Discipline: Zootechnics

Assessing good physical health and resilience as a foundation for positive welfare in chickens

Lisa Jung, Ruth C. Newberry, Yukari Togami, Manja Zupan Šemrov

Published in 2026

Study proposing anatomical and physiological indicators to assess the health and resilience of chickens, with a view to developing proactive and potentially automated assessment tools to support positive animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

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Precision Livestock Farming for Dairy Sheep: A Literature Review of IoT and Decision-Support Systems for Enhanced Management and Welfare

Mura M.C., Trimasse O., Carcangiu V., Luridiana S.

Published in 2026

Review showing that precision farming technologies have significant potential to improve the monitoring and welfare of dairy ewes, but their adoption continues to be constrained by economic, technical, and ethical factors.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Ovines

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The Influence of Environmental Conditions and Husbandry Practices on Goat Welfare

Pilarczyk R., Bąkowska M., Tomza-Marciniak A., Udała J., Seremak B., Kwita E., Sablik P., Pilarczyk B.

Published in 2026

Study showing that goat welfare depends strongly on the environment, diet, and social interactions. Appropriate farming practices (stress management, enrichment, and supervised pain management) and regular assessments significantly improve their welfare, but further research is needed.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Caprines

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Impact of ‘hands-free’ rational handling on operational performance and economic losses in beef cattle

Daniela Costa Cotrim Campos, Adriane Lermen Zart, Claudio Vaz Di Mambro Ribeiro

Published in 2025

Scientific study showing that a cattle-handling protocol designed to reduce stress  significantly reduces bruising and loading times. Economic losses are also lower than those for conventional handling practices. The "hands-free" handling strategy improves operational efficiency without compromising carcass quality.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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Space density affects resting location and proximity of fattening pigs at night

Mathilde Coutant, Juliette Michel, Lene J. Pedersen, Mona L.V. Larsen

Published in 2026

Study showing that high stocking densities restrict pigs' choice of location and conditions for nighttime rest, reducing their opportunity to rest on solid flooring or away from other pigs, with potential negative implications for their welfare.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Porcines

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Welfare indicators in cattle farming in the face of heat stress: a review in climate change scenarios

IMF de Souza, CEL Sousa, VS Pinto, LGP Vilela, AdS Souza, JPS Cunha, CV Araújo, MdNB Gomes, LKX Silva, LG Martorano, KAL Neves, RNC Camargo-Júnior, ÉBR Silva, WC da Silva

Published in 2026

Comparative review showing that Zebu cattle are more resilient to high temperatures and disease than European cattle, although the latter are more productive. The authors stress the importance of taking account of climate constraints in genetic selection.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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Most common housing systems and practices for keeping turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) in the EU

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Jutta Berk, Joanna Marchewka, Virginie Michel, Nienke van Staaveren, Oana Maria Balmoș, Chiara Fabris, Yves Van der Stede, Cristina Rojo Gimeno, Antonio Velarde, Anja Brinch Riber

Published in 2026

New EFSA technical report describing livestock systems, the turkey production process, and the duration of its various stages. In the European Union, the most common housing systems for fattening turkeys are indoor farming with and without outdoor access and/or covered verandas. Breeding stock are kept indoors. In addition, the report describes the management of turkey poults in hatcheries.

Document types: Technical documents

Animal categories: Poultry

Welfare assessment of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) on farm

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (AHAW), Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Anette Boklund, Sabine Dippel, Fernanda Dorea, Jordi Figuerola, Mette S. Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Angel Miranda Chueca, Eleonora Nannoni, Romolo Nonno, Karl Stahl, Jutta Berk, Joanna Marchewka, Nienke van Staaveren, Oana Maria Balmos, Chiara Fabris, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Yves Van der Stede, Marika Vitali, Cristina Rojo Gimeno, Antonio Velarde, Anja Brinch Riber

Published in 2026

New EFSA scientific opinion identifyinh key welfare concerns for turkeys. To improve turkey welfare, the EFSA experts recommend increasing space allowances, implementing appropriate enrichment techniques, phasing out mutilations, and avoiding the practice of culling flocks.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Poultry

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Animal welfare indicators and stress response of broiler chickens raised at low and high stocking density

Chan Ho Kim, Ki Hyun Kim, Ju Lan Chun, Se Jin Lim, Jung Hwan Jeon

Published in 2025

Study showing that lower stocking densities in broiler chickens improve welfare (drier litter, less foot dermatitis, lower corticosterone) and feed efficiency, despite slightly lower feed intake and body weight.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

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Principles of sheep behavior: An overview from a welfare perspective

Manenti I, Toschi P, Miretti S, de la Lama GC

Published in 2026

Review analyzing the underlying factors that generate sheep behavior, in order to improve understanding of their biological needs and welfare. The authors stress the role of sensory and motivational systems and the importance of integrating this knowledge into herd management.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Ovines

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