Document type : Scientific review

Behavioral challenges and welfare implications in lambs raised under intensive dairy sheep production systems

Simeonov M, Harmon DL, and Freitas-de-Melo A

Published in 2026

This scientific review lists the behavioral problems observed in lambs in intensive farming systems and their implications for welfare. It focuses in particular on the natural social and feeding behaviors of lambs in order to establish a framework for understanding their behavioral needs, and identifies practical interventions that can improve both lamb welfare and farm performance.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Ovines

Go to document

Invited Review: Precision Livestock Farming Technologies in Swine Intensive Production

Giovanni Buonaiuto, Eleonora Nannoni, Luca Sardi, Simona Belperio, Chris Sanzò, Giovanna Martelli

Published in 2026

Scientific synthesis of the use of precision farming technologies, including the use of sensors, automation, and artificial intelligence, to improve monitoring and management in pig farming. It focuses on technologies to monitor health, optimize feeding, control microclimates, and assess pig welfare. It sets out the benefits and limitations of these technologies for intensive pig farming.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Go to document

Comparative Effectiveness of Culling and Birth Control in Free-Roaming Animal Management: A Systematic Review

Anastassiya Perfilyeva, Olzhas Zhorayev, Kira Bespalova, Yuliya Perfilyeva

Published in 2026

A systematic review of the scientific literature on the management of stray animals, showing that euthanasia has limited and context-dependent effectiveness, whereas birth control, as part of integrated strategies, yields more consistent and sustainable results across all areas.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

Go to document

Review: Free-stall Bedding Management for Enhanced Dairy Cow Health and Welfare

N. Siachos, R.F. Smith, J.M. Neary

Published in 2026

A scientific review of the main properties, benefits, risks, and best management practices associated with bedding materials commonly used in free-stall dairy operations. It concludes that choosing a type of bedding involves balancing the benefits to cow health, farm profitability, and management requirements in order to make an informed decision.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Go to document

Exploring the relationship between whole carcass condemnations and farm animal welfare: A rapid scoping review

Christine Kuo, Emma G. Gardner, Murray Gillies, Marianne I. Parent

Published in 2026

Literature review showing that data on carcass rejection at abattoirs can serve as an indirect indicator of animal welfare, but studies remain largely European and focus primarily on poultry. Their main focus is on links between animal health status on farms and carcass rejection, whereas research on other welfare factors (diet, housing, behavior, transport) is limited.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords: Slaughter, Feeding, Housing, Health / Diseases, Stress, Transport

Go to document

Existing Soundscapes and the Impact of Noise on the Welfare of Farmed Salmonids: A Review

Kathy Overton, Tim Dempster, Marco A. Vindas, Frode Oppedal, Luke T. Barrett

Published in 2026

Review of the limited number of studies on hearing in wild and farmed salmonids, with recommendations on steps towards ascertaining and mitigating the impact of the acoustic environment on the welfare of farmed salmonids.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords: Emotion, Housing, Stress

Go to document

Do windows matter in poultry housing? What welfare and behavior tell us

Tarek Youssef

Published in 2026

Scientific review highlighting that natural light improves behavior and reduces fear in poultry, but that its effects on their health remain unclear.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords: Emotion, Enrichment, Well-being indicator, Housing, Health / Medical conditions

Go to document

Environmental Enrichment in Aquaculture: Linking Welfare Goals to Practical Application

O. Spiliopoulos, S. Kadri, M. Sinclair, M. Vanderzwalmen, C. Brown

Published in 2026

A review summarizing current knowledge on environmental enrichment, a key strategy for improving the welfare of farmed fish. Its effectiveness depends on the specific context and requires a tailored approach.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Go to document

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 stressing the limitations of AI in automatically monitoring cattle behaviors, currently limited to describing actions independent of context. The authors propose an AI framework based on the principles of multimodal data integration, context-aware behavioral modeling, shared behavioral ontologies, human-in-the-loop system design, and explainable AI to improve assessment of animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Go to document

Rethinking Poultry Welfare—Integrating Behavioral Science and Digital Innovations to Improve Animal Well-Being

Suresh Neethirajan

Published in 2026

Review article describing the welfare challenges associated with the intensification of poultry farming and the innovative solutions (behavioral, sensor-based, AI) that have been developed to address them, while emphasizing the need to validate and standardize such novel tools and to develop a sustainable interdisciplinary production pathway. 

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Go to document