Document type : Scientific review

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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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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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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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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The exploration of consciousness in insects

Chittka Lars, Skeels Sarah, Dyakova Olga, and Janbon Maxime

Published in 2025

Scientific summary compiling evidence that supports the likelihood that insects possess some form of subjective experience.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Insects

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Focusing on biological stimuli: a new framework for environmental enrichment in aquaculture and fisheries fields

Yijie He, Zonghang Zhang, Zhenghao Xiao, Bo Liang, Jiezhang Mo, Boshan Zhu, Wenhua Liu

Published in 2026

Scientific synthesis on environmental enrichment for captive fish. Enrichment enhances fish adaptability and welfare, but its development is hampered by methodological and conceptual limitations. The authors propose new theoretical and practical frameworks to strengthen scientific rigor and guide the design of multisensory enrichment, particularly biotic enrichment, in aquaculture.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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Rapid loss of consciousness in cattle following nonstun slaughter: evidence from a systematic review

Hascalovici JR, Schipper HM, Regenstein JM, Rosen SD, Zivotofsky A, St-Jean G, Freilich S, Morrison TJ, Rabkin SW, Haut S.

Published in 2025

Systematic review analyzing 15 studies on slaughter without stunning in cattle. According to four studies considered to be of good quality, cattle generally lose consciousness in less than 10 seconds, provided that slaughter without stunning is carried out correctly and under optimal conditions.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

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