Animal category: Pigs

European Parliament: Written answer to question E-002611/22: Banning the transport of live animals during heatwaves 

Aurélia Beigneux (ID). Reply: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2022

Answer to a question on the European Commission's position on the banning of the transport of live animals when the temperature exceeds 30°C, and on how it intends to strengthen the regulations to better control such transport of live animals.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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Effects of Music Therapy on Neuroplasticity, Welfare, and Performance of Piglets Exposed to Music Therapy in the Intra- and Extra-Uterine Phases

Isabella Cristina de Castro Lippi, Fabiana Ribeiro Caldara, Ibiara Correia de Lima Almeida-Paz, Henrique Biasotto Morais, Agnês Markiy Odakura, Elisabete Castelon Konkiewitz, Welber Sanches Ferreira, Thiago Leite Fraga, Maria Fernanda de Castro Burbarelli, Gisele Aparecida Felix, Rodrigo Garófallo Garcia, Luan Sousa dos Santos

Published in 2022

Scientific paper showing that intra- and extra-uterine exposure of piglets to music maintains high levels of BDNF, which contributes to neuroplasticity, between birth and weaning and is associated with higher weaning weights.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Enrichment, Brain integration, Memory, Prenatal issues

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A formal model for assessing the economic impact of animal welfare improvements at bovine and porcine slaughter

J. Jerlström, C. Berg, A.H. Karlsson, A. Wallenbeck, H. Hansson

Published in 2022

Scientific paper to evaluate the possible economic impact of improved animal welfare in abattoirs; to develop an economic model demonstrating the theoretical contribution of animal welfare to the profitability of abattoirs; and to validate this economic model through focus groups of Swedish abattoir personnel.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines, Porcines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Stress

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Electric shock control of farmed animals: Welfare review and ethical critique

D. Grumett, A. Butterworth

Published in 2022

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.

Document Types: Scientific paper

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Pain, Societal issues, Restraint equipment, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Welfare of pigs on farm

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW): Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler

Published in 2022

EFSA scientific opinion on the welfare of all categories of pigs found in the main European farming systems. It identifies the most important welfare risks,  the appropriate animal based measurements, and their consequences, describing preventive and corrective measures. It provides recommendations for each system to address specific pig welfare issues related to tail biting and the European citizens' initiative "End the Cage Age".

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements,Adaptation of the animal to the environmentAdaptation of the environment to the animal, Consciousness, Housing, Memory, Enrichment, Risk management, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Societal issues, Livestock farming system, Mutilation, Welfare indicators

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Social behavior in farm animals: Applying fundamental theory to improve animal welfare

Victoria E. Lee1, Gareth Arnott, Simon P. Turner

Published in 2022

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

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Stress, Livestock farming system

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Anastasiya Ramankevich, Karolina Wengerska, Kinga Rokicka, Kamil Drabik, Kornel Kasperek, Agnieszka Ziemiańska, Justyna Batkowska

EURCAW-Pigs

Published in 2022

Fact sheet outlining regulations and proposing animal-based indicators to confirm the death of suckling piglets when euthanised. These indicators include the absence of muscle tone, respiration (apnea), heartbeat, response to corneal and palpebral stimuli and pupil dilation.

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Porcines

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

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Welfare issues resulting from feed restriction in pregnant sows

EURCAW-Pigs

Published in 2022

Review of the scientific literature for veterinary inspectors of Member States on the regulation and scientific knowledge on behavioral and physiological signs of hunger in pregnant sows under a restricted feed regime, and on ways to reduce associated welfare problems (aggression and stereotypies). They aim to reduce hunger sensations and to adapt farming methods.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, Stress

Improving heat stress resilience should be priority for swine industry

Ann Hess

Published in 2022

Summary of a webinar hosted by the USDA on how to mitigate the impacts of heat stress on the health and welfare of pigs in factory farming. It presents research findings to improve heat stress resilience in pigs through a three-part approach, that looks at management, nutrition and genetics.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Risk management, Living environment, Resilience, Robustness, Stress

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UK Trade Policy & Animal Welfare

Res Publica

Published in 2022

Report by Res Publica outlining proposals to enable animal welfare to be taken into account in international trade, to UK animal food products, which are subject to high animal welfare standards that result in additional costs, from being penalised internationally.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords: Societal issues

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