Keyword : Adaptation of the environment to the animal

Welfare of equidae during transport

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW): Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler

Published in 2022

EFSA scientific opinion on the protection of equids during transport. Thirteen main welfare consequences were identified: gastroenteric disorders, handling stress, heat stress, injuries, isolation stress, movement stress, prolonged hunger, prolonged thirst, respiratory disorders, resting problems, restriction of movement, sensory hyperstimulation and separation stress. These welfare consequences and how they are measured on the animals are described. The hazards that cause them and recommendations to guard against these hazards and correct or mitigate their welfare consequences are presented.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

Go to document

Welfare of small ruminants during transport

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW): Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler

Published in 2022

EFSA scientific opinion on the protection of small ruminants during transport. Eleven main welfare consequences were identified: group stress, stress during handling, heat stress, injuries, stress during movement, predation stress, prolonged hunger, prolonged thirst, restriction of movement, problems resting and sensory hyperstimulation. These welfare consequences and animal based measurements of them are described. The hazards leading to these negative consequences and recommendations on how to avoid the hazards and correct or mitigate their welfare consequences are presented.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories:Goats, Sheep

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

Welfare of cattle during transport

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW): Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler

Published in 2022

EFSA scientific opinion on the protection of cattle during transport. Eleven main welfare consequences were identified: group stress, stress during handling, heat stress, injuries, stress from movement, prolonged hunger, prolonged thirst, respiratory disorders, rsetriction of movement, problems resting and sensory hyperstimulation. These welfare consequences and animal-based measurements for them are described. The hazards that lead to these consequences and recommendations to prevent such hazards and to correct or mitigate their welfare consequences are presented.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

Go to document

Is tail biting in pigs related to tail posture?

Samaneh Azarpajouh

Published in 2022

Technical article outlining the risk factors for tail biting, their impact on the pig industry, current knowledge concerning the relationship between different tail postures and the emotional states of pigs, and methods to prevent tail biting.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Pain, Enrichment, Housing, Mutilation, Stress

Go to document

The Potential of Understory Production Systems to Improve Laying Hen Welfare

Shaocong Yan, Chenyujing Yang, Lei Zhu, Yongji Xue

Published in 2022

Scientific review of Chinese systems of rearing laying hens in undergrowth, their overall positive impact on the welfare of the animals themselves, their acceptability to Chinese farmers and public authorities, and the limitations on their general implementation across the whole country.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Societal issues, Living environment, Stress,  Breeding and rearing systems

Go to document

Welfare of pigs on farm

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW): Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler

Published in 2022

EFSA scientific opinion on the welfare of all categories of pigs found in the main European farming systems. It identifies the most important welfare risks,  the appropriate animal based measurements, and their consequences, describing preventive and corrective measures. It provides recommendations for each system to address specific pig welfare issues related to tail biting and the European citizens' initiative "End the Cage Age".

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Animal-based measurement,Animaladaptation, Animal to environment, Consciousness, Housing, Memory, Enrichment, Risk management, Human-animal relationship, Human-animal relationship, Stress, Societal issues, Livestock system, Mutilations, Welfare indicator

Go to document

A pilot study about on-farm assessment of health and welfare in rabbits kept in different housing systems

Angela Trocino, Francesca Menegon, Cristina Zomeño, Dario Pasqualin, Giovanni Cunial, Gerolamo Xiccato, Fabrizio Pirrone, Daniela Bertotto, Martina Bortoletti, Francesco Dorigo, Antonio Lavazza Guido Di Martino

Published in 2022

Scientific article comparing the health and welfare levels of breeding rabbits living with their litters and of growing rabbits in four different housing systems: two unenriched cage systems, enriched cages and pens. Although it does not reveal major health differences, it does identify management and environmental factors other than housing that can influence health and welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Monogastric

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Animaladaptation, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment, Robustness, Welfare indicators

Go to document

Improving heat stress resilience should be priority for swine industry

Ann Hess

Published in 2022

Summary of a webinar hosted by the USDA on how to mitigate the impacts of heat stress on the health and welfare of pigs in factory farming. It presents research findings to improve heat stress resilience in pigs through a three-part approach, that looks at management, nutrition and genetics.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Risk management, Living environment, Resilience, Robustness, Stress

Go to document

Improving young pig welfare on-farm: The Five Domains Model

Anna K Johnson, Jean-Loup Rault, Jeremy N Marchant, Emma M Baxter, Keelin O'Driscoll

Published in 2022

Scientific review of the use of the five domains model to improve housing and management from the piglets' perspective, seeking to induce positive mental states that can result in improved quality of life and wefare. 

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Stress

Go to document

L’Allemagne a un temps d’avance sur le bien-être du porc

Christophe Reibel

Published in 2022

Dossier describing the German voluntary welfare initiative in pig farming, "Initiative Tierwohl", containing interviews with farmers who have signed up to it, along with half their fellow farmers. Although the initiative is appreciated by consumers, the public is still concerned over meat prices, a fact that restricts farmers' room for manoeuver in working to to improve animal welfare.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Societal issues

Go to document