Discipline: Ethology

Impact of paper bedding on lying behaviour and welfare in lactating dairy cows

Helena F.M.Sobte, Stephanie Buijs

Published in 2021

Scientific paper comparing the effects of paper- and sawdust-based bedding on the welfare of lactating dairy cows, looking specifically at lying behaviour, activity, lameness, skin lesions, cleanliness and productivity and finding no significant difference between the two bedding types.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Housing, Livestock farming system, Pain, Welfare indicators

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Knowledge and Perspectives on the Welfare of Italian Heavy Pigs on Farms

Marika Vitali, Eleonora Nannoni, Luca Sardi, Giovanna Martelli

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the available data on the welfare of Italian heavy pigs, which are reared over a longer period in order to create traditional products and therefore have special needs. The review concludes that there are many information gaps and research is needed to improve the welfare of this particular pig population.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Welfare indicators, Livestock farming system

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RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standard - Dairy Calves

RSPCA Australia

Published in 2021

A document outlining Australia's new RSPCA standards for the welfare of dairy calves. The main elements are: improving the fulfilment of the behavioural needs of calves, provision of sufficient quality and quantity of colostrum, housing of calves in groups in suitable conditions, no transport of calves under 10 days of age, and prohibition of painful practices such as the dehorning of calves.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Pain, Housing, Mutilation, Livestock farming system

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Evaluation of the Feasibility, Reliability, and Repeatability of Welfare Indicators in Free-Roaming Horses: A Pilot Study

Jessica J. Harley, J. David Stack, Helen Braid, Krista M. McLennan, Christina R. Stanley

Published in 2021

Scientific paper testing animal- and environment- based welfare indicators for use on free-roaming horses. The test focused on ease of use, repeatability and reliability.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators

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Identification of Animal-Based Welfare Indicators in Captive Reptiles: A Delphi Consultation Survey

Peta L. Hitchens, Rachael H. Booth, Annabelle Murphy, Bidda Jones, Lauren M. Hemsworth

Published in 2021

Scientific paper on the gathering of an evidence base of expert opinion on welfare indicators for the animals to be included in a welfare assessment tool for four reptile families.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Exotic pets

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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Basic Needs in Horses? - A Literature Review

Konstanze Krueger, Laureen Esch, Kate Farmer, Isabell Marr

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the behavioural and physiological responses of horses in terms of stress, active behaviours, passive behaviours and abnormal behaviours, when their basic needs (social contact, presence of companions, freedom of movement, access to forage) are not fully met.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Living environment, Livestock farming system, Welfare indicators

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Animal welfare indicators for sheep during sea transport: Monitoring health and behaviour

Renee S.Willis, Patricia A. Fleming, Emma J. Dunston-Clarke, Anne L. Barnes, David W. Miller, Teresa Collins

Published in 2021

Scientific paper presenting the results of a test of a protocol to assess the welfare of sheep in their pens during sea transport. It describes behavioural changes during the sea journey, which were positively correlated with temperature, and a correlation between health and nutrition, environmental conditions and animal behaviour.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Stress, Transport

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Zoo Visitor Attitudes Are More Influenced by Animal Behaviour than Environmental Enrichment Appearance

Marina Salas, Daan W. Laméris, Arno Depoortere, Lise Plessers, Jonas Verspeek

Published in 2021

Scientific article showing that zoo visitors are not aware of the type of environmental enrichment (natural or artificial) in a lemur enclosure but are much more sensitive to the behaviour of the animals. It suggests that enrichment objects should be designed more for the effects they have on animals than for their appearance.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords: Enrichment, Human-animal relationships, Living environment,Societal issues

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Objective Assessment of Chronic Pain in Horses Using the Horse Chronic Pain Scale (HCPS): A Scale-Construction Study

Johannes P. A. M. van Loon, Lucia Macri

Published in 2021

Scientific paper describing the development of a chronic pain assessment scale for horses based on behavioural and facial expression indicators, and testing it on horses with and without chronic pain for intra- and inter-observer reliability

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

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

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Assessing dairy cow welfare during the grazing and housing periods on spring-calving, pasture-based dairy farms

Robin E Crossley, Eddie A M Bokkers, Natasha Browne, Katie Sugrue, Emer Kennedy, Imke J M de Boer, Muireann Conneely

Published in 2021

Scientific paper evaluating the welfare of Irish dairy cows in spring calving and pasture systems. Assessment indicators include lameness rates, body condition, discharge from the eyes and nose, tail and integument lesions, and avoidance distances. The overall results of the top 20% of farms are used to establish benchmarks.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Living environment, Livestock farming system, Welfare indicators

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