Discipline: Ethology

Recommendations to limit the risk of severe pecking in laying hens

Amandine Mika, Maryse Guinebretière, Anaëlle Laravoire, Christine Leterrier and F.Serrurier

Published in 2019

Now that animal welfarek trimming has been called into question in the European Union, farmers must plan for a shift in the medium term to egg production from untrimmed hens. This guide sets out the different actions that can be carried out as part of a whole-animal approach to farming in order to limit the risk of severe pecking in pullets and laying hens.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment

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The Impact of the current housing and husbandry systems on the health and welfare of farmed domestic rabbits

EFSA

Published in 2005

Preview:  “In this Opinion, based on the scientific data as well as the experience of the Working Group’s Report we draw some conclusions and make recommendations as well as giving pointers for future research. Overall there is a serious lack of information and scientific studies on the farming of this species compared with other farmed species, particularly on welfare. While there are few data on the types of rabbit farming systems it can be generally considered to be intensive with rabbits being reared in cages rather than being kept in large areas equivalent to a free-range style as with some other farmed species. The Panel recommends that such data be collected.”

Document Types: Opinions

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

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The use of animal-based measures to assess welfare of broilers

EFSA

Published in 2012

Preview: “Animal-based measures (ABM) can be used effectively in the on-farm evaluation of broiler welfare in relation to laws, codes of practice, quality assurance schemes, management and also partly for ante-mortem inspection. Some ABM can also be taken post-mortem at the slaughterhouse. Non-animal-based measures can be used when the association between them and the welfare outcome is strong and when they are more efficient than ABM as a means to safeguard welfare. They can also be useful predictors of welfare in broilers. The choice of animal-based measures will depend upon the specific objectives of the assessment. The full list is comparable to a „toolbox‟, from which the appropriate set of measures can be selected.”

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators

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Livre Blanc: le bien-être de l’animal de compagnie

CAP WELFARE. Caroline Gilbert, Emmanuelle Titeux, Jérôme Michalon, Charly Pignon, Thierry Poitte, Fabrice Rosaci. Preface by Alain Boissy

Published in 2019

To improve understanding of the needs and expectations of pets and awareness of their emotions, encourage the veterinary profession to engage as stakeholders in this societal issue, and to produce a consultative document for practitioners.

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Canines, Felines, Exotic pets

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Fear, Cognitive processes, Stress, Vocalisation

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Evaluation du projet de Guide de Bonnes Pratiques d’abattage des ovins en matière de protection animale

ANSES

Published in 2014

The Opinion assesses the draft Guide de bonnes pratiques (GBP, Guide to Good Practice) taking into account the available scientific facts, and identifies problem areas from a scientific and/or regulatory point of view, putting forward recommendations supported by scientific evidence for possible improvements or enhancements to the guide.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Consciousness, Pain, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Fear, Stress

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Prévenir la douleur chez le porc

IFIP/Chambres Agriculture/INRA/ RMT animal welfare

Published in 2018

The document contains 16 practical fact sheets to help producers to master tail cutting techniques that reduce the pain experienced by the piglet and to carry out actions to mitigate the risk factors for tail biting, or prevent them arising

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Pain, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Memory, Mutilation, Neurogenesis, Fear, Cognitive processes, Resilience

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What Are the Positives? Exploring Positive Welfare Indicators in a Qualitative Interview Study with Livestock Farmers

Vigors B, Lawrence A

Published in 2019

Positive animal welfare is a relatively new concept that promotes the welfare benefits of providing animals with greater opportunities for positive experiences, as well as minimizing negative experiences. However, little is known about farmers' attitudes or  knowledge regarding positive animal welfare. This is a major obstacle to the promotion of positive welfare indicators on farms, where their use may depend on their acceptance by farmers. In response, this study uses qualitative interviews to explore farmers' positive attitudes towards welfare. A fair number of elements that correspond to positive welfare indicators in the literature are encountered in farmers' positive discussions of welfare. These include animal autonomy, play, positive effects, positive Human-animal relationships, social interactions and appropriate genetic selection.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships, Housing, Stress, Livestock farming system, Welfare indicators

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Effects of environmental complexity on welfare indicators of fast-growing broiler chickens

Tahamtani FM, Pedersen IJ, Riber AB

Published in 2019

The study aims to investigate the effects of different types of environmental complexity on leg health and welfare indicators for fast-growing chickens housed in accordance with mainstream European legislation.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Pain, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Stress, Livestock farming system

Y a-t-il des alternatives à la castration chirurgicale des porcelets ?

A. PRUNIER, M. BONNEAU

Published in 2006

The review discusses alternatives to the surgical castration of male pigs, which protects consumers from strong smelling meat (boar taint) but which is carried out in some cases without anesthesia.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Pain, Societal issues, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Mutilation, Carcass quality, Stress, Livestock farming system

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AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals

AVMA

Published in 2019

Preview:  “The term depopulation refers to the rapid de¬struction of a population of animals in response to urgent circumstances with as much consideration given to the welfare of the animals as practicable. Ur¬gent circumstances may include emergency situations, such as the need for immediate disease control or a response to natural or human-made disasters.[…] The challenge facing veterinarians and others tasked with depopulation is to balance aggressive management of and rapid response to an emergency situation with animal welfare concerns surrounding humane destruction. Veterinarians are positioned to offer sound professional judgment as the value of animals’ lives and their welfare is weighed against immediate risk to human beings, other populations of animals, or the environment."

Document Types: Technical work

Keywords: Consciousness, Pain, Experimentation

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