Discipline: Zootechnics

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

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Behaviour of cull sows during transport to slaughter - effects of journey duration, a stationary period and temperature

Cecilie Kobek-Kjeldager, Line D. Jensen, Leslie Foldager, Louisa M. Gould, Karen Thodberg, Dorte Lene Schrøder-Petersen, Mette S. Herskin

Published in 2024

Scientific article describing the behavior of cull sows during transport. The results show that sows generally stand during transport, and aggression was observed throughout the journey. A higher proportion of sows who lie down during a prolonged stop after a long journey suggests fatigue.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressivity, Welfare indicators, Transport

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Loss of a grooming enrichment impacts physical, behavioural, and physiological measures of welfare in grazing beef cattle

Emily J. Dickson, Jessica E. Monk, Caroline Lee, Paul G. McDonald, Edward Narayan, Dana L. M. Campbell

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the loss of an enrichment element (grooming brush) to which grazing cattle are accustomed can adversely affect welfare, measured here by indicators of cleanliness, growth and fecal cortisol.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Behavioural disorders

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Stress related to wild canid predators near dairy sheep farms associated with increased somatic cell counts in bulk-tank milk

Eleni I. Katsarou, Neil Reid , Daphne T. Lianou, George C. Fthenakis

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the presence of predatory wild canids near sheep farms is associated with poorer milk quality, suggesting stress in ewes.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canines, Sheep

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Biodiversity, Environment, Population management, Lactation, Living environment, , Stress

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Resource choice during ontogeny enhances both the short- and longer-term welfare of laying hen pullets

Regine Victoria Holt, Lena Skånberg, Linda J. Keeling, Inma Estevez, Ruth C. Newberry

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that offering chicks and juveniles a choice between different types of litter and perches has positive short- and long-term effects on the emotional state and physical condition of laying hens.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Housing, Behavioural disorders

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Effect of extended heat stress in dairy cows on productive and behavioral traits

Daniela Lovarelli, Giulietta Minozzi, Alon Arazi, Marcella Guarino, Francesco Tiezzi

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that heat stress generated by intense heat waves increases activity in dairy cows and compromises milk production, resting time and milk quality.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Robustness, Stress

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-003324/2023: Animal welfare legislation derailment and conclusions from a recent journalistic investigation

Question: Francisco Guerreiro (Greens/EFA). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

An MEP has questioned the European Commission on the abandonment of its plans to revise animal welfare legislation to include a ban on cage farming. According to a survey, MEPs are being encouraged to resist pressure from NGOs. The MEP questions the European Commission on this subject.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Pigs, Poultry

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment

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Animal health and welfare: cornerstones of sustainable animal farming

WOAH

Published in 2024

Article describing the environmental challenges of livestock farming, along with its impact on animal welfare and global health. The article underlines the need for farming practices to evolve, with animal health and welfare as key contributors to the sustainability of livestock farming.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Biodiversity, Societal issues, Environment, Population management, One Welfare, Pollution, livestock farming system

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Review: Animal husbandry and sustainable agriculture: is animal welfare (only) an issue of sustainability of agricultural production or a separate issue on its own?

Daniel Wawrzyniak

Published in 2024

Scientific article explaining the risks of conflating the concept of animal welfare with that of sustainable farming.Linking them can blur their differences and may result in misguided agricultural political decision-making.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords: Environment, One Welfare, Pollution,Societal issues, livestock farming system

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Review: Using animal welfare to frame discussion on dairy farm technology

Daniel M. Weary, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk

Published in 2024

Review of scientific articles describing the advantages and disadvantages of the use of technology on dairy farms. Most articles report an improvement in animal welfare thanks to the technology studied, but the authors of the review are concerned over a possible lack of objectivity, suggesting that future studies should endeavor to address both potential advantages and disadvantages.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Lactation

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