Animal category: Pigs

Towards a task to assess boredom-like states in pigs-Stimulus validation as a basis

Hintze S, Heigl H, Winckler C

Published in 2024

Scientific study to measure pig approach and avoidance responses to stimuli with different valence (positive, ambiguous, negative) in order to distinguish between boredom, depression and apathy. The results show that the valence of the stimuli and the age of the animals influence these responses.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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

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Social networks of pregnant gilts during outdoor feeding and the effects on their offspring

Leandro Sabei, Marisol Parada Sarmiento, Cihan Çakmakçı, Sharacely de Souza Farias, Thiago Bernardino, Rosangela Poletto, Erika Alejandra Becerra Mendez, Beatriz Kaori, Adroaldo José Zanella

Published in 2024

Study examining the social dynamics of gilts through pregnancy in an outdoor system, analyzing their feeding and social behaviors, and the effects of these dynamics on the group and their offspring. Results show links between social rank, salivary cortisol levels and piglet weight, highlighting the importance of integrating social behavior into management and genetic selection practices to improve pig welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressivity, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Maternity, Personality, Prenatal issues, Socialization

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Managing large litters - Short review (version 1.0)

Pedersen, L.J., Hoofs, A., Kongsted, H.

Published in 2024

Review of the development and management of large litters in pig farming.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Lactation, Maternity, Evolutionary processes

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On your terms or mine: pigs' response to imposed gentle tactile contact vs. free form interaction with a familiar human

Truong, S., Schmitt, O. & Rault, JL.

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that there are differences in positive interactions between humans and animals, depending on whether they are free or imposed by the humans.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Vocalisation

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Animal welfare during transport, evolution, and perspectives of European Union Legislation and Policy

Massimo Giangaspero and Pasquale Turno

Published in 2024

Article retailing the history of the transport of live animals in the EU and setting out current issues surrounding it. Despite gradual improvements, recent opinions issued by EFSA and a report by the European Court of Auditors highlight the need to revise the legislation to resolve continued problems.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Animal trade, Fear, Stress, Transport

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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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