Discipline: Veterinary

Welfare of broilers on farm

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 S Herskin, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Virginie Michel, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl and Antonio Velarde

Published in 2023

EFSA opinion that identifies 19 major welfare consequences for broilers, animal-based measures to assess them, risks related to different farming systems and animal-based measures to assess them. Measures to prevent risks and mitigate welfare consequences are proposed. Recommendations are made to address specific welfare issues for broilers. Indicators for monitoring the welfare of broilers at slaughter are proposed.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Enrichment, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Mutilation, Stress, Livestock farming system, Societal issues, Pain

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Dietary fiber and its role in performance, welfare, and health of pigs

: Ł. Grześkowiak , E.-M. Saliu , B. Martínez-Vallespín , J. R. Aschenbach , G. A. Brockmann, M. Fulde , S. Hartmann , B. Kuhla , R. Lucius , C. C. Metges , H. J. Rothkötter , W. Vahjen , A. G. Wessels, J. Zentek

Published in 2023

Scientific review on the use of dietary fiber for sows, piglets and fattening pigs, and its positive aspect on health and welfare if ration concentrations are respected and if their fermentability is taken into account. Little is known about their effects on intestinal function and gut microbiota.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment

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New report reveals the minimal cost of fish welfare

Eurogroup for Animals and Essere Animali

Published in 2023

Presentation of the key points of a report from Essere Animali on effective stunning methods for fish, a key element for the welfare of fish not included in the recently introduced Italian "Sustainable Aquaculture" certification system. The report emphasizes the low investment cost of acquiring the necessary equipment and the possibility of financing this through the Common Fisheries Policy.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Stress

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Final report - EFTA Surveillance Authority's audit to Norway from 31 October 2022 to 9 November 2022 on protection of laying hens and chickens kept for meat production

EU Commission

Published in 2023

Audit report from EFTA concluding that the  EEA legislation has been correctly transposed and implemented in Norway. Nevertheless, the recommendations made in previous audits have not been satisfactorily addressed. Official veterinarians do not receive sufficient training with the result that non-compliance is not properly detected.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

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

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Final report of an audit of Spain carried out from 22 March to 26 July 2022 in order to evaluate animal welfare controls during transport by livestock vessel to non-EU countries

EU Commission

Published in 2023

DG SANTE audit report concluding that Spain has significantly improved its system of official controls since the previous Commission audit. However, veterinary inspectors do not always have sufficient knowledge or support to carry out controls properly and ports do not have facilities to allow animals to wait in good conditions if they are delayed.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Equines, Sheep, Pigs

Keywords:Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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Final report of an audit of Italy carried out from 7 February to 2 May 2022 in order to evaluate the protection of unweaned calves during long journeys

EU Commission

Published in 2023

DG SANTE audit report concluding that Italy has invested significant resources in official controls concerning the welfare of calves during transport, but that there are inconsistencies in these official controls that have not been corrected.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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Final report of an audit of Portugal carried out from 14 March to 4 July 2022 in order to evaluate animal welfare controls during transport by livestock vessel to non-EU countries

EU Commission

Published in 2023

DG SANTE audit report concluding that the official controls carried out by Portugal on sea carriers and livestock vessels prior to loading are adequate and effective in minimising the risk of injury or undue suffering for animals during transport by livestock vessels to third countries.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Equines, Sheep, Pigs

Keywords:Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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Visites sanitaires obligatoires dans la filière porcine : lancement de la campagne 2023-2024

French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2023

Technical Instruction giving details on the implementation  of the 2023-24 on-farm visit programme for pig welfare.  The visits are intended to check that farmers are familiar with the relevant regulations, to give them advice tailored to their farms, to make them aware of the risks involved in tail docking and to remind them of the regulations concerning tail docking, on-farm welfare advisors and the cessation of castration of piglets without anaesthetic.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Working animals, Animal mediation, Enrichment, Risk management, Mutilation, Human-animal relationships, Pain,, Stress, Welfare indicators

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The Future of Farming in the EU

Eurogroup for Animals

Published in 2023

Report presenting Eurogroup for Animals's vision for the future of agriculture by 2050. It includes the reversal of the plant/animal protein ratio in human food; a net decrease in the number of farm animals; a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the food industry; improved public health; and greater consideration for the feelings of animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Equines, Fish, Pigs, Poultry

Keywords:Antibiotic resistance, Biodiversity, Societal issues, Environment, One Welfare, Pollution, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system

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Welfare considerations for farming black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae): a model for the insects as food and feed industry

M. Barrett, S.Y. Chia , B. Fischer, J.K. Tomberlin

Published in 2023

Scientific review of factors that may influence the welfare of black soldier flies in commercial farming. It identifies the major issues and the farming conditions that cause them, suggesting areas for research to improve our understanding of the welfare of black soldier flies and, more generally, of farmed insects.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Insects

Keywords: Livestock farming system, Stress,Welfare indicators

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