Discipline: Ethology

Insect-repelling behaviour in horses in relation to insect prevalence and access to shelters

Janne Winther Christensen, Christina Gudim Strøm, Klára Nicová, Clotilde Lafaige de Gaillard, Peter S andøe, Henrik Skovgård

Published in 2022

Scientific article reporting on an investigation into discomfort levels in horses caused by the presence of biting insects. Discomfort was positively correlated with lack of access to indoor areas and the prevalence of insects. The paper concludes that free access to shelters or other indoor areas during the summer reduces the negative effects of biting insects and may thereby improve the welfare of horses.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Housing, Living environment

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Farm Environmental Enrichments Improve the Welfare of Layer Chicks and Pullets: A Comprehensive Review

Dan Xu, Gang Shu, Yanting Liu, Pingwu Qin, Yilei Zheng, Yaofu Tian, Xiaoling Zhao, Xiaohui Du

Published in 2022

Scientific review of the different types of environmental enrichment of caged laying hens and their effects on animal behaviours and welfare, but also on productivity and product quality. It emphasizes the need for farm staff to be properly trained to manage enrichment practices effectively.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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The Importance of Natural Feeding Behaviour for Horse (Equus caballus) Welfare

Sandra Brolin

Published in 2022

Academic paper stating that welfare levels in horses on pasture are better than in those kept in stables, particularly because of the opportunity pasture provides to express  their natural feeding behaviours. Alternative methods of feeding or feed distribution are suggested that could improve the welfare of stabled animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment

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Heterospecific Fear and Avoidance Behaviour in Domestic Horses (Equus caballus)

Anna Wiśniewska, Iwona Janczarek, Izabela Wilk, Ewelina Tkaczyk, Martyna Mierzicka, Christina R. Stanley, Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda

Published in 2022

Scientific paper showing that the avoidance response of horses to cows was similar to or greater than that to a new moving object, suggesting that neophobia and heterospecific communication play a role in this response.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measures, Stress

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Horses' attentional characteristics differ according to the type of work

Céline Rochais, Mathilde Stomp, Mélissa Sébilleau, Mathilde Houdebine, Séverine Henry, Martine Hausberger

Published in 2022

Scientific article testing the influence of work type, age, sex and breed of horses on their attentional characteristics. It shows that attentional characteristics are strongly related to the type of work the horses are trained for. Horses from equestrian centres had longer and less fragmented attention spans, the sporting activities of eventing horses were correlated to the fragmentation of attention.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Learning, training, Cognitive processes

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A "Good Life" for Dairy Cattle: Developing and Piloting a Framework for Assessing Positive Welfare Opportunities Based on Scientific Evidence and Farmer Expertise

Jessica E. Stokes , Elizabeth Rowe, Siobhan Mullan, Joy C. Pritchard, Rachel Horler, Marie J. Haskell, Cathy M. Dwyer, David C. J. Main

Published in 2022

Scientific paper on the development of a framework for assessing positive welfare in dairy cows, based on science and tested by British farmers. The test revealed that farmers value the positive welfare of their cows and would support a positive welfare assessment.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Human-animal relationships, Welfare indicators

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Preliminary validation of a novel tool to assess dog welfare: The Animal Welfare Assessment Grid

Rachel Malkani, Sharmini Paramasivam, Sarah Wolfensohn

Published in 2022

Scientific paper to adapt the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG), a welfare assessment method previously validated for other species, to dogs, suggesting how  this tool could be hosted on an accessible and easy-to-use online platform

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Human-animal relationships, Welfare indicators

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Multiple handlers, several owner changes and short relationship lengths affect horses' responses to novel object tests

Océane Liehrmann, Alisa Viitanen, Veera Riihonen, Emmi Alander, Sonja E. Koski, Virp iLummaa, Léa Lansade

Published in 2022

Scientific paper showing that the parameters for a horse's previous and current interactions with humans (number of owners, regular handlers, familiarity and duration of relationship with handler) affect its distrust of new objects or situations

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Anxiety, Enrichment, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Bien-être animal… parlons plutôt du bien-être des animaux

Pierre Mormède, Alain Boissy, Pierre Le Neindre

Published in 2022

Article reviewing the history of animal welfare definitions since the 1960s, and supporting the idea that it relates to individuals and is based on an animal's feelings and experiences.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal , Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system

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Welfare of domestic birds and rabbits transported in containers

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW): Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler

Published in 2022

EFSA scientific opinion on the protection of domestic birds and rabbits during transport. The main welfare consequences during loading and unloading are handling stress, injury, restriction of movement and sensory hyperstimulation; those while travelling and on arrival are injury, restriction of movement, sensory hyperstimulation, movement stress, heat, cold, prolonged hunger and prolonged thirst. These welfare consequences and the indicators measured on the animals are described. The hazards that cause them, and recommendations on how to avoid such hazards and to correct or mitigate their effects on welfare  are presented.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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