Discipline: Veterinary

Towards the humane slaughter of decapod crustaceans: identifying the most effective indicators of insensibility following electrical stunning

Douglas M. Neil, Endre Putyora, Amaya Albalat

Published in 2024

Scientific paper showing that electrical stunning causes nerve activity to cease in two crustacean species at both central and peripheral levels. However, cardiac activity continues for over an hour after stunning. Heart rate is not therefore a reliable indicator of the sensitivity of crustaceans or of the effectiveness of stunning.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Crustaceans

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Euthanasia, Brain integration

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Analysis of current methods and Welfare concerns in the transport of 118 horses by commercial air cargo companies

Felici M., Cogger N., Nanni Costa L., Riley C.B., Padalino B.

Published in 2024

Prospective study documenting the evolution of horse behavior, health and welfare during air transport. Due to its complexity, this type of transport requires the presence of experienced handlers to provide attentive care to each horse before, during and after air travel, in order to minimize welfare risks.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Welfare indicators, Fear, Resilience, Stress, Transport, Behavioural disorders, Vocalisation

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Burlap and buddies: the effects of social enrichment (preweaning mixing) and object enrichment (burlap) on piglet behavior and welfare in the postweaning environment

Ashlyn Scott, Arielle Le Heiget, Reyna Stefanson, Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire, Meagan King

Published in 2024

Scientific article demonstrating that early social enrichment encourages socialization with unfamiliar conspecifics during post-weaning, while object enrichment (burlap) allows pigs to divert their attention and limits aggressive behavior and the biting of conspecifics. Both types of enrichment can improve pig behavior and welfare after weaning.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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

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How does chronic pain impact the lives of dogs: an investigation of factors that are associated with pain using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid

Rachel Malkani, Sharmini Paramasivam, Sarah Wolfensohn

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that behavioral problems (reduced mobility, fear, loss of interest in social interaction, lack of play) can be predictors of the appearance more obvious clinical symptoms (lameness) in dogs suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. Knowing how to identify these behavioral indicators early on and proactively could lead to faster treatment of dogs with chronic pain.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Pain, Education, End of life, Welfare indicators, Fear, Stress, Behavioural disorders, Aging

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The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare - 2023 Report

Nicky Amos, Dr Nathan Rhys Williams MRCVS and Jessica Doten Axberg

Published in 2024

Report from Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW), on the ways that major global food companies take animal welfare into account. While 95% of them recognize the importance of animal welfare (versus 79% in 2012), 93% received the lowest scores. Three companies stood out positively.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Animal trade, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Education, Housing, Abuse, Restraint equipment, Mutilation, Livestock farming system, Pain, Stress, Societal issues, Transport

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Brazilians' perception of shrimp sentience and welfare

Gabriela Bussi de Oliveira, Pedro Griczinski, Ana Silvia Pedrazzani, Murilo Henrique Quintiliano, Carla Forte Maiolino Molento

Published in 2024

Survey study to establish perceptions in Brazil of the welfare and sentience of shrimps.  ¾ of participants said they were concerned about the welfare of this crustacean. 84% of people acknowledged that the species senses  pain, particularly when the eyestalk is removed, a procedure carried out in farming to induce ovarian maturation and accelerate egg-laying.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Crustaceans

Keywords:Pain, Welfare indicators, Mutilation, Stress

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Sheep fatigue during transport: Lost in translation?

Published in 0

Results of a qualitative study on sheep fatigue during transport from the perspective of stakeholders. Four Subjects emerged when the interview data was analysed, suggesting several avenues of research to improve sheep welfare during transport, including fatigue assessment based on QBA (qualitative behavioral analysis).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Animal trade, Welfare indicators, Transport, Behavioural disorders

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Evaluate the effectiveness of official controls to protect the welfare of cattle kept for beef production

DG Health, European Commission

Published in 2024

Results of an audit carried out in Belgium in 2023 seeking to assess the effectiveness of official controls relating to the protection of livestock. Although the safeguards provided by animal welfare controls on cattle are satisfactory overall, their effectiveness and consistency are limited as the consequence of weaknesses in the instructions issued and their application, verification and coordination between the competent authorities. The report makes recommendations on areas where improvements are still needed.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Pain, Education, Housing, Abuse, Mutilation

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Lameness in beef cattle: Effect, causes and treatment

Hannah Fitzsimmonds

Published in 2024

Veterinary study reporting the prevalence of lameness in British cattle. The article describes the financial impact of lameness on farms, the main causes of lameness and the actions that can be taken to limit it.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Pain, Housing, Mutilation, Behavioural disorders

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Review on cooling technologies for pigs

Vermeer Herman, Hoofs Anita

Published in 2024

Summary document for official welfare inspectors describing cooling technologies for pigs and their surroundings in farm buildings.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Porcines

Key word:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Education, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment

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