Animal category: Poultry

Scientific review of the detrimental behaviours and health risks that can result from sub-optimal housing and/or rearing conditions in systems offering an alternative to cages for laying hens. Due to the increased social interaction, the risk of harmful behaviours and infectious diseases is increased. Preventive monitoring of the behaviour and health of hens is therefore needed.

Scientific paper to evaluate the welfare benefits of raised beds and straw bales for fast-growing broilers as a function of stocking density. It confirms that environmental enrichment improves welfare at all stocking densities, and that reducing stocking density is a powerful lever for improving welfare.

Report presenting the findings of the study conducted by the Commission's (DG SANTE) on consumer awareness of animal-welfare standards and the demand for additional information. It also describes existing animal-welfare labelling schemes in the EU and assesses their design and impact.

DG SANTE audit report concluding that the Austrian system of official controls on animal welfare of laying hens is satisfactory, with two possible improvements, one on the procedures for verifying and assessing the effectiveness of the controls, the other on the creation of a document trail for the controls.

Scientific paper showing that hens kept in living conditions generally viewed as those preferred by a species and individually (as demonstrated by experiments) show greater optimism than those in kept living conditions that are less preferable for both the species and the individual. 

Scientific paper demonstrating that the acoustic environment of Japanese quail embryos can influence how the young birds subsequently interact with their social and physical environment after hatching.

Announcement of a book on the slaughter preparation and slaughter of animals for human consumption. After a general chapter on welfare assessment using animal-based indicators, individual chapters are devoted to different species: cattle, fish, horses, pigs, poultry, sheep and non-traditional slaughter species. The book ends with a chapter on mobile slaughter.

Written answer to a question on the exits of live animals from the EU occurring in Kakavia, Greece, without any animal welfare controls, in contravention of the EU regulations on EU exit points.

Text of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament to support animal welfare on farms. It will serve as the basis for the development of new EU rules in this area.

Answer to a question on the claims of non-compliance made in a video of the association L214 in an abattoir in Saône-et-Loire and on whether the French Government might be willing to regularise the sanctions observed.