Animal category: Porcines

The behavior of the sows: Can we predict it?

Paula Arroyo

Published in 2021

Technical article highlighting the importance of ethology in improving pig production. A better understanding of sow ethology can improve animal welfare, management, reproductive efficiency and, therefore, the profitability of the farm. The veterinarian has a new social and educational role to play in improving the welfare of sows and piglets. Staff also need to be trained in ethology, which will enable them to predict the behavioural profile of sows before the first farrowing, improve selection and reduce restraints on animal movement.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Lactation, Welfare indicators

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Ventilation in pig farms

Germán Bertsch

Published in 2021

This technical paper discusses ventilation as a critical factor for health and welfare in pig farming. It describes the different ventilation systems available and stresses that the choice of system depends on the needs of the individual pig farm. It recommends the use of natural ammonia-reducing additives as well as ventilation.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal welfare, Enrichment, Housing, Livestock buildings,Adaptation of the environment to the animal

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Progress With Livestock Welfare in Extensive Production Systems: Lessons From Australia

Peter Andrew Windsor

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the animal welfare challenges faced by Australian extensive livestock farming and the improvements already in place to improve animal welfare: the development of standards and guidelines for improved farm animal welfare; improved consideration of welfare in the transport of live animals; better pain management for potentially painful routine livestock practices; and more monitoring and consideration of welfare on farms.

Document Types: Scientific review

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Transport

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Bien-être animal : vers un label européen ?

Vie Publique Editorial Board

Published in 2021

Article summarising the main findings of a study by the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) on animal welfare legislation and the EU labelling project. In the view of the EPRS, the legislation is outdated because of structural changes that have occurred in production systems and because it does not allow for recognition of the fact that animals are sentient beings. Europe-wide labelling is viewed as the best response to the increasing number of labelling systems now operating among Member States.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Good animal welfare by design: An approach to incorporate animal capacities in engineering design

H.J.E. van Weeghel, A.P. Bos, M.H. Jansen, W.W. Ursinus, P.W.G. Groot Koerkamp

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting a method of designing breeding and rearing systems that takes into account the animal as a subject, in order to improve animal welfare. Giving an animal the opportunity to influence its environment through choices and decision making according to its own preferences allows the animal to have positive experiences. The aim of the method is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between human goals and animal welfare in future breeding and rearing systems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

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

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Animal adaptation, Consciousness, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Breeding and Rearing

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Le transport maritime des animaux vivants destinés à l’abattage

Académie vétérinaire de France

Published in 2021

In view of the increasing number of accidents related to the transport of live animals by sea, the Veterinary Academy sets out the existing regulations, identifies the ways these rules can be broken, announces the creation of a working group to issue an opinion on the matter and, pending this, makes a number of recommendations.

Document Types: Opinions

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

Keywords: Societal issues, Stress, Transport

Welfare of pigs being handled, stunned and bled in the slaughterhouse

EURCAW-Pigs

Published in 2021

Presentation of the EURCAW-Pigs report on the welfare of pigs in abattoirs, providing the regulatory background and focusing on the animal-based indicators and areas of intervention that should be incorporated in veterinary inspections.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Carcass quality, Stress

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Animal welfare on the farm - ex-post evaluation of the EU legislation: Prospects for animal welfare labelling at EU level - European Implementation Assessment

European Parliamentary Research Service

Published in 2021

Ex-post evaluation of EU animal-welfare labelling legislation, applying the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and EU added value

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords: Welfare indicators

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French Assemblée Nationale: Written answer to question n°37408: La réglementation de l’abattage des animaux

Laurence Trastour-Isnart (Les Républicains - Alpes-Maritimes), French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2021

Answer to an EU parliamentary question on the availability of statistics on the demand for and production of meat from ritual slaughter

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Awareness, Pain, Societal issues

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French Assemblée Nationale: Written answer to question No 37355: Règlementation de l’abattage des animaux-Dérogation à l’obligation d’étourdir

Claire O'Petit (La République en Marche - Eure), French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2021

Answer to a parliamentary question on the availability of statistical data on the production of and demand for meat from ritual slaughter.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Awareness, Pain, Societal issues

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