Document type : Scientific review

Relationships between farmer well-being and the welfare of their animals: A One Welfare scoping review

Levallois P, Buczinski S, Desmarchelier M, Lupien S, Robichaud MV.

Published in 2026

Review demonstrating that farmers' welfare is strongly and positively linked to that of their animals. It supports the "One Welfare" approach, which works to achieve a combined on-farm benefit for both animal and human welfare. 

Document Types: Scientific review

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

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Do Insects Feel Pain? How Insect Nervous Systems Reveal Hidden Suffering

Renz Soliman

Published in 2026

Summary of recent research showing that some insects have neural mechanisms that enable them to experience pain, including chronic pain. These findings call into question their treatment in research, farming and wider pest control.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Invertebrates

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Bien-être animal : avancées scientifiques et innovations pour des systèmes d’élevage durables

research group

Published in 2026

Special issue of INRAE Productions Animales featuring ten articles on scientific advances and technological innovations to develop sustainable livestock farming systems that incorporate animal welfare

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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How do domestic chickens perceive humans—and why does it matter?

Ferreira, V. H. B., Lansade, L., Calandreau, L.

Published in 2025

Scientific review showing that chickens have developed socio-cognitive capabilities that enable them to perceive human attentional states, distinguish between individual humans, and interpret human social cues, with direct implications for their welfare and farming practices.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

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Climate Change and Livestock Welfare in the Alps: A Comprehensive Review

Cornale, P., Senatore, R., Battaglini, L.M., Baratta, M.

Published in 2025

Review showing that climate change poses a serious threat to the welfare of mountain animals farmed in extensive systems, with cattle being particularly vulnerable to heat stress and fodder shortages. The study highlights the need for integrated adaptation strategies that reconcile welfare, Adaptation of the animal to the environment, and the sustainability of mountain systems.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

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Review of the evidence of sentience in cephalopod mollusks and decapod crustaceans

Jonathan Birch, Heather Browning, Charlotte Burn, Alexandra K. Schnell, Andrew Crump

Published in 2021

Scientific report describing the cognitive and emotional abilities of invertebrates (insects, cephalopod molluscs, decapod crustaceans, etc.)

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Invertebrates

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A scoping review of (dis-)incentives for animal welfare-improving farming practices

Trevor Woolley, Sharon Pailler, Jonathan McFadden, Zach Raff, Sharon Raszap Skorbiansky, Kevin Kuruc

Published in 2025

Analysis of the literature on economic incentives and barriers to the adoption of animal welfare practices animal welfare the perspective of producers. Costs are a major barrier, while certain improvements to the rearing environment can benefit health and productivity.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

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Welfare Indicators for Aquaculture Research: Toolkits for Five Farmed European Fish Species

Chris Noble, Wout Abbink, René Alvestad, László Ardó, Marie-Laure Bégout, Nina Bloecher, Erik Burgerhout, Josep Calduch-Giner, Mauro Chivite-Alcalde, Petr Císař, Evan Durland, Åsa M. Espmark, Lynne Falconer, Martin Føre, Dimitra G. Georgopoulou, Karsten Heia, Gaute A. N. Helberg, David Izquierdo Gomez, Lill-Heidi Johansen, Gunhild Seljehaug Johansson, Kristbjörg Edda Jónsdóttir, Jelena Kolarevic, Aleksei Krasnov, Santhosh K. Kumaran, Bjarne Kvæstad, Thomas Larsson, Carlo C. Lazado, Angelico Madaro, Federico Moroni, Ingrid Måge, Jonatan Nilsson, Samuel Ortega, Nikos Papandroulakis, Jaume Pérez-Sánchez, Pamela M. Prentice, Sonia Rey Planellas, Bjørn Roth, Adrian Smith, Lars Erik Solberg, Orestis Stavrakidis-Zachou, Lars Helge Stien, Anja Striberny, Ragnhild Aven Svalheim, Bjørn-Steinar Sæther, Gerrit Timmerhaus, Hilde Toften, Linda Tschirren, Hans van de Vis, Elisabeth Ytteborg, Lucas A. Zena, Tone-Kari Knutsdatter Østbye

Published in 2026

Scientific summary highlighting the need to improve and harmonize fish welfare indicators in aquaculture research, taking into account species and life stages, in order to ensure animal protection, scientific quality, reliable results and reproducibility. The authors propose updated toolboxes of welfare indicators for five major species, incorporating euthanasia, sampling, data digitization, and European regulatory requirements into their review.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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Review on environmental enrichments for farmed rabbits

Moles Xenia, Abdelli Nedra, Tolini Clara

Published in 2025

Summary of the different types of environmental enrichment used for domestic rabbits.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Monogastric

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A systematic review of the effect of individual characteristics and management practices on equine cognition

Ricci-Bonot, C., Brosche, K., Baragli, P., Nicol C.

Published in 2025

Review summarizing current knowledge on equine cognition, stressing  the broad range of cognitive abilities investigated and the strong influence of contextual factors (breed, age, sex and management conditions) on performance.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

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