Discipline: Veterinary

The behavior of the sows: Can we predict it?

Paula Arroyo

Published in 2021

Technical article highlighting the importance of ethology in improving pig production. A better understanding of sow ethology can improve animal welfare, management, reproductive efficiency and, therefore, the profitability of the farm. The veterinarian has a new social and educational role to play in improving the welfare of sows and piglets. Staff also need to be trained in ethology, which will enable them to predict the behavioural profile of sows before the first farrowing, improve selection and reduce restraints on animal movement.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Lactation, Welfare indicators

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Progress With Livestock Welfare in Extensive Production Systems: Lessons From Australia

Peter Andrew Windsor

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the animal welfare challenges faced by Australian extensive livestock farming and the improvements already in place to improve animal welfare: the development of standards and guidelines for improved farm animal welfare; improved consideration of welfare in the transport of live animals; better pain management for potentially painful routine livestock practices; and more monitoring and consideration of welfare on farms.

Document Types: Scientific review

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Transport

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Welfare Impact of Community-Based Veterinary and Breeding Services on Small Ruminant Keepers

Girma Tesfahun Kassie, Woinishet Asnake, Aynalem Haile, Tesfaye Getachew Mengistu, Solomon Gizaw, Barbara Rischkowsky

Published in 2021

Scientific paper examining the impact of an institutional partnership set up in Ethiopia to improve livestock husbandry practices and health. It shows that access to health services for small ruminants increased sampling, yield per head of sheep/goats and gross income per animal.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Goats, Sheep

Keywords: Welfare indicators, Livestock farming system

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Horses' physiological and behavioural responses during undergraduate veterinary practical teaching classes

Lauréline Guinnefollau, Charlotte F. Bolwell, Erica K. Gee, Elizabeth J. Norman, Chris W. Rogers

Published in 2021

Scientific paper investigating the stress responses of horses used in veterinary teaching practice. The indicators measured included heart rate and behavioural indicators suggestive of stress. Limited physiological and behavioural stress responses were observed, suggesting that the horses in question might become accustomed to being handled and being in a teaching environment.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

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

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Validation of the Donkey Pain Scale (DOPS) for Assessing Postoperative Pain in Donkeys

Maria Gláucia Carlos de Oliveira, Valéria Veras de Paula, Andressa Nunes Mouta, Isabelle de Oliveira Lima, Luã Barbalho de Macêdo, Talyta Lins Nunes, Pedro Henrique Esteves Trindade, Stelio Pacca Loureiro Luna

Published in 2021

Scientific article proposing and testing a scale for acute pain in donkeys during castration. The proposed scale is both reliable and valid.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

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

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Towards Machine Recognition of Facial Expressions of Pain in Horses

Pia Haubro Andersen, Sofia Broomé, Maheen Rashid, Johan Lundblad, Katrina Ask, Zhenghong Li, Elin Hernlund, Marie Rhodin, Hedvig Kjellström

Published in 2021

Scientific review describing two promising systems for the automatic recognition of facial expressions of pain in horses. The first is based on a manual classification system that involves machine learning. The second is based on recurrent neural network learning.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

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

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Effect of transportation and social isolation on facial expressions of healthy horses

Johan Lundblad, Maheen Rashid, Marie Rhodin, Pia Haubro Andersen

Published in 2021

Scientific paper describing the facial expressions of healthy, pain-free horses before and during transport and social isolation, both of which are potentially stressful management procedures. The following facial features were observed in both cases: increased eye white, dilated nostrils, elevated upper eyelid, elevated inner forehead, exposed tongue, increased ear movements and blinking frequency. Some of these stress markers are already used as indicators of pain.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Pain, Welfare indicators, Stress, Transport

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A review of laminitis in the donkey

A. K. Thiemann, J. Buil, K. Rickards, R. J. Sullivan

Published in 2021

Scientific review of issues that affect the treatment and management of laminitis in donkeys compared to horses, highlighting the differences in use, behaviour and anatomy that call for a different approach.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Pain, Stress, Livestock farming system

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Twenty Years of Research in Seabass and Seabream Welfare during Slaughter

Igother small companion animalsio de la Rosa, Pedro L. Castro, Rafael Ginés

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the different stunning methods used for sea bass and sea bream. The following methods are described, compared and evaluated: hypothermia, electrical stunning, carbon dioxide narcosis and clove oil anaesthesia.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Stress

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Impact of Estrogens Present in Environment on Health and Welfare of Animals

Konrad Wojnarowski, Paweł Podobiński, Paulina Cholewińska, Jakub Smoliński, Karolina Dorobisz

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the harmful effects of oestrogens on animal health and welfare (feminisation, reproductive disorders, physiological disturbances, disruption of programmed cell death, development of tumours). It concludes that there is a lack of scientific data on animals as compared to humans.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Mammals

Keywords:Environment, Livestock farming system

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