Document type : Scientific article

Quality of in-vehicle temperature data collected by competent authorities as part of animal welfare inspections during the long-distance transport of pigs: a Danish case study

Herskin MS, Toft-Petersen E, Krogh MA

Published in 2026

A study revealing significant heterogeneity and major gaps in the temperature data collected during long-distance transport of pigs, limiting their usefulness for assessing the pigs’ welfare. It highlights the need to standardize data collection and the associated metadata.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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Balancing the Animal Affective Scales – Can the Methodology of Human Affect Balance Be Applied to Other Sentient Species?

Laura E. Webb, J. Elizabeth Bolhuis, Viktor Jurkovich, Allyson F. Ipema, Matteo Chincarini, Angélique Favreau-Peigné, Björn Forkman, Caroline Clouard, Frank Tuyttens, Heather Browning, Laura Menchetti, Margit Bak Jensen, Özkan Elmaz, Radka Šárová, Robert Głogowski, Sandra Düpjan, Stefania Celozzi, Walter Veit, Céline Tallet

Published in 2026

Concept article proposing to adapt the concept of affective balance, based on the balance between scales of positive and negative emotions, to the integrated assessment of animal welfare..

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal Categories: Cattle, Goats, Horses, Sheep, Pigs, All Animals, Poultry

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Motivational factors and financial incentives to mitigate tail biting in pig production in Finland

Väre M, Koskikallio H, Heinonen M, Tuominen-Brinkas M, Munsterhjelm C, Valros A, and Niemi JK

Published in 2026

Survey of Finnish pig farmers on measures intended to reduce tail-biting. With economic losses of up to approximately €32 per pig affected by tail-biting, the study shows that farmers are motivated in particular by financial incentives but also by a desire to improve animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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Exploring Viewer Perceptions of Videos Depicting Cat-Dissented “Play” and Their Potential to Contribute to Harmful Interactions

Lyn Henning, J. S., Nielsen, T. D., & Hazel, S. J.

Published in 2026

Study revealing that humans tend to downplay or misinterpret signs of distress and refusal in cats, highlighting the need to raise public awareness about respecting a cat’s preferences and the risks of bites and scratches.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Felines

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Teaming Up for Animal Welfare: A Cross-Institute Approach to Identify Robust Indicators of Emotion in Pigs

I. Reimert, G.A. Franchi, M. Bagaria, L. Canario, J. Elizabeth Bolhuis, S. Düpjan, E. Verbeek, E. Fàbrega, L.J. Pedersen, H. Telkänranta, A. Eggert, L.R. Moscovice

Published in 2026

Study of 124 sows across four facilities confirming that locomotor play and escape attempts are reliable indicators of short-term emotional valence. Ear position also appears to be a promising measure. Whereas cortisol levels reflected both valence and arousal, oxytocin did not vary consistently across contexts. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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Cattle Welfare, Health, and Husbandry: the sustainability connection 

Tom Warboys, Ruaraidh Petre

Published in 2026

Opinion piece arguing that animal welfare constitutes an essential ethical prerequisite for sustainable production.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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Live bovine animal export dynamics and structural heterogeneity across European member states, 2014-2024: A cluster -based analysis

Evija Skujina, Irina Pilvere

Published in 2026

Study highlighting a sharp rise in live cattle exports from the EU between 2014 and 2024, despite a decline in the number of European cattle. It reveals stark contrasts between Member States and the unique role played by France in the European cattle sector.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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Pragmatism Bias in Farm Animal Welfare Science

Mandel R, Read E, Forkman B, Keeling LJ, Sandøe P, Tuyttens FAM, and Nicol CJ

Published in 2026

Study showing that research on farm livestock animals is influenced by a 'pragmatic bias' associated with financial and practical implementation constraints, which limit the knowledge produced. The authors call for more transparency and independence in research, centred on the needs of animals, in order to encourage more deep-reaching welfare improvements. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: All animals

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Multi-Behavior Recognition and Health Assessment of Laying Hens Using RSA YOLO in Welfare-Oriented Farming

Panqi Pu, Junge Wang, Yue Gao, Dapeng Li, Geqi Yan, Hongchao Jiao, Xianyao Li, Hai Lin

Published in 2026

Study on an automated system based on artificial intelligence that can recognize various behaviors in laying hens and assess their health status. The behavioral changes it detected occurred approximately one week before a decline in egg production, demonstrating the system’s potential as an early-warning tool.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

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| Part 1: A Sector-Wide Survey of UK/British Isles Shelter Organisations Caring for Cats: Caregiver-Reported Approaches to Housing, Husbandry and General Care Provision

Laurent R. Finka, Ana M. Barcelos, James Waterman, Avni Bhatia, JEnni L. McDonald, Rae Foreman-Worsley, Beth Skillings

Published in 2026

A study conducted in the United Kingdom shows that, although shelters generally meet cats’ physiological needs, there is room for improvement in addressing their psychological needs, particularly with regard to housing, handling, and environmental enrichment.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Felines

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