Discipline: Ethology

Cognition of dairy cattle: Implications for animal welfare and dairy science

Kathryn L. Proudfoot, Thomas Ede, Catherine L. Ryan, Heather W. Neave

Published in 2025

Review of current knowledge on cognitive processes in dairy cows and how they are linked to farming practices and welfare. It identifies major gaps and priorities to guide future research.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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Principles of sheep behavior: An overview from a welfare perspective

Manenti I, Toschi P, Miretti S, de la Lama GC

Published in 2026

Review analyzing the underlying factors that generate sheep behavior, in order to improve understanding of their biological needs and welfare. The authors stress the role of sensory and motivational systems and the importance of integrating this knowledge into herd management.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Ovines

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Do Insects Feel Pain? How Insect Nervous Systems Reveal Hidden Suffering

Renz Soliman

Published in 2026

Summary of recent research showing that some insects have neural mechanisms that enable them to experience pain, including chronic pain. These findings call into question their treatment in research, farming and wider pest control.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Invertebrates

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Behavior recognition of tail and ear biting in pigs using AI-based computer vision

Qinghua Guo, Clémence A.E.M. Orsini, Patrick P.J.H. Langenhuizen, Yue Sun, Shoujun Huo, Lisette E. van der Zande, Inonge Reimert, J. Elizabeth Bolhuis, Piter Bijma, Peter H.N. de With

Published in 2026

Study demonstrating the feasibility of video-based automated monitoring of tail and ear biting on commercial farms. A computer vision-based model (MViTv2-S) achieves approximately 72% accuracy without having to rely on detection of specific postures, paving the way for early-warning systems and breeding selection strategies to reduce these harmful behaviors.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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Do pigs like to brush? An observational study of pig brushing behavior in a commercial production environment

Niclas Högberg, Lena Skånberg, Oleksiy Guzhva, Rebecka Westin, Axel Sannö, Anna Wallenbeck, Maria Vilain Rørvang

Published in 2025

First study to describe the brushing behavior of pregnant sows. The results show that they voluntarily use a mechanical brush, suggesting that this equipment may be an appropriate form of enrichment for the welfare of pigs on farm.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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Human emotional odors influence horses' behavior and physiology

Plotine Jardat, Alexandra Destrez, Fabrice Damon, Noa Tanguy-Guillo, Anne-Lyse Lainé, Céline Parias, Fabrice Reigner, Vitor H. B. Ferreira, Ludovic Calandreau, Léa Lansade

Published in 2026

Scientific study showing that human odors associated with fear produce heightened fear responses in horses and reduced interactions with humans. These results show the key role of olfactory signals in interspecies emotional communication between humans and horses..

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

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How do domestic chickens perceive humans—and why does it matter?

Ferreira, V. H. B., Lansade, L., Calandreau, L.

Published in 2025

Scientific review showing that chickens have developed socio-cognitive capabilities that enable them to perceive human attentional states, distinguish between individual humans, and interpret human social cues, with direct implications for their welfare and farming practices.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

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Play in Fattening Pigs: Prevalence and Potential as an Indicator of Positive Welfare

Puttkammer N., Czycholl I.

Published in 2025

Scientific study showing that play behaviors increase in pigs at the end of the fattening period, but that certain types of play, particularly play with objects, are difficult to interpret, leading to the recommendation that locomotor play should be considered a more reliable and usable welfare indicator.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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Foie gras – A delicacy at the cost of suffering

Sophie Hild and Nikita Bachelard (2nd edition) based on J.-C. Nouët and T. Auffret Van Der Kemp (1st edition, 2006)

Published in 2019

Report condemning the production of foie gras based on force-feeding. Despite its commercial success and cultural roots in France, this practice is scientifically recognized as a source of illness and significant suffering, has no natural biological grounds, and is banned in several countries.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Poultry

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Review of the evidence of sentience in cephalopod mollusks and decapod crustaceans

Jonathan Birch, Heather Browning, Charlotte Burn, Alexandra K. Schnell, Andrew Crump

Published in 2021

Scientific report describing the cognitive and emotional abilities of invertebrates (insects, cephalopod molluscs, decapod crustaceans, etc.)

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Invertebrates

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