Keyword: Aggression

Animal welfare review: Sows are more vulnerable towards transport than most other pig categories

EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)

Published in 2024

Article on a summary report published by EURCAW-Pigs showing that sows are the pig category most affected by transport. The three risks specific to sows are: sensitivity to heat stress, a lack of transport suitability that is strongly connected to the poor general health of a large proportion of cull sows compared with average finisher sows, and the tendency of sows to fight when mixed with unfamiliar conspecifics.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal trade, End of life, Welfare indicator, Robustness, Stress, Transportation, Behavioral disorders, Aging

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Welfare issues resulting from feed restriction in pregnant sows

EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)

Published in 2024

This article, intended for inspectors in EU Member States, describes the effects of feed restriction on the welfare of pregnant sows. Indicators of hunger-related aggression and stereotypies are described, along with measures to help sows feel satiated by increasing the fibre content of their diet, and to mitigate these behaviors by modifying various aspects of the living environment.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal adaptation to environment, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Enrichment, Welfare indicator, Housing, Behavioral disorders

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Behaviour of cull sows during transport to slaughter - effects of journey duration, a stationary period and temperature

Cecilie Kobek-Kjeldager, Line D. Jensen, Leslie Foldager, Louisa M. Gould, Karen Thodberg, Dorte Lene Schrøder-Petersen, Mette S. Herskin

Published in 2024

Scientific article describing the behavior of cull sows during transport. The results show that sows generally stand during transport, and aggression was observed throughout the journey. A higher proportion of sows who lie down during a prolonged stop after a long journey suggests fatigue.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal adaptation to environment, Aggression, Aggressivity, Welfare indicator, Transport

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A Multidimensional Evaluation of the Factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) That Are Associated with, and Predictive of, Behaviour Disorders in Dogs

Rachel Malkani, Sharmini Paramasivam, Sarah Wolfensohn

Published in 2024

Scientific article to evaluate predictors for behavioral problems in dogs using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG)to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence their welfare. The study shows that aggression towards the caregiver, and the frequency of fear and anxiety episodes are predictive factors for behavioral problems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurement, Anxiety, Pain, Well-being indicator, Personality, Human-animal relationship, Behavioural disorders

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European Parliament: written answer to question E-003444/2023: Mandatory licences for dangerous dog breeds

Question: Angelo Ciocca (ID). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Answer to a parliamentary question on the need to draw up a common European plan to make dog training courses compulsory, with the issue of a possession permit for owners of the most aggressive dogs.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressivity, Education, Risk management, Human-animal relationship, Socialization, Behavioral disorders

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Feeding predictability as a cognitive enrichment protects brain function and physiological status in rainbow trout: a multidisciplinary approach to assess fish welfare

A. Kleiber, J. Roy, V. Brunet, E. Baranek, J.M. Le-Calvez, T. Kerneis, A. Batard, S. Calvez, L. Pineau, S. Milla, V. Guesdon, L. Calandreau, V. Colson

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the feeding predictability contributes to cognitive enrichment, offering a way to improve the welfare and immune status of rainbow trout.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Key words:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Enrichment, Well-being indicator, Stress

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Does the provision of live black soldier fly and yellow mealworm larvae improve Muscovy duck welfare?

Marta Gariglio, Sihem Dabbou, Manuela Renna, Ilaria Biasato, Sara Bellezza Oddon, Marco Meneguz, Raul Daniel Miazzo, Stefania Bergagna, Elena Colombino, Elisabetta Macchi, Achille Schiavone

Published in 2023

Scientific paper evaluating the effect of fly larvae and mealworm-based feed enrichment on physiological and behavioral indicators of stress and aggression in Muscovy ducks, and on their growth performance.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurement, Enrichment, Stress

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The importance of slaughterhouses in monitoring the occurrence of tail biting in pigs - Review

M. Svoboda, N. Hodkovicova, A. Siwicki, W. Szweda

Published in 2023

Scientific review of factors influencing the incidence of tail biting on pig farms and of prevention strategies, looking at tail docking, the negative effects of tail biting in pigs, the advantages and disadvantages of examining tail lesions in abattoirs, and setting out a methodical procedure for assessing tail lesions.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressivity, Pain, Societal issues, Mutilations, Farming system

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Editorial: Holistic prevention strategies for tail biting in pigs; from farm to slaughterhouse

Richard B. D'Eath, Keelin O'Driscoll, Emma Fàbrega

Published in 2023

Editorial summarizing the articles in a dossier on the prevention of tail biting in pigs. Topics include the identification of different types of tail biting, reducing  particular risk factors, the  settings that encourage biting, and the use of precision tools to spot the onset of biting episodes.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressivity, Pain, Precision breeding, Enrichment, Well-being indicator, Housing, Societal issues, Stress

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Knowledge of lateralized brain function can contribute to animal welfare

Lesley J. Rogers

Published in 2023

Scientific review of the relationship between hemispheric lateralization and behavior in animals. Experiments have shown an association between right-limb preference and positive cognitive bias, and left-limb preference and negative cognitive bias. Animals with weak lateralization tend to be more stressed, fearful and aggressive than those with strong lateralization.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurement, Brain integration, Personality, Cognitive processes, Stress

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