Document type : Scientific article

Influence of deep-litter bedding materials on environmental and welfare-related factors in boar studs

Anine Riedel, Laura Pieper, Matthias Lautner, Claus Leiding, Markus Jung, Martin Schulze

Published in 2024

Scientific article describing the variations in temperature, pen cleanliness (in winter), and fly load (in summer) between different bedding materials supplied to breeding boars. The authors recommend the use of wooden materials as deep litter due to their lesser heat build-up and to avoid litter replacement during summer.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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

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Towards the humane slaughter of decapod crustaceans: identifying the most effective indicators of insensibility following electrical stunning

Douglas M. Neil, Endre Putyora, Amaya Albalat

Published in 2024

Scientific paper showing that electrical stunning causes nerve activity to cease in two crustacean species at both central and peripheral levels. However, cardiac activity continues for over an hour after stunning. Heart rate is not therefore a reliable indicator of the sensitivity of crustaceans or of the effectiveness of stunning.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Crustaceans

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Euthanasia, Brain integration

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Analysis of current methods and Welfare concerns in the transport of 118 horses by commercial air cargo companies

Felici M., Cogger N., Nanni Costa L., Riley C.B., Padalino B.

Published in 2024

Prospective study documenting the evolution of horse behavior, health and welfare during air transport. Due to its complexity, this type of transport requires the presence of experienced handlers to provide attentive care to each horse before, during and after air travel, in order to minimize welfare risks.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Welfare indicators, Fear, Resilience, Stress, Transport, Behavioural disorders, Vocalisation

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Burlap and buddies: the effects of social enrichment (preweaning mixing) and object enrichment (burlap) on piglet behavior and welfare in the postweaning environment

Ashlyn Scott, Arielle Le Heiget, Reyna Stefanson, Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire, Meagan King

Published in 2024

Scientific article demonstrating that early social enrichment encourages socialization with unfamiliar conspecifics during post-weaning, while object enrichment (burlap) allows pigs to divert their attention and limits aggressive behavior and the biting of conspecifics. Both types of enrichment can improve pig behavior and welfare after weaning.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Aggression, Enrichment, Housing, Weaning, Socialization, Behavioural disorders, Welfare indicators, Aggression

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How does chronic pain impact the lives of dogs: an investigation of factors that are associated with pain using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid

Rachel Malkani, Sharmini Paramasivam, Sarah Wolfensohn

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that behavioral problems (reduced mobility, fear, loss of interest in social interaction, lack of play) can be predictors of the appearance more obvious clinical symptoms (lameness) in dogs suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. Knowing how to identify these behavioral indicators early on and proactively could lead to faster treatment of dogs with chronic pain.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Pain, Education, End of life, Welfare indicators, Fear, Stress, Behavioural disorders, Aging

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Social buffering of behavioural stress response in two fish species, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and koi carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Santiago Pintos, Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato, Luisa María Vera, Luis Conceição, Cristiano Bertolucci, Javier Sánchez-Vázquez, Paulo Rema

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the effects of social enrichment on fish stress responses vary according to the species studied.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Enrichment, Housing, Fear, Stress, Behavioural disorders

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Dairy farmers' preferences for immediate versus late calf separation

Albert Boaitey

Published in 2024

Analysis of a survey carried out in the US to gain an understanding of dairy calf farmers' perceptions of the practice of allowing prolonged contact between mother and calf. The survey concludes that the foster cow system was the preferred alternative to conventional early separation, followed by restricted suckling systems. The lowest-ranked alternative system was free contact between calf and mother.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Lactation, Housing, Maternity, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships, Weaning, Livestock farming system

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Exploration of skin redness and immunoglobulin A as markers of the affective states of hens

Delphine Soulet, Anissa Jahoui, Rodrigo Guabiraba, Léa Lansade, Marie-Claire Blache, Benoît Piégu, Gaëlle Lefort, Vanaique Guillory, Pascale Quéré, Karine Germain, Frédéric Lévy, Scott A. Love, Aline Bertin, Cécile Arnould

Published in 2024

Scientific article reporting that hens display increased redness of the facial skin in situations eliciting positive or negative affective states, with high-intensity negative situations resulting in the highest degree of redness. Meanwhile, situations could produce minor changes in immunoglobulin A concentrations. The authors conclude that changes in facial skin redness do indeed reflect variations in the hens' affective states and can be used as a marker when assessing the quality of the human-hen relationship.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Welfare indicators

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Brazilians' perception of shrimp sentience and welfare

Gabriela Bussi de Oliveira, Pedro Griczinski, Ana Silvia Pedrazzani, Murilo Henrique Quintiliano, Carla Forte Maiolino Molento

Published in 2024

Survey study to establish perceptions in Brazil of the welfare and sentience of shrimps.  ¾ of participants said they were concerned about the welfare of this crustacean. 84% of people acknowledged that the species senses  pain, particularly when the eyestalk is removed, a procedure carried out in farming to induce ovarian maturation and accelerate egg-laying.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Crustaceans

Keywords:Pain, Welfare indicators, Mutilation, Stress

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Sheep fatigue during transport: Lost in translation?

Published in 0

Results of a qualitative study on sheep fatigue during transport from the perspective of stakeholders. Four Subjects emerged when the interview data was analysed, suggesting several avenues of research to improve sheep welfare during transport, including fatigue assessment based on QBA (qualitative behavioral analysis).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Animal trade, Welfare indicators, Transport, Behavioural disorders

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