Animal category: Pigs

Scientific review of the physiological reasons for the sensitivity of pigs to heat stress, current knowledge concerning genetics and the variability between pig breeds in terms of thermoregulation, phenotypes for use in genetic studies, and the needs of future research to improve heat tolerance in pigs.

Scientific review on the evaluation of stress epi-biomarkers in pigs and the potential benefits of research to develop a robust molecular tool for animal welfare certification based on epi-biomarkers.

Scientific review of the mechanisms affecting the farrowing rates, carcass fatness and growth rates of pigs in summer, with a focus on heat stress, suggesting strategies for improvement.

For pig and poultry farms, the decree also specifies an ongoing assessment procedure to ensure that, once trained, advisors keep up-to-date with animal welfare knowledge. Advisors are required to refresh their knowledge of respectful animal husbandry practices every seven years.

Scientific review of the arguments for and against the ritual slaughter of farm animals, authored by an abattoir veterinary inspector.

DG SANTE audit report carried out in France in early 2021, revealing that the effectiveness of official controls in French abattoirs has been significantly improved, as the result of the strengthening of operators' self-monitoring and inspectors' training in particular, but identifying 3 previous recommendations not yet taken into account, and adding two new ones.

Scientific review on the benefits of combining ergonomics with applied ethology to study the links between animal welfare and the welfare of the livestock farmer. It proposes a new way of looking at the human-animal relationship in animal husbandry taking core concepts from both disciplines.

Scientific paper showing that a reduction in the period length of sow restraint during lactation reduces stress and improves the welfare of sows and their piglets and improves production with more weaned piglets and higher weights. It therefore improves the economics of pig farming.

A scientific review examining the effects of housing systems on pig behaviour and performance. Free-range housing solves the behavioural problems encountered for pigs raised indoors, but is associated with a more frequent occurrence of injuries and of some elbow and hock lesions.

Scientific article demonstrating that it is possible to improve some welfare conditions of fattening pigs in conventional farming through simple measures such as reducing stocking density and providing straw or hay as enrichment material.