Animal category: All animals

The Science–Policy Interface on Farm Animal Welfare in the EU

Ciska De Ruyver, Frank Tuyttens

Published in 2025

A SCAR study analyzing barriers to knowledge transfer from research to European policy on farm animal welfare. The study makes recommendations for the strengthening of the science-policy interface, particularly in the areas of governance, funding, research, and knowledge transfer.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: All animals

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Pragmatism Bias in Farm Animal Welfare Science

Mandel R, Read E, Forkman B, Keeling LJ, Sandøe P, Tuyttens FAM, and Nicol CJ

Published in 2026

Study showing that research on farm livestock animals is influenced by a 'pragmatic bias' associated with financial and practical implementation constraints, which limit the knowledge produced. The authors call for more transparency and independence in research, centred on the needs of animals, in order to encourage more deep-reaching welfare improvements. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: All animals

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Country Consultation on AH&W Priorities and Challenges

SCAR Animal Health & Welfare Collaborative Working Group

Published in 2026

Survey carried out for the SCAR AH&W Group, identifying Member States'  top animal health and welfare research priorities for 2025–2026 . Among priorities identified are a “One Health” approach, disease prevention, welfare indicators, livestock systems, transport, aquaculture, genomic tools, and the impacts of climate change.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal Categories: Fish, All Animals

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Recent Developments in EU Animal Law. 2025 in Review

The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy

Published in 2026

Review of European Animal Law for 2025: Progress has been made toward banning fur farming, but protections for certain wild species have been rolled back. 2026 is expected to bring new regulatory developments, particularly regarding the welfare of dogs and cats and, potentially, farm animals.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: All animals

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Music and animal welfare: from behavioral and physiological effects to potential applications in animal husbandry

Zhu G, Wang L, Wu Z, Feng L, Shao F

Published in 2026

Review examining the mechanisms of musical perception in animals and its effects on their behavior, physiology, and welfare. It highlights potential benefits, including stress reduction, and emphasizes the value of fish as models for studying the evolutionary basis of musical perception and improving animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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Review: The Roles of Individuality and Social Life in Shaping Positive Animal Welfare in Livestock Species

Charlotte Goursot, Sara Hintze, Maria Vilain Rørvang, Océane Schmitt, David Arney, Xavier Boivin, Anita Koni, Camille Montalcini, Ruth C. Newberry, Céline Tallet, Manja Zupan Šemrov, Sébastien Goumon

Published in 2026

Review highlighting that animal welfare depends on the interaction between individual characteristics and social life. It emphasizes the role of affiliative interactions, sociability, and social skills as levers for improving the welfare and management of farm animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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A critical review on gender differences in attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours about farmed animals

Elisa Cesário Pereira Stadnick, Maria José Hötzel

Published in 2026

Review showing that gender influences attitudes toward animals: women generally express more empathy and concern for animal welfare men. The authors emphasize the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into research and policies related to animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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Timescapes of Non-Human Experience

Singhal I, Birch J, Seth A

Published in 2026

Synthesis proposing an experimental framework to study the temporal structure of animal experiences, comparing the “temporal landscapes” of different species based on five experimentally-testable time windows.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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Améliorer le bien-être des animaux d’élevage est-il toujours bénéfique pour l’environnement ?

Luc Mounier, Amandine Rave

Published in 2026

Review starting from the "One Health" principle, which aims to reconcile animal welfare, human health, and environmental protection. Tensions may exist between these objectives.

Document types: Technical documents

Animal categories: All animals

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Bien-être animal : avancées scientifiques et innovations pour des systèmes d’élevage durables

research group

Published in 2026

Special issue of INRAE Productions Animales featuring ten articles on scientific advances and technological innovations to develop sustainable livestock farming systems that incorporate animal welfare

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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