Document type: Scientific documents

Grooming using brushes in cattle: A review of benefits, influencing factors, and monitoring opportunities

Habeeb Muraina, Borbala Foris

Published in 2026

A review of the literature shows that scratching posts are widely used by cattle and contribute to hygiene and possibly to welfare. Their use could serve as an indicator of welfare, but results vary depending on the animals’ health status, environment, and individual characteristics.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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Riding with care: A review of factors that influence the welfare of the ridden horse and a case for the application of the precautionary principle in equestrian pursuits

Caleigh Copelin, Katrina Merkies

Published in 2026

Review showing that the welfare of ridden horses is dependent on many factors relating to the equipment used, the rider, and a horse's health, and that respect for these factors is essential in maintaining the social acceptability that allows equestrian sports to continue. 

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Equines

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Perch-based enrichment and broiler growth, welfare and behaviour

B. F. Sevinç B. Yılmaz Dikmen

Published in 2026

Study showing that perch-based enrichment does not affect growth or most welfare windicators in broiler chickens, but that it reduces hock burn and slightly improves locomotion.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Poultry

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Fowl play: Do age and aviary design affect play in cage-free laying hens?

Xiaowen Ma, Vrinda Ambike, Valentina Bongiorno, Jacquelyn A. Jacobs, Janice C. Swanson, Tina M. Widowski, Janice M. Siegford

Published in 2026

Study showing that the play behavior of laying hens decreases significantly with age, and is influenced by aviary design and space allocation per bird. Certain activities, such as more frequent running or wing flapping, were influenced by aviary design and space per bird. The study concludes that housing configuration influences welfare and may interact with the hens' developmental stage.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Poultry

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Heat stress: an environmental challenge to immune resilience and health in dairy cows

Arslan Tariq, John J. Bromfield

Published in 2026

Scientific review of knowledge on heat stress in dairy cows. The management of heat stress requires a combination of adjustments to the environment, targeted nutrition, and genetic selection for thermotolerance.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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Real-Time Behavior Recognition Using a Legged Robot for Animal–Robot Interaction

Edoardo Fazzari, Donato Romano, Fabrizio Falchi, Cesare Stefanini

Published in 2025

Study presenting an AI-integrated framework that enables a robotic dog to autonomously analyze the behavior of cows and chickens in real time using detection (YOLO) and action recognition (DARTEMIS) models.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories:Cattle, Poultry

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Impact of ‘hands-free’ rational handling on operational performance and economic losses in beef cattle

Daniela Costa Cotrim Campos, Adriane Lermen Zart, Claudio Vaz Di Mambro Ribeiro

Published in 2025

Scientific study showing that a cattle-handling protocol designed to reduce stress  significantly reduces bruising and loading times. Economic losses are also lower than those for conventional handling practices. The "hands-free" handling strategy improves operational efficiency without compromising carcass quality.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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The Influence of Environmental and Genetic Factors and Training Background on the Welfare of Herding Dogs

B. Pilarczyk; R. Pilarczyk; M. Bąkowska; A. Tomza-Marciniak; E. Kwita; J. Udała

Published in 2026

Bibliographic review concluding that the effectiveness and well-being of sheepdogs depend on genetic factors, living conditions, and, above all, training methods based on positive reinforcement and a relationship of trust.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories:Canine

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Space density affects resting location and proximity of fattening pigs at night

Mathilde Coutant, Juliette Michel, Lene J. Pedersen, Mona L.V. Larsen

Published in 2026

Study showing that high stocking densities restrict pigs' choice of location and conditions for nighttime rest, reducing their opportunity to rest on solid flooring or away from other pigs, with potential negative implications for their welfare.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Porcines

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Review: Understanding cattle social behavior in modern penned production systems with AI technology: Are we tracking welfare indicators?

A. Fuentes, S. Han, J. Liu, J. Park, S. Yoon, D.S. Park

Published in 2026

Review showing that, while AI systems make it possible to monitor certain cattle behaviors automatically, there are major limitations on their contextual and social interpretation of welfare signals. The authors propose a welfare-centered AI framework, integrating multimodal data and contextual modelling to facilitate early detection of welfare risks and informed decision-making.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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