Animal category: Pigs

European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-001586/2024: Illegal docking of piglet tails in the Netherlands

Question: Anja Hazekamp (The Left). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Reply from the European Commission to an MEP concerning the routine tail docking of piglets, which is illegal in some EU Member States, notably the Netherlands.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Castration, Pain, Sterilization

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Comparison of the Competitiveness for Danish, Dutch, and German Piglet Producers under Consideration of Country-Specific Methods of Piglet Castration with Anesthesia

Mandes Verhaagh

Published in 2024

Study comparing the relative competitiveness of Danish, Dutch and German piglet producers classified according to the anaesthesia methods used in each country to castrate the animals, which can be a source of additional costs.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Castration, Pain, Sterilization

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European animal breeders vision for 2030

EFFAB - European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders

Published in 2024

Document from the European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders (EFFAB) stressing the importance of technological innovations to improve animal health, reduce environmental impacts and guarantee food safety.

Document types: Technical Paper

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Precision farming, Societal issues, environment, livestock farming system

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How do different amounts of straw as well as compost in the home pen affect the rooting motivation of growing-finishing pigs?

S. Lopez, C. Rufener, M. Holinger

Published in 2024

Study showing that pigs' foraging behavior is better satisfied by housing with permanent access to rooting materials than with minimal amounts of straw.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements,Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment

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The role of ethical orientation in animal welfare choice behaviour: A segmentation study

Anne O. Peschel, Kristina Thomsen, George Tsalis, Klaus G. Grunert

Published in 2025

Scoping review showing that consumers' ethical views (ethical orientation) strongly influence their preferences on animal welfare measures, with a particular focus on access to outdoors for animals.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Bovines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords: Carcass quality,Livestock buildings, Environment, Housing, Living environment, Pollution, Societal issues, livestock farming system

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Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations - Summary of public feedback received after adoption of the proposal

Council of the European Union

Published in 2024

Results of public consultation with over 5,000 responses following the proposal to update the European regulation on the transport of live animals in 2023. The majority of citizens support stricter measures, such as a ban on shipping and long-distance transport, and a shift towards transporting meat rather than live animals. Opinions differ between NGOs, which call for shorter journeys, and the farming industry, which is concerned about the proposed limitations.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Animal trade, Societal issues, Abuse, Stress, Transport

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Organic rearing of non-castrated male pigs: welfare indicators, carcass traits, pork quality and boar taint in Duroc and Pietrain crossbreds

Lebret B, Ferchaud S, Poissonnet A, Prunier A

Published in 2024

Scientific study comparing two organically-rased genotypes of uncastrated male pigs to assess their welfare and meat quality. Large-White x Duroc pigs displayed fewer body lesions, but had an increased risk of unpleasant odors linked to boar taint.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Castration, Carcass quality, Sterilization, livestock farming system

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Review: The influence of light on pig welfare

A.J. Scaillierez, S.E. van Nieuwamerongen - de Koning, I.J.M.M. Boumans, P.P.J. van der Tol, E.A.M. Bokkers

Published in 2024

Scientific review examining the effects of light on pig welfare. The analysis examined 63 studies evaluating parameters such as daylight hours, light intensity and light spectrum. Although light influences aspects such as behavior, growth and hormone secretion, the conclusions that can be drawn are limited by contradictory results and a lack of data, particularly concerning the light spectrum.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressivity, Welfare indicators, Housing

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