Document type : Scientific article

Evaluating the Impact of Electrical Stunning on the Welfare and Meat Quality of the American Lobster (Homarus americanus)

Lorenzo RA, Llonch P, González J, García del Arco JA, Font-i-Furnols M, Rotllant G.

Published in 2026

Study that tested the "Crustastun" electrical stunning technique on lobsters. The technique is reversible but induces physiological stress responses, without significantly affecting the overall quality of the meat.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Invertebrates

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Effects of Rearing System and Environmental Enrichment on Production Performance and Welfare of Slow-Growing Broilers

Deng HX, Wu LT, Zhang YB, Peng LL, Qi KL, Liu Y, Wang YN, Wang YJ, Shu G, Zhao XL

Published in 2026

Study showing that free-range systems and enrichment improve the welfare of slow-growing broiler chickens as well as certain meat quality parameters, despite a lower final weight compared to animals raised in conventional systems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

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Deep Learning-Based Classification of Wakefulness, Sleep, and Rumination States in Dairy Cows Using Polysomnography and RumiWatch Data

Chuanyi Guo, Emma Ternman, Xinjie Zhao, Kai Liu, Mutian Niu

Published in 2026

Article describing the RumiWatch deep learning model, an accessible sensor-based system that automatically annotates and classifies states of wakefulness, sleep, and rumination in dairy cows based on polysomnographic data.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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It’s all a matter of perspective—a comparison of scientific experts’ vs. farmers’ opinions on Best Practices for pig welfare

Jachens M, Herbrandt S, Kemper N, and Fels M

Published in 2026

Survey of scientific experts and pig farmers revealing a broad consensus on best practices for the prevention of injuries. Costly or labor-intensive measures tend to be perceived as less suitable by farmers.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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Dairy Farmers’ Attitudes and Empathy, and Cattle’s Reactions to Humans in Cow-Calf Systems Compared to Early Separation

Anna Rademann, Marie Louise Schneider, Andreas Futschik, Grahame Coleman, Susanne Waiblinger

Published in 2026

Study showing that farmers who allow continued cow-calf contact express more positive attitudes toward cattle and their needs than those who practice early separation, but the farming method does not influence the distance at which calves and cows avoid humans.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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Early social housing promotes positive behavioral opportunities in pre-weaned dairy calves

Michail Sabino Moroz, Laura Katherine Whalin, João Henrique Cardoso Costa, Ruan Rolnei Daros

Published in 2026

Study conducted on dairy calves showing that pair housing  from one week of age promotes positive behaviors (exploration, play, mutual grooming) and reduces negative behaviors compared to individual housing or pairing at four weeks of age.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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Finnish Farmers’ Perceptions of the Roles of Farmers, Authorities, and Industry in Farm Animal Welfare and of Subsidy Development

Terhi Simonen-Jokinen

Published in 2026

Study conducted among Finnish cattle and sheep farmers showing that, in their view, improvements to animal welfare depend on better coordination between farmers, authorities, and industry stakeholders, and on appropriate subsidies, clear regulations, reduced paperwork and strengthened support.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Cattle, Sheep

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Roaring to Go: Engagement With Positive Reinforcement Training as a Valid and Reliable Indicator of Positive Welfare in Zoo Big Cats

Angelakopoulos, K., and A. Jolivald

Published in 2026

Among big cats housed in zoos, participation in positive-reinforcement training appears to be a promising indicator of welfare. This “willingness to participate” is significantly associated with positive behaviors and behavioral richness in big cats.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Felines

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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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