Document type : Scientific review

A review: effect of different floor surfaces and space allocation on the welfare and performance of indoor finishing beef cattle

Keane, M. P., Cuevas-Gómez, I., Earley, B.

Published in 2025

Review analyzing the effects of floor type and available space on the welfare and performance of beef cattle. Soft flooring, straw bedding and sufficient space improve comfort and locomotor activity, while allometric equations help the more precise calculation of space requirements.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

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Main Husbandry Practices and Health Conditions That Affect Welfare in Calves: A Narrative Review

Eva Mainau, Laurent Goby, Xavier Manteca

Published in 2025

Review summarizing current knowledge on farming practices that affect calf welfare, from birth to departure from the farm, highlighting the importance of colostrum, feed, housing and pain management.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

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Advancements in machine learning applications in poultry farming: a literature review

Naeem M, Jia Z, Wang J, Poudel S, Manjankattil S, Adhikari Y, Bailey M, Bourassa D

Published in 2025

Review highlighting the potential of machine learning to optimize poultry production, improve animal welfare and detect disease at an early stage using sophisticated predictive and monitoring tools. It does, however, highlight the challenges surrounding the quality and interpretation of data and models, and their use on the ground. 

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

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Systematic Review of Acoustic Monitoring in Livestock Farming: Vocalization Patterns and Sound Source Analysis

Ramos Niño JN, Sousa FCd, Oliveira CEA, Coelho ALdF, Hernandez RO, Barbari M.

Published in 2025

Systematic review showing that environmental sounds and animal vocalizations have promise as non-invasive indicators of animal welfare. Despite technological advances, challenges remain in terms of standardization, physiological validation and practical application under real-life commercial conditions.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Pigs, Poultry

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Aligning agricultural policy: discrepancies between public and farmer priorities

Nadja El Benni, Robert Finger, Jeanine Ammann, Judith Irek, Antonia Kaiser, Christian Ritzel, Yanbing Wang, Gabriele Mack

Published in 2025

Study comparing the preferences and levels of consensus of non-farmers and farmers on a set of agricultural policy objectives using surveys conducted in Switzerland. Farmers and non-farmers agree on the importance of food production and farm incomes, but non-farmers place more importance on low food prices and agri-environmental objectives than farmers.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

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Productive and welfare parameters in trimmed laying hens: A systematic review-meta-analysis

Henrique Sonda Gallina, Maria Eugênia Andrighetto Canozzi, Pietra Viertel Molinari, Juahil Martins de Oliveira Júnior, Ivan Bianchi, Fabiana Moreira, Débora Cristina Olsson, Paula Gabriela da Silva Pires, Javier Sanchez, Vanessa Peripolli

Published in 2025

Meta-analysis comparing the effects on laying hens of beak trimming with a hot blade or  infrared radiation. The infrared method would appear to be a less invasive option, but further studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

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Systematic Literature Review on Donkeys (Equus asinus): Husbandry and Welfare in Europe

Masebo NT, Benedetti B, Angeloni MG, Lee L, Bigi D, Padalino B.

Published in 2025

Review of 97 European studies showing that donkeys are mostly kept in extensive or semi-intensive systems, often with access to the outdoors. Nevertheless, recurrent management, nutritional and health problems (obesity, dental disorders, hoof problems) still compromise their welfare, stressing the need for specific care guidelines based on scientific data.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

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Importance of the social environment for reproductive and general welfare of domestic horse (Equus caballus) stallions

Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda, Christine Aurich

Published in 2025

Study highlighting the fact that the social isolation of domestic stallions, a common on-farm practice,  leads to stress, stereotypies and reproductive disorders. It recommends that they be provided with greater social contact and conditions approaching their natural way of life, to improve their welfare and fertility.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

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Blueprint for research to detect loss of consciousness and/or sensibility of fish at slaughter

Saraiva, J., Brijs, J., Cabrera-Álvarez, M. J., Arechavala-Lopez, P., & Gräns, A.

Published in 2024

Article highlighting the urgent need to develop more humane slaughter methods in aquaculture, as current practices (asphyxiation, refrigeration, gas) result in prolonged suffering for fish.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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Assessing the Welfare of Spiny Lobsters and True Lobsters in Aquaria: Biology-Informed Best-Practice Guidelines for Captive Conditions

Fruscella L., Elwood R.W., Passantino A.

Published in 2025

Study assessing the welfare of spiny lobster and true lobster in captivity, highlighting the gaps between their biological and behavioral needs and current commercial practices. It recommends appropriate housing conditions (separation and appropriate stocking density, provision of shelter, claws should not be tied, no direct light, monitoring for water quality) to improve their health and welfare..

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Crustaceans

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