Keyword : Animal-based measurement

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

Social behavior in farm animals: Applying fundamental theory to improve animal welfare

Victoria E. Lee1, Gareth Arnott, Simon P. Turner

Published in 2022

bonds, environmental influences on social behavior and welfare, mechanisms and development of social behaviors, ways to promote positive social interactions and minimize disruptions to basic social bonds

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Stress, Farming systems

Go to document

Using a Delphi method to estimate the relevance of indicators for the assessment of shelter dog welfare

G.V. Berteselli, S. Messori, L. Arena, L. Smith, P. Dalla Villa, F. de Massis

Published in 2022

Scientific paper aiming to establish a standardized system to assess the welfare of shelter dogs. It uses two Delphi exercises to arrive at an expert consensus on the weighting of the different indicators measured. This is most easily achievable through animal-based measures.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Societal issues, Human-animal relationship, Stress

Go to document

Anastasiya Ramankevich, Karolina Wengerska, Kinga Rokicka, Kamil Drabik, Kornel Kasperek, Agnieszka Ziemiańska, Justyna Batkowska

EURCAW-Pigs

Published in 2022

Fact sheet outlining regulations and proposing animal-based indicators to confirm the death of suckling piglets when euthanised. These indicators include the absence of muscle tone, respiration (apnea), heartbeat, response to corneal and palpebral stimuli and pupil dilation.

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Stress

Go to document

A Review of Equine Sleep: Implications for Equine Welfare

Linda Greening, Sebastian McBride

Published in 2022

Scientific review of equine sleep characteristics: what is "normal" sleep in horses? what methods are used to measure it? what factors affect sleep quality or quantity? and are changes in sleep quality and/or quantity associated with negative impacts on horse welfare? The review identifies knowledge gaps for future research.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Consciousness, Memory

Go to document

Environmental Enrichment as Part of the Improvement of the Welfare of Japanese Quails

Anastasiya Ramankevich, Karolina Wengerska, Kinga Rokicka, Kamil Drabik, Kornel Kasperek, Agnieszka Ziemiańska, Justyna Batkowska

Published in 2022

Scientific paper to measure indicators for behavioral and physiological welfare of farmed Japanese quails as a function of environmental enrichment. It shows that quails in enriched cages had lower stress levels and fewer abnormal behaviors than those in standard cages, and that the color and shape of an object were very important in arousing the birds' interest.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Enrichment, Housing, Stress, Welfare indicators

Go to document

Welfare issues resulting from feed restriction in pregnant sows

EURCAW-Pigs

Published in 2022

Review of the scientific literature for veterinary inspectors of Member States on the regulation and scientific knowledge on behavioral and physiological signs of hunger in pregnant sows under a restricted feed regime, and on ways to reduce associated welfare problems (aggression and stereotypies). They aim to reduce hunger sensations and to adapt farming methods.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, Stress

The role of Precision Livestock Farming technologies in animal welfare monitoring: a review

Birte L. Nielsen

Published in 2022

Scientific review on the use of precision breeding techniques to improve the health, welfare and production of farm animals. It emphasizes the importance of affordable, reliable and easy-to-use equipment, providing data that reflect - adequately and in real time - different aspects of animal welfare status within the herd.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Precision farming, Welfare indicator, Human-animal relationship

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