Discipline: Zootechnics

Advancements in artificial intelligence technology for improving animal welfare: Current applications and research progress

Li Zhang, Wenqiang Guo, Chenrui Lv, Meng Guo, Mei Yang, Qiuyue Fu, Xiaomeng Liu

Published in 2024

Article summarizing the various technological advances in the field of artificial intelligence for animal health and welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

Go to document

Abattoir mobile : retour sur la mise à l’arrêt du premier dispositif d’abattage à la ferme en France

Louise Chevallier

Published in 2024

Article reporting on the failure of a mobile on-farm cattle slaughtering initiative, despite the fact that this alternative model meets the animal welfare expectations of both consumers and farmers. The farmer involved looks back at the challenges and obstacles she faced, including the lack of parity instate subsidies compared with industrial abattoirs.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Euthanasia, Livestock farming system,Societal issues, Stress, Transportation

Go to document

Effect of classical music on growth performance, stress level, antioxidant index, immune function and meat quality in broilers at different stocking densities

Xinlei Gao, Jiangang Gong, Bowen Yang, Yanci Liu, Hongjian Xu, Yanshuang Hao, Jialin Jing, Zhihua Feng, Lihua Li

Published in 2024

Scientific article demonstrating that classical music in broiler rearing can reduce the adverse effects of high density stocking on some parameters for stress, health and meat quality.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Carcass quality,Enrichment, Stress

Go to document

Veal calf welfare and rearing 

Didier Bastien, Magdéléna Chanteperdrix, Virginie Lefoul, Christophe Martineau, Etienne Labussière, Manuel Tourtier

Published in 2024

Article summarising papers on veal calves given at the 74th European Animal Science Congress (EAAP). The presentations discussed work to identify societal expectations, establish the impact of different housing and feeding methods, evaluate changes in antibiotic use and develop tools for assessing biosecurity on farms.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Housing, Socialization, livestock farming system

Go to document

Welfare issues resulting from feed restriction in pregnant sows

EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)

Published in 2024

This article, intended for inspectors in EU Member States, describes the effects of feed restriction on the welfare of pregnant sows. Indicators of hunger-related aggression and stereotypies are described, along with measures to help sows feel satiated by increasing the fibre content of their diet, and to mitigate these behaviors by modifying various aspects of the living environment.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Behavioural disorders

Go to document

Training of transport drivers improves their handling of pigs during loading for transport to slaughter

S. Wilhelmsson, P.H. Hemsworth, M. Andersson, J. Yngvesson, L. Hemsworth, J. Hultgren

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing the positive impact of cognitive-behavioral training on the behavior and beliefs of lorry drivers working in livestock transport (pigs).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal trade, Education, Human-animal relationships, Transport

Go to document

Stop culling male layer-type chick: an overview of the alternatives and public perspective

Francesca Coppola, Gisella Paci, Matteo Profeti, Simone Mancini

Published in 2023

Scientific study summarizing available literature sources on alternatives to the current culling method for male chicks and the public's view of these approaches. In ovo sex determination appears to be the main potential alternative method to the culling of male chicks, and the one preferred by consumers, especially if carried out during the early days of incubation.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Pain, Societal issues, Euthanasia, Prenatal issues, Livestock farming system

Go to document

Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°8820 : Mise en application de l’interdiction du broyage des poussins mâles

Question: Josy Poueyto (Démocrate (MoDem et Indépendants) - Pyrénées-Atlantiques). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2024

Answer to a question from a member of parliament asking the Ministry to enforce the ban on crushing male chicks, including regular checks in hatcheries, and to extend the regulations to female ducklings.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Euthanasia, Abuse, Prenatal issues, Livestock farming system

Go to document

European Parliament: written answer to question E-000006/24: Fostering the development of mobile abattoirs

Question: Annika Bruna (ID). Answer: Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Answer to a question from a Member of the European Parliament on the Commission's planned strategy to support the development of mobile abattoirs.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Bovines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Key word:Animal trade, Euthanasia, Abuse,  Livestock farming system, Transport

Go to document

European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-003635/23: Reviving our local slaughterhouses by requiring meat to be exported instead of live animals

Question: Annika Bruna (ID). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Answer to a question from an MEP asking the European Commission about its position on a proposal to boost small local abattoirs by stopping the long-distance transport of live animals and replacing it with the transport of meat.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Ruminants, Poultry

Keywords:Animal trade, Carcass quality, Transport

Go to document