Keyword: Housing

European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-003324/2023: Animal welfare legislation derailment and conclusions from a recent journalistic investigation

Question: Francisco Guerreiro (Greens/EFA). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

An MEP has questioned the European Commission on the abandonment of its plans to revise animal welfare legislation to include a ban on cage farming. According to a survey, MEPs are being encouraged to resist pressure from NGOs. The MEP questions the European Commission on this subject.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Pigs, Poultry

Keywords:Livestock building, Housing, Restraining equipment

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Unlocking Sows' Welfare: The Farm-Level Economic Impact of Phasing out Farrowing Crates for Sows in the European Union's Pig Breeding Industry

Agata Malak-Rawlikowska, Edward Majewski, Norbert Potori, Mariusz Hamulczuk, Viktor Szili, Edit Egr

Published in 2024

Scientific article presenting an impact study on the economic consequences of banning farrowing crates on EU pig farms. Despite improvements in sow welfare, the study shows an increase in production costs, piglet mortality rates and risks for employees. Financial assistance and a transition period should be considered to help farms switch to the new systems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment, Farming system

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European Parliament: written answer to priority question P-003061/23: Commission, where is the promised legislation on animal welfare ?

Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Answer to a question on the postponement of the planned revision of European animal welfare regulations and of the possible ban on the caging of farm animals promised by the European Commission in response to the End the Cage Age European citizen's initiative.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords: Livestock buildings, Housing, Breeding and rearing systems

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Providing elevated structures in the pullet rearing environment affects behavior during initial acclimation to a layer aviary

Allison N. Pullin, Christina B. Rufener, Suzanne T. Millman, John F. Tarlton, Michael J. Toscan

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that hens that had access to elevated platforms during the rearing phase make better use of the space in laying aviaries when they are transferred there for the first time than those reared on the ground. The latter acclimatize within 1-2 weeks, but continue to make little use of the highest level of the aviary.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal welfare, Enrichment, Housing, Livestock buildings,Adaptation of the environment to the animal

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Guidance: Livestock at farm shows and markets: welfare regulations

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (UK)

Published in 2023

Update of a guide originally published in 2012 by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on the laws and regulations protecting farm animals at shows and markets, with particular reference to compliance rules for pens, cages and hutches.

Document Types: Guides to Good Practice

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

Keywords:Animal trade, Housing, Living environment, Human-animal relationship, Societal issues

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Elevated platforms for pigs - A review

Karen Kauselmann, Lars Schrader, E. Tobias Krause

Published in 2023

Scientific review of the value of raised platforms for the improvement of pig welfare. It discusses  different platform and ramp designs, a pig's biological ability to use them, the advantages and disadvantages for pigs and farmers, and methods used to evaluate the effects of platforms on pigs.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Key words:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing

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Décision n° 461367 du Conseil d’Etat concernant la notion de rémaménagement des bâtiments cage pour les poules pondeuses

Conseil d'État

Published in 2023

Text of the decision to reject the petition filed by 9 animal protection associations to partially disapply the  Decree of December 15, 2021, with regard to its interpretation of the concept of redevelopment as it applies to buildings used to rear laying hens in cages.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Livestock buildings, Housing

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L’avenir de la conception des élevages : bien-être animal et génétique

Bjarne K. Pedersen

Published in 2023

Article outlining the factors contributing to animal welfare considerations and developments in genetics that have greatly increased prolificacy, looking at their consequences for the design of pig farming facilities.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal adaptation to environment, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Housing, Human-animal relationship, Stress, Farming system

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Doing better for understudied species: Evaluation and improvement of a species-general animal welfare assessment tool for zoos

Shannon L. O'Brien, Katherine A. Cronin

Published in 2023

Scientific article evaluating a generic welfare assessment method for different animals in the same zoo. It reveals that Mammals received the highest welfare scores and their assessment questionnaires were completed most fully. This led the authors to modify their assessment tool to take better account of all the taxa present in the zoo.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Societal issues, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Human-animal relationship

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Quality-of-Life Assessments in Zoo Animals: Not Just for the Aged and Charismatic

Michelle Campbell-Ward

Published in 2023

Scientific review exploring the concept of quality of life as it applies to animals, assessment indicators and methods appropriate in a zoo setting, and the importance of taking quality of life into account at all stages of life, whatever the species.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Societal issues, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Human-animal relationship

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