoor farrowing, hinged crates and ellipsoid crates).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of th animal to environment, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Housing, Restraint equipment, Maternity, One Welfare, Stress, livestock farming system

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Effects of different tooth grinding procedures on the occurrence of tooth injuries, skin lesions, performance and behaviour of suckling piglets

Franziska Anna kleine Kruthaup, Michaela Fels, Carolin Bernarda Timphaus, Fritjof Freise, Swetlana Herbrandt, Elisabeth große Beilage

Published in 2024

Scientific article analysing the impacts of teeth grinding techniques for piglets on piglet and sow lesions, and on the weight development and behavior of unweaned piglets. A diamond rolling head caused more dental pulp injuries than a tea cup roller. Roller grinding caused fewer head lesions in piglets than when teeth were left intact. Weight gain in piglets with tea cup-ground teeth was greater than for the two other groups. Where necessary, tooth grinding with a cup wheel is to be preferred.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Pain, Lactation, Maternity, Mutilation

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Access to bedding and outdoor runs for growing-finishing pigs: is it possible to improve welfare without increasing environmental impacts?

A.K. Ruckli, S. Hörtenhuber, S. Dippel, P. Ferrari, M. Gebska, M. Heinonen, J. Helmerichs, C. Hubbard, H. Spoolder, A. Valros, C. Winckler, C. Leeb

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the provision of bedding or access to an outdoor run to improve pig welfare can have an impact on the environment through changes in feed efficiency and manure management.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Societal issues, Enrichment, Environment, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Housing, Pollution, livestock farming system

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National Assembly: written answer to question n°14325: Submission of government report on on-farm slaughtering trials

Question: Lisa Belluco (Ecologist - NUPES - Vienna). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2024

Question from a Member of the French National Assembly on the introduction of mobile on-farm slaughterhouses. The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty has announced the recent publication of a regulation amending Regulation (EC) 853/53/2004 to regulate the use of mobile on-farm slaughter units.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords: Carcass quality, Euthanasia, Housing,Animal trade, Pain, Transport

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Animal welfare at slaughter: perceptions and knowledge across cultures

Michelle Sinclair, Maria José Hötzel, Natasha Y. P. Lee, Maria Catalina T. de Luna, Arvind Sharma, Musadiq Idris, Mohammad Ariful Islam, Oluwaseun S. Iyasere, Grisel Navarro, Abdelkareem A. Ahmed, Georgette Leah Burns, Michael Curry, Jeremy N. Marchant

Published in 2023

Analysis of a survey of the general public to assess knowledge and attitudes towards animal welfare during slaughter (including religious slaughter), in 14 culturally and religiously diverse countries. The results suggest that concern for reducing animal suffering during slaughter is a universal human tendency rather than a cultural development. Acceptance of slaughter without prior stunning is linked to local interpretations of religious requirements.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Fish, Pigs, Poultry

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Education, Euthanasia, Fear, Human-animal relationships

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Gilts prefer an open pen to a stall

Ede, T., Ceribelli, M. & Parsons, T.D.

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that, when given a choice, gilts prefer to spend time in an open pen rather than in an individual stall. Intrinsic (personality) and extrinsic (time of day, experimental day) factors also influence gilts' housing preferences.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment, Personality, Fear

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Early human contact and housing for pigs - Part 1: responses to humans, novelty and isolation

M E Lucas, L M Hemsworth, K L Butler, R S Morrison, A J Tilbrook, J N Marchant, J-L Rault, R Y Galea, P H Hemsworth

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing the beneficial impact of early human contact on the subsequent emotional responses of piglets reared in a conventional farrowing cage or in a free-range farrowing pen.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment, Maternity, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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