Discipline: Ergonomics

European Parliament: Answer to Question E-001189/25: Access to open air areas for young organic poultry

Question: Christine Singer (Renew). Answer: Mr Hansen on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

European parliamentary question on the need for flexibility and practical solutions in responding to the the requirement for young organic poultry to be given access to outdoor areas, so that animal welfare needs and structural or health constraints can be reconciled. The Commission reminds the deputy that Regulation (EU) 2018/848 provides for continuous outdoor access for at least one-third of a bird's life, sets minimum surface areas for modular areas and provides for transitional periods in which to adapt facilities.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

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L’enrichissement du milieu de vie

Céline Tallet and Violaine Colson

Published in 2025

Article on environmental enrichment in captive animals. Conditions in captivity restrict the satisfaction of animals' physiological and ethological needs. Lack of stimulation and stressful practices can be detrimental to their welfare and affect the quality of scientific research carried out on these animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Equines, Sheep, Fish, Pigs, Rodents, Poultry

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Developing appropriate environmental enrichment strategies for broiler breeders

Baxter, M., O'Connell, N.E.

Published in 2025

Study of environmental enrichment preferences in broiler broodstock reared commercially. The results show a clear preference for platform perches and interest in hanging observation balls. Additional dust baths proved of little use under well-maintained litter conditions.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

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Guide to Good Practice: Welfare at Slaughter

BMPA

Published in 2015

Updated Guide to Good Practice: Welfare at Slaughter, which provides advice on how to improve the treatment of animals at slaughter, complementing UK and EU legislation. The guide is intended for food industry professionals.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Education, Euthanasia

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An updated review on the effect of lighting on broilers and the environment of commercial houses

J. E. Linhoss, O. B. Falana, J. D. Davis, J. L. Purswell, C. M. Edge, H. A. Olanrewaju, B. I. Baker-Cook, C. Hanlon

Published in 2025

Article reviewing the effects of lighting (color, intensity, duration, source) on broiler performance and welfare between 2018 and 2024.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002435/24: Meat sector unhappy with the Commission's new proposal amending the Regulation on the protection of animals during transport

Question: Mireia Borrás Pabón (PfE). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Answer from the European Commission to a question from an MEP on the proposed regulations on the protection of animals during transport, with which the meat industry is not pleased. The European Commission defends its proposal for a regulation based on EFSA's scientific opinions and an in-depth impact assessment. Modelling carried out by the Joint Research Centre indicates a negligible impact on consumer prices.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Poultry

Keywords:Animal trade, Societal issues, Transportation

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Effects of space allowance on behaviour during lairage, stress physiology, skin lesion scores, and meat quality of market pigs transported in an actively ventilated vehicle in the winter

Vanessa Pasquale, Luigi Faucitano, Nicolas Devillers, Sabine Conte, Renée Bergeron

Published in 2024

Study evaluating the impact of winter transport on pig pwelfare and meat quality. The results show that the location of pigs in the vehicle (upper vs. lower deck) has a greater effect than the space available, influencing their behavior, meat quality and certain blood parameters. Pigs transported in the upper deck are exposed to colder temperatures, affecting muscle brightness and behavior.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Carcass quality, Stress, Transport, Behavioural disorders

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Retours d’expérience sur la verraterie liberté

Brittany Chamber of Agriculture

Published in 2024

Results of a survey carried out in Brittany on free-range sow management practices in the insemination period identifying three main strategies: LIBIA (confinement from weaning until completion of insemination, then group housing), LIBSEVIA (group housing from weaning, temporary confinement  for insemination period, followed by rapid release), and LIBSEV (group housing of sows from weaning with temporary confinement for each AI). Each method has its advantages, necessary precautions and points to watch out for.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment, Maternity, One Welfare

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Review: Confinement, restriction of social contacts and movement in domestic horses

Léa Lansade, Elke Hartmann, Michela Minero, Alice Ruet

Published in 2024

Summary of the social and locomotive needs of horses. Their welfare is affected by inadequate housing conditions, such as isolation in individual stalls. It is recommended that horses be housed in stable groups in enriched environments and that they should have regular social contact, even when housed singly.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal , Anxiety, Enrichment, Animal mediation, Housing, Socialization, Stress, Behavioural disorders, Working animals, Welfare indicators

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Abattage des bovins : contrôle de l’état de conscience et fluidité industrielle

Jourdan Félix

Published in 2024

Article exploring the tensions between the requirement in EC Regulation 1099/2009 to monitor the state of consciousness of cattle during slaughter, and the fluidity of the industrial process in abattoirs. It highlights the difficulties of implementation, particularly for ritual slaughter, and the strategies developed to reconcile regulatory requirements and productivity.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Animal trade, Consciousness, Pain, Euthanasia, Brain integration, Stress

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