Discipline: Veterinary

A review of factors affecting the welfare of dairy calves in pasture-based production systems

Megan Verdon

Published in 2021

A scientific review identifying the following risk factors for poor welfare in pasture-reared dairy calves (common to all rearing systems): perinatal mortality, poor passive transfer of immunity, poor pain management during disbudding and insufficient milk in the feed.  In addition, separation from the mother and the culling of male calves reduces the public acceptability of dairy farming. It makes recommendations for improving farming practices.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Maternity, Living environment, Livestock farming system, Societal issues

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RSPCA welfare standards for farmed Atlantic salmon

RSPCA

Published in 2021

Good practice guidance developed by the RSPCA based on the 5 freedoms and current scientific knowledge of the needs of farmed salmon. It recognises the existence of knowledge gaps and therefore advises farmers to adopt an attitude of continuous improvement rather than relying strictly on these standards, developed at a particular moment in time.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Pain, Societal issues, Enrichment, Housing, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Livestock farming system

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Centennial Review: A revisiting of hen welfare and egg safety consequences of mandatory outdoor access for organic egg production

Peter S. Holt

Published in 2021

A scientific review comparing the welfare of laying hens and the sanitary quality of their eggs in free-range and indoor systems. It concludes that diseases are more frequent and severe and that there is a greater risk of Salmonella infections and the contamination of eggs by toxic industrial by-products in hens with access to the outdoors.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Societal issues, Risk management, Housing, Living environment, Livestock farming system, Pathogen transfer

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Stress-Related Behaviors in Companion Dogs Exposed to Common Household Noises, and Owners' Interpretations of Their Dogs' Behaviors

Emma K. Grigg, Juliann Chou, Emily Parker, Anwyn Gatesy-Davis, Sara T. Clarkson, Lynette A. Hart

Published in 2021

Scientific article highlighting that some owners underestimate their dog's fear in response to household noise and respond inappropriately. It advises that dog owners should be better educated to interpret their pets' body language correctly, in order to safeguard the latter's welfare and avoid the development of behavioural problems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Psychiatric disorder

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Arrêté du 17 novembre 2021 modifiant l'arrêté du 24 février 2020 modifiant l'arrêté du 16 janvier 2003 établissant les normes minimales relatives à la protection des porcs

French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2021

Decree making the live castration of domestic male pigs for anything other than therapeutic or diagnostic purposes subject to justifications relating to a particular need for the supply of castrated male pig meat as part of a quality and identification of origin label system or to production constraints.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Pain, Societal issues, Stress, Livestock farming system

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Interdiction de la castration à vif des porcelets : un arrêté et une instruction technique pour accompagner sa mise en œuvre

Julien Denormandie's Press Office,  French Ministry of Agriculture and Food's Press Office

Published in 2021

Explanation of the official documents specifying the conditions under which castration of male domestic pigs may be carried out on farms, other than for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Pain, Societal issues, Stress, Livestock farming system

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Modalités d’encadrement de la dérogation de la castration chirurgicale des porcelets sous anesthésie et analgésie par les détenteurs et leurs salariés

French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2021

Technical instruction specifying the training conditions for carrying out castration protocols under local anaesthesia and analgesia, and the procedures for the issue of a derogation, defining the role of each actor.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Pain, Societal issues, Stress, Livestock farming system

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An evaluation of four private animal health and welfare standards and associated quality assurance programmes for dairy cow production

S.J. More, J. Marchewk, A. Hanlon, A. Balzani, L. Boyle

Published in 2021

A scientific paper evaluating four sets of private health and welfare standards and associated quality assurance programmes in dairy cattle from Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. It highlights transparency problems and calls for regulatory oversight of the use of these standards.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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

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Anthropomorphism and Its Adverse Effects on the Distress and Welfare of Companion Animals

Daniel Mota-Rojas, Chiara Mariti, Andrea Zdeinert, Giacomo Riggio, Patricia Mora-Medina, Alondra del Mar Reyes, Angelo Gazzano, Adriana Domínguez-Oliva, Karina Lezama-García, Nancy José-Pérez, Ismael Hernández-Ávalos

Published in 2021

Scientific review analysing the adverse effects of anthropomorphism on pet welfare from several perspectives - physiological, health and behavioural - based on a discussion of current scientific findings

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Canines, Felines, Exotic pets

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Psychiatric disorder

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