Document type : Scientific article

Once-daily feeding is associated with better cognitive function and health in companion dogs: Results from the Dog Aging Project

Emily E. Bray, Zihan Zheng, Katherine Tolbert, Brianah M. McCoy, Dog Aging Project Consortium

Published in 2021

Scientific paper showing that senior dogs fed once a day have statistically-better cognitive scores, and suffer less from gastrointestinal, dental, orthopaedic, renal/urinary or liver/pancreatic disorders than senior dogs fed several times a day. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Cognitive processes

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Responses to spoken words by domestic dogs: A new instrument for use with dog owners

Catherine Reeve, Sophie Jacques

Published in 2022

A scientific article that sets out to inventory and analyse the words to which pet and working dogs respond. The number (89 on average) and type of words identified vary according to the breed, the status of the dog (pet or working) and its speed of learning.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Learning, training, Brain integration, Memory, Human-animal relationships

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Qualitative behaviour assessment as part of a welfare assessment in flocks of laying hens

Guro Vasdal, Karianne Muri, Solveig Marie Stubsjøen, Randi Oppermann Moe, Kathe Kittelsen

Published in 2021

Scientific paper on tests to ascertain the suitability of QBA to assess the emotional state of laying hens. Using QBA, 3 main dimensions were found to explain more than 80% of variations in emotional state - mood, alertness and arousal.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Brain integration, Stress

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Welfare Assessment Protocol for Shelter Dogs

S. Barnard, C. Pedernera, A. Velarde, P. Dalla Villa

Published in 2014

Protocol to assess the welfare of dogs in shelters at shelter, cage and individual levels

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Welfare indicators

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Shortening sow restraint period during lactation improves production and decreases hair cortisol concentrations in sows and their piglets

L. Morgan, J. Meyer, S. Novak, A. Younis, W.A. Ahmad, T. Raza

Published in 2021

Scientific paper showing that a reduction in the period length of sow restraint during lactation reduces stress and improves the welfare of sows and their piglets and improves production with more weaned piglets and higher weights. It therefore improves the economics of pig farming.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Lactation, Housing, Maternity, Living environment, Stress, Livestock farming system,Societal issues

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Reduced Stocking Density and Provision of Straw in a Rack Improve Pig Welfare on Commercial Fattening Farms

Katharina Schodl, Lisa Wiesauer, Christoph Winckler, Christine Leeb

Published in 2021

Scientific article demonstrating that it is possible to improve some welfare conditions of fattening pigs in conventional farming through simple measures such as reducing stocking density and providing straw or hay as enrichment material.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Enrichment, Living environment, Stress, Livestock farming system

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In pursuit of a better broiler: growth, efficiency, and mortality of 16 strains of broiler chickens

Stephanie Torrey, Mohsen Mohammadigheisar, Midian Nascimento dos Santos, Daniel Rothschild, Lauren C. Dawson, Zhenzhen Liu, Elijah G. Kiarie, A. Michelle Edwards, Ira Mandell, Niel Karrow, Dan Tulpan, Tina M. Widowski

Published in 2021

Scientific paper comparing the production indicators of several strains of broilers, with a view to finding strains with sufficient growth to be profitable and presenting fewer risks to animal welfare than do fast-growing conventional strains.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Societal issues, Carcass quality, Livestock farming system

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MyFishCheck: A Model to Assess Fish Welfare in Aquaculture

Linda Tschirren, David Bachmann, Ali Cem Güler, Oliver Blaser, Nicola Rhyner, Andreas Seitz, Erich Zbinden, Thomas Wahli, Helmut Segner, Dominik Refardt

Published in 2021

Scientific paper describing a framework to assess the welfare of farmed fish, based on 80 indicators grouped into 5 modules: farm management, water quality, fish group behaviour, external appearance and internal appearance of fish. An application has been developed to facilitate its use.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

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

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Stress-Related Behaviors in Companion Dogs Exposed to Common Household Noises, and Owners' Interpretations of Their Dogs' Behaviors

Emma K. Grigg, Juliann Chou, Emily Parker, Anwyn Gatesy-Davis, Sara T. Clarkson, Lynette A. Hart

Published in 2021

Scientific article highlighting that some owners underestimate their dog's fear in response to household noise and respond inappropriately. It advises that dog owners should be better educated to interpret their pets' body language correctly, in order to safeguard the latter's welfare and avoid the development of behavioural problems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Psychiatric disorder

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An evaluation of four private animal health and welfare standards and associated quality assurance programmes for dairy cow production

S.J. More, J. Marchewk, A. Hanlon, A. Balzani, L. Boyle

Published in 2021

A scientific paper evaluating four sets of private health and welfare standards and associated quality assurance programmes in dairy cattle from Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. It highlights transparency problems and calls for regulatory oversight of the use of these standards.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Societal issues, Livestock farming system, Welfare indicators

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