Keyword: Welfare indicators

Data-Based Variables Used as Indicators of Dairy Cow Welfare at Farm Level: A Review

Barbara Lutz, Sibylle Zwygart, Christina Rufener, Joan-Bryce Burla, Beat Thomann, Dimitri Stucki

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the use of data-based variables to detect animal welfare violations on farms, highlighting the fact that some of these variables are related to animal-based welfare measures. It recommends that the variables should be harmonised in light of the data they use, and that preference should be given to those that reflect the multidimensional nature of animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Precision farming, Welfare indicator, Breeding and rearing systems

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The use of animal-based measures at slaughter for assessing the welfare of pigs on farm: EFSA's AHAW Network exercise

EFSA

Published in 2021

Report on the EFSA Animal Health and Animal Welfare (AHAW) Network meeting on an exercise using  animal-based measures at slaughter to assess the welfare of pigs on farm. The goal was to evaluate these measures and their ease of use, and to identify which were to be preferred. It resulted in a list of recommended animal-based measures for use in abattoirs.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators

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Two Domains to Five: Advancing Veterinary Duty of Care to Fulfil Public Expectations of Animal Welfare Expertise

Katherine E. Littlewood, Ngaio J. Beausoleil

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the role of veterinarians in addressing animal welfare. While the veterinary profession initially considered welfare from the perspective of health and nutrition, it is now considering it in a more holistic way, taking into account the animal's feelings and perceptions of its environment. Much is expected of the veterinary profession, which is ideally placed to improve the consideration taken of animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

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Literature Review on the Pre-Slaughter Welfare of Italian Heavy Pigs

Marika Vitali, Luca Sardi, Giovanna Martelli, Eleonora Nannoni

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the state of knowledge relating specifically to the welfare conditions immediately before slaughter of Italian heavy pigs, which are used for AOP products and therefore kept longer than is the average in other countries, a practice that generates particular physiological and behavioural needs.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Stress, Breeding and rearing system

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Global Animal Partnership Releases Initial List of Eligible Broiler Breeds for Animal Welfare Certification

Robin Chwatko

Published in 2021

News item presenting the results of scientific work commissioned by the Global Animal Partnership to understand and measure the welfare levels of broiler chickens. This work has resulted in a list of breeds that have high genetic welfare levels and are therefore recommended for welfare-friendly breeding.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Societal issues, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Stress, Breeding and rearing systems

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MyFishCheck: A Model to Assess Fish Welfare in Aquaculture

Linda Tschirren, David Bachmann, Ali Cem Güler, Oliver Blaser, Nicola Rhyner, Andreas Seitz, Erich Zbinden, Thomas Wahli, Helmut Segner, Dominik Refardt

Published in 2021

Scientific paper describing a framework to assess the welfare of farmed fish, based on 80 indicators grouped into 5 modules: farm management, water quality, fish group behaviour, external appearance and internal appearance of fish. An application has been developed to facilitate its use.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Enrichment, Housing, Stress, Breeding and rearing systems, Welfare indicators

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Stress-Related Behaviors in Companion Dogs Exposed to Common Household Noises, and Owners' Interpretations of Their Dogs' Behaviors

Emma K. Grigg, Juliann Chou, Emily Parker, Anwyn Gatesy-Davis, Sara T. Clarkson, Lynette A. Hart

Published in 2021

Scientific article highlighting that some owners underestimate their dog's fear in response to household noise and respond inappropriately. It advises that dog owners should be better educated to interpret their pets' body language correctly, in order to safeguard the latter's welfare and avoid the development of behavioural problems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Anxiety, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Psychiatric disorders

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Loi sur la maltraitance animale : Quand députés et Gouvernement adoptent une loi pour les animalistes, le Sénat votera, lui, une loi pour les animaux 

Philippe Péjo

Published in 2021

Press release from the Senate presenting the adoption of the bill to combat animal abuse and stressing that the approved text goes further than the initial government proposal in that it allows publication of advertisements for the sale of animals to take place only on websites previously approved by the ministry that have undertaken to respect the requirements it has laid down.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Consciousness, Societal issues, Indicator of well-being, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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An evaluation of four private animal health and welfare standards and associated quality assurance programmes for dairy cow production

S.J. More, J. Marchewk, A. Hanlon, A. Balzani, L. Boyle

Published in 2021

A scientific paper evaluating four sets of private health and welfare standards and associated quality assurance programmes in dairy cattle from Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. It highlights transparency problems and calls for regulatory oversight of the use of these standards.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Societal issues, Breeding and rearing systems, Welfare indicators

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Anthropomorphism and Its Adverse Effects on the Distress and Welfare of Companion Animals

Daniel Mota-Rojas, Chiara Mariti, Andrea Zdeinert, Giacomo Riggio, Patricia Mora-Medina, Alondra del Mar Reyes, Angelo Gazzano, Adriana Domínguez-Oliva, Karina Lezama-García, Nancy José-Pérez, Ismael Hernández-Ávalos

Published in 2021

Scientific review analysing the adverse effects of anthropomorphism on pet welfare from several perspectives - physiological, health and behavioural - based on a discussion of current scientific findings

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Canines, Felines, Exotic pets

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Indicator of well-being, Living environment, Human-animal relationship, Stress, Psychiatric disorder

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