Discipline: Ethology

Review: The influence of light on pig welfare

A.J. Scaillierez, S.E. van Nieuwamerongen - de Koning, I.J.M.M. Boumans, P.P.J. van der Tol, E.A.M. Bokkers

Published in 2024

Scientific review examining the effects of light on pig welfare. The analysis examined 63 studies evaluating parameters such as daylight hours, light intensity and light spectrum. Although light influences aspects such as behavior, growth and hormone secretion, the conclusions that can be drawn are limited by contradictory results and a lack of data, particularly concerning the light spectrum.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressivity, Welfare indicators, Housing

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Review: Space allowance for growing pigs: animal welfare, performance and on-farm practicality

K.L. Chidgey

Published in 2024

Scientific synthesis exploring the scientific basis of the most common approaches to determining minimum space allowances for growing pigs, and examining the various factors that influence and interact with their spatial needs and affective states.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, One Welfare, Resilience, Robustness, livestock farming system

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Environmental Enrichment in Rabbit Husbandry: Comparative Impacts on Performance and Welfare

El-Sabrout K., Sherasiya A.; Ahmad S., Aggag S., Nannoni E., Cavallini D., Buonaiuto G.

Published in 2024

Summary article describing environmental stress and its negative impacts on rabbit welfare and productivity, causing disease and problem behavior. Environmental enrichment helps reduce this stress by meeting the natural behavioral needs of rabbits, thereby improving their welfare and performance.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Monogastric

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Stress, Behavioural disorders

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The effect of duration of ownership and time spent together during the day on cat owners' level of understanding of cats' body language

Abdurrahman Köseman, Ibrahim Şeker, Abdulsamed Erez, Şenol Koşan

Published in 2024

Study revealing that cat owners do understand some of their cats' body postures, but with limited accuracy. Female graduates, aged 21 to 40, who spent 1 to 5 hours a day with their cats, were best able to understand the latters' body language. However,the study showed that having owned their cats for a long time and spent long periods of time together were not enough to ensure that owners correctly understood their cats' body language.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Felines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Education, Living environment, Personality, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Socialization, Stress, Behavioural disorders

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The complex affective and cognitive capacities of rats

Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal

Published in 2024

Article demonstrating that rats are not only able to feel fear, pain and anxiety, but are also capable of empathy. They show prosocial behaviors, helping fellow rats in distress, suggesting that they are capable of imagining the needs of others.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Rodents

Keywords:Learning, training, Consciousness, Memory, Cognitive processes

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Jardin d’hiver en élevages de poulets de chair : Etat des lieux des contraintes et solutions pour sa construction et gestion

Félicie AULANIER (Chambre d'Agriculture de Bretagne), Gwenn GUILLOU (Chambre d'Agriculture de Bretagne), Laure WARIN (ITAVI)

Published in 2024

Technical summary outlining the challenges involved in meeting public expectations and private sector specifications when installing winter gardens on standard broiler farms. These areas, recommended by the EFSA to improve animal welfare, offer advantages but also pose technical, economic and management challenges, particularly in terms of ventilation and investment costs.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment, Societal issues, Livestock farming system

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A five-domains assessment of sow welfare in a novel free farrowing system

Kate Plush, David Lines, Lauren Staveley, Darryl D'Souza, Robert van Barneveld

Published in 2024

Study showing that sows housed in a maternity ring (MR) have better welfare than those in farrowing crates, with fewer frustration-related behaviors and injuries and less medication required for piglets. Assessment using the five-domain framework reveals a more positive emotional state for sows housed in MR.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Housing, Restraint equipment, Maternity, Fear, Behavioural disorders

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Heat stress measuring methods in dairy cows

Alessandra Aloia, Aristide Maggiolino, Lucrezia Forte, Pasquale De Palo

Published in 2024

Study exploring predictors other  than the temperature-humidity index (THI) to assess heat stress in cattle. Other early predictors use non-invasive, animal-based strategies, thanks to precision breeding technologies.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Living environment, Robustness, Stress

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Less experienced observers assess piglet castration-induced acute pain differently than experienced observers: A pilot study

da Silva GV, Lopez-Soriano M, Pairis-Garcia MD, Trindade PHE

Published in 2024

Pilot study to investigate the effects of observer experience levels on pain assessments following pig castration in which observers with three experience levels  used the UPAPS scale to assess the animals.  Inexperienced observers showed lower agreement than experienced observers, although their predictive ability was similar.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Castration, Pain, Education, Sterilization, Vocalisation

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Combining Automated Behaviour Recognition and Physiological Data to Characterize Heat Tolerance and Animal Welfare in Growing Pigs

Poullet Nausicaa, Guichard Johanna, Beramice David, Dantec Laurent, Gourdine Jean-Luc, Bonneau Mathieu

Published in 2024

Study combining computer visual monitoring and temperature measurements to monitor the behavior and thermoregulation of 22 pigs exposed to tropical temperatures (ranging from 20.3 to 27.9°C) and thermoneutral conditions (22°C). Pigs exposed to heat stress spent more time lying on their sides to dissipate heat, and a thermal discomfort index (HDI) was created to assess the impact on their welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

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