Keyword : Societal issues

Progress With Livestock Welfare in Extensive Production Systems: Lessons From Australia

Peter Andrew Windsor

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the animal welfare challenges faced by Australian extensive livestock farming and the improvements already in place to improve animal welfare: the development of standards and guidelines for improved farm animal welfare; improved consideration of welfare in the transport of live animals; better pain management for potentially painful routine livestock practices; and more monitoring and consideration of welfare on farms.

Document Types: Scientific review

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Transport

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Bien-être animal : vers un label européen ?

Vie Publique Editorial Board

Published in 2021

Article summarising the main findings of a study by the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) on animal welfare legislation and the EU labelling project. In the view of the EPRS, the legislation is outdated because of structural changes that have occurred in production systems and because it does not allow for recognition of the fact that animals are sentient beings. Europe-wide labelling is viewed as the best response to the increasing number of labelling systems now operating among Member States.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Improving Equine Welfare through Human Habit Formation

Jo White, Ruth Sims

Published in 2021

Scientific article on tests carried out to evaluate the effectiveness for animal welfare of introducing the regular practice by equine owners of scratching a horse while carrying out routine care . The owners performed the action for 1 month and then took part in a semi-structured interview. The introduction of the habit had a positive impact on human behaviour towards the horses.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Learning and training, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002470/2021: 'Halal' Islamic slaughtering method. Clarification with regard to consumer protection and compatibility with animal welfare legislation

Question: Gianantonio Da Re (ID). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2021

Parliamentary question on ritual slaughter and halal labelling

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Guide pratique – Pour bien prendre soin de votre animal de compagnie : cet été, ayez les bons réflexes !

French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2021

A good practice guide published by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food, concentrating on the care of pets over the holiday period, how to look after them in hot weather, what arrangements to make when travelling with them, and what to do if you come across a stray dog or cat.

Document Types: Guides to Good Practice

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

Keywords:Awareness, Pain, Societal issues, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Welfare indicators

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002824/2021: Animal welfare

Question: Chris MacManus (The Left). Answer: Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2021

Answer to a question on how the European Commission would respond to the introduction of a subsidy for sheep shearing in Ireland, given that Irish farmers are choosing not to shear because it is not economically viable, despite the fact that shearing is necessary for animal welfare.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords:Societal issues, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Breeding and Rearing

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Ethics and Human-Animal Relations: Review Essay

A. Peterson

Published in 2021

Review of five recent books (from 2021) dealing with the ethical dimensions of human-animal relationships.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords: Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

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Good animal welfare by design: An approach to incorporate animal capacities in engineering design

H.J.E. van Weeghel, A.P. Bos, M.H. Jansen, W.W. Ursinus, P.W.G. Groot Koerkamp

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting a method of designing breeding and rearing systems that takes into account the animal as a subject, in order to improve animal welfare. Giving an animal the opportunity to influence its environment through choices and decision making according to its own preferences allows the animal to have positive experiences. The aim of the method is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between human goals and animal welfare in future breeding and rearing systems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

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

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Animal adaptation, Consciousness, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Breeding and Rearing

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Exploring the performance of system changes in Dutch broiler production to balance animal welfare, ammonia emissions and particulate matter emissions with farm profitability

Luuk S.M. Vissers, Alfons G.J.M. Oude Lansink, Helmut W. Saatkamp

Published in 2021

Scientific paper testing out various combinations of changes to elements of the Dutch broiler rearing system that might satisfy EU and consumer expectations in terms of environmental protection and animal welfare, while safeguarding the incomes of farmers. Those combinations that included animal welfare changes (lower stocking density, enrichment and/or daylight), tube heaters to reduce NH3 emissions and use of an ionisation technique to reduce fine particle emissions gave the best results.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Enrichment, Environment, Housing, Living environment,Breeding and Rearing,Societal issues

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Is Animal Welfare an Internationally Understood Concept in the Zoo World? Thematic Analysis of Two Regional Groups of Zoo Staff

Heather Bacon, Belinda Vigors, Darren J. Shaw, Natalie Waran, Cathy M. Dwyer, Catriona Bell

Published in 2021

Scientific article comparing the perceptions and knowledge of zoo professionals in Europe and China, using telephone interviews on 3 themes: "what animal welfare is", "animal welfare frameworks" and "the human element in animal welfare". It shows that, although the concept of animal welfare is perceived in comparable ways by the two cultures,  its implementation in China would require action by management and staff motivation.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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