Discipline: Ethology

Real-Time Behavior Recognition Using a Legged Robot for Animal–Robot Interaction

Edoardo Fazzari, Donato Romano, Fabrizio Falchi, Cesare Stefanini

Published in 2025

Study presenting an AI-integrated framework that enables a robotic dog to autonomously analyze the behavior of cows and chickens in real time using detection (YOLO) and action recognition (DARTEMIS) models.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories:Cattle, Poultry

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Aggressive behaviors in rabbits. A review

Zsolt Szendrő

Published in 2026

Scientific literature review on aggressive behavior in farmed rabbits at different stages of the production cycle and measures to reduce it. The author highlights the particular problem posed by the group housing of females in commercial farming, a practice that leads to aggression and chronic stress.

Document types: Scientific documents

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Welfare assessment of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) on farm

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (AHAW), Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Anette Boklund, Sabine Dippel, Fernanda Dorea, Jordi Figuerola, Mette S. Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Angel Miranda Chueca, Eleonora Nannoni, Romolo Nonno, Karl Stahl, Jutta Berk, Joanna Marchewka, Nienke van Staaveren, Oana Maria Balmos, Chiara Fabris, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Yves Van der Stede, Marika Vitali, Cristina Rojo Gimeno, Antonio Velarde, Anja Brinch Riber

Published in 2026

New EFSA scientific opinion identifyinh key welfare concerns for turkeys. To improve turkey welfare, the EFSA experts recommend increasing space allowances, implementing appropriate enrichment techniques, phasing out mutilations, and avoiding the practice of culling flocks.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Poultry

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Flexible use of a multi-purpose tool by a cow

Antonio J. Osuna-Mascaró, Alice M.I. Auersperg

Published in 2026

Scientific article reporting on the different and adaptive ways that an individual cow was observed to use a deck brush. This individual case study invites a reexamination of the flexible use of tools and, more broadly, the cognitive abilities of farm animals.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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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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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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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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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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