Document type : Scientific article

Opportunities and Challenges in Applying the 3Rs to Zoos and Aquariums

Sabrina Brando, Mickey Gjerris 

Published in 2022

Scientific article examining the interest in using the 3Rs rule (replacement, reduction, refinement) applied in animal experimentation, to aid decision-making on the welfare of zoo and aquarium animals, in a context where practitioners in these sectors and society are asking for greater consideration to be given to animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife, Fish

Keywords:Societal issues, Housing, Human-animal relationships, Welfare indicators

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The Double-Edged Sword: International Law and Its Effects on EU Farm Animal Welfare Legislation

Alice Di Concetto

Published in 2022

Scholarly article that analyzes the positive role of international cooperation, facilitated by the Council of Europe, in the adoption of European legislation on farm-animal welfare. It sets out the limitations of these international legal tools in providing adequate regulation of market forces and proposes legal remedies to improve the treatement and welfare of animals where past international efforts have failed.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Fish, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords: Societal issues

New insights into ridden horse behaviour, horse welfare and horse-related safety

Karen L. Luke, Tina McAdie, Bradley P. Smith, Amanda K. Warren-Smith

Published in 2022

A scientific paper examining whether there are links between a ridden horse's behaviour, its welfare level and rider safety adopting an approach based on the concept of the 5 domains of animal welfare, which focuses on the consequences of rearing and training practices on animal welfare. The results support the hypothesis that horses with higher welfare levels exhibit fewer hyper-reactive behaviours and their riders suffer fewer accidents and injuries.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Learning, training, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Regular positive reinforcement training increases contact-seeking behavior in horses

Renate Larssen, Lina S.V. Roth

Published in 2022

Scientific paper reporting on the effects of using positive reinforcement for owner-trained horses where previously only negative reinforcement has been used. It concludes that a small but regular addition of positive reinforcement to training can increase the contact-seeking behaviour of horses with humans, but is not sufficient to improve their emotional state or stress levels in the long term.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Learning, training, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Automatic brushes induce positive emotions and foster positive social interactions in group-housed horses

Léa Lansade, Julie Lemarchand, Fabrice Reigner, Cécile Arnould, Aline Bertin

Published in 2022

Scientific article showing that the installation of automatic brushes brings a direct benefit to horses by allowing them to groom themselves, but also an indirect benefit by facilitating positive social interactions. This study encourages stables to install automatic brushes in locations where horses are kept in order to improve their welfare and comfort.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators

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Development of a Composite Pain Scale in Foals: A Pilot Study

Aliai Lanci, Beatrice Benedetti, Francesca Freccero, Carolina Castagnetti, Jole Mariella, Johannes P. A. M. van Loon, Barbara Padalino

Published in 2022

Scientific paper on the development and testing of a composite pain assessment scale in foals to enable the most rapid pain management response possible. The test demonstrated the inter- and intra-observer reliability of this pain assessment scale which needs to be validated using a larger number of animals and assessors.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

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

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Area and Resource Utilization of Group-Housed Horses in an Active Stable

Frederik Hildebrandt, Kathrin Büttner, Jennifer Salau, Joachim Krieter Irena Czycholl

Published in 2022

Scientific article on the use of different areas of an active stable by group-housed horses. The extent to which different areas are used depends mainly on the individual, and some areas are used more, such as the feeding stalls. The study shows preferences for certain types of bedding.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

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

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Insect-repelling behaviour in horses in relation to insect prevalence and access to shelters

Janne Winther Christensen, Christina Gudim Strøm, Klára Nicová, Clotilde Lafaige de Gaillard, Peter S andøe, Henrik Skovgård

Published in 2022

Scientific article reporting on an investigation into discomfort levels in horses caused by the presence of biting insects. Discomfort was positively correlated with lack of access to indoor areas and the prevalence of insects. The paper concludes that free access to shelters or other indoor areas during the summer reduces the negative effects of biting insects and may thereby improve the welfare of horses.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Housing, Living environment

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Discrepancies between farmers' perceptions and actual animal welfare conditions on commercial pig farms

Eva Nadlučnik, Irena Golinar Oven, Iztok Tomažič, Jan Plut1, Alenka Dovč, Marina Štukelj

Published in 2022

Scientific paper showing that the welfare levels recorded on Slovenian pig farms by the study authors are lower than the farmers think. Where farmers in the study had been trained, this appeared to correlate with a higher level of welfare for their pigs.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Dairy vs beef production - expert views on welfare of cattle in common food production systems

Roi Mandel, Marc B.M. Brackec, Christine J. Nicold, John A. Webster, Lorenz Gygax

Published in 2022

Scientific paper in which 70 experts estimated and compared levels of welfare in the most common cow meat and milk production systems in their countries. The experts estimated that the overall probability of a state of positive welfare was higher for animals from suckler herds than from dairy herds.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system

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