Discipline: Zootechnics

Anastasiya Ramankevich, Karolina Wengerska, Kinga Rokicka, Kamil Drabik, Kornel Kasperek, Agnieszka Ziemiańska, Justyna Batkowska

EURCAW-Pigs

Published in 2022

Fact sheet outlining regulations and proposing animal-based indicators to confirm the death of suckling piglets when euthanised. These indicators include the absence of muscle tone, respiration (apnea), heartbeat, response to corneal and palpebral stimuli and pupil dilation.

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Stress

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Environmental Enrichment as Part of the Improvement of the Welfare of Japanese Quails

Anastasiya Ramankevich, Karolina Wengerska, Kinga Rokicka, Kamil Drabik, Kornel Kasperek, Agnieszka Ziemiańska, Justyna Batkowska

Published in 2022

Scientific paper to measure indicators for behavioral and physiological welfare of farmed Japanese quails as a function of environmental enrichment. It shows that quails in enriched cages had lower stress levels and fewer abnormal behaviors than those in standard cages, and that the color and shape of an object were very important in arousing the birds' interest.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Housing, Stress, Welfare indicators

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Welfare issues resulting from feed restriction in pregnant sows

EURCAW-Pigs

Published in 2022

Review of the scientific literature for veterinary inspectors of Member States on the regulation and scientific knowledge on behavioral and physiological signs of hunger in pregnant sows under a restricted feed regime, and on ways to reduce associated welfare problems (aggression and stereotypies). They aim to reduce hunger sensations and to adapt farming methods.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, Stress

Final report of an audit of Cyprus carried out from 14 to 18 June 2021 in order to evaluate the protection of the welfare of laying hens at all stages of production

DG SANTE

Published in 2022

DG Health report concluding that the system of assessment of animal welfare of laying hens by the Cypriot competent authorities has a number of serious shortcomings. It makes three main recommendations to remedy this.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Societal issues, Risk management

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Improving heat stress resilience should be priority for swine industry

Ann Hess

Published in 2022

Summary of a webinar hosted by the USDA on how to mitigate the impacts of heat stress on the health and welfare of pigs in factory farming. It presents research findings to improve heat stress resilience in pigs through a three-part approach, that looks at management, nutrition and genetics.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Risk management, Living environment, Resilience, Robustness, Stress

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Finding the "golden stocking density": A balance between fish welfare and farmers' perspectives

J. L. Saraiva, P. Rachinas-Lopes, P. Arechavala-Lopez

Published in 2022

Scientific review proposing ways to select the appropriate fish stocking density for each farm and monitor its potential effects. They include a robust welfare assessment based on operational indicators and good management practices.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords: Housing, Living environment, Livestock farming system,Welfare indicators

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Improving young pig welfare on-farm: The Five Domains Model

Anna K Johnson, Jean-Loup Rault, Jeremy N Marchant, Emma M Baxter, Keelin O'Driscoll

Published in 2022

Scientific review of the use of the five domains model to improve housing and management from the piglets' perspective, seeking to induce positive mental states that can result in improved quality of life and wefare. 

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Stress

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L’Allemagne a un temps d’avance sur le bien-être du porc

Christophe Reibel

Published in 2022

Dossier describing the German voluntary welfare initiative in pig farming, "Initiative Tierwohl", containing interviews with farmers who have signed up to it, along with half their fellow farmers. Although the initiative is appreciated by consumers, the public is still concerned over meat prices, a fact that restricts farmers' room for manoeuver in working to to improve animal welfare.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Societal issues

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Freedom to Move: Free Lactation Pens Improve Sow Welfare

Orla Kinane, Fidelma Butler, Keelin O'Driscoll

Published in 2022

Article comparing welfare criteria for sows housed in free-range farrowing crates and conventional farrowing crates. It shows that the greater freedom of movement provided by free-range farrowing crates throughout lactation can improve locomotor health and reduce stress levels in sows.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Societal issues

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Alternative Practices in Organic Dairy Production and Effects on Animal Behavior, Health, and Welfare

Hannah N. Phillips, Bradley J. Heins

Published in 2022

Scientific review describing organic milk production systems, and the husbandry practices they include that could affect animal welfare, including alternative methods of pain management during calf disbudding and treatment of mastitis in cows as well as management of adverse behaviours during milking.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords:Societal issues, Living environment, Livestock farming system

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