Keyword: Living environment

Reduced Stocking Density and Provision of Straw in a Rack Improve Pig Welfare on Commercial Fattening Farms

Katharina Schodl, Lisa Wiesauer, Christoph Winckler, Christine Leeb

Published in 2021

Scientific article demonstrating that it is possible to improve some welfare conditions of fattening pigs in conventional farming through simple measures such as reducing stocking density and providing straw or hay as enrichment material.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Enrichment, Living environment, Stress, Breeding and rearing systems

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L’agriculture bio garantit-elle un meilleur « bien-être » des animaux d’élevage ?

Eugénie Duval, Benjamin Lecorps

Published in 2021

Article demonstrating that the French organic label guarantees higher animal welfare standards than conventional farming, providing access to outdoors, banning cage rearing and tethered systems, allowing only exceptional authorisation of non-medical surgical interventions, and requiring more frequent checks and compulsory stunning before slaughter. However, the legislation on transport and slaughter is still inadequate, even in the case of organic farming.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords: Housing, Living environment, Mutilations, Breeding and rearing systems, Transport,Societal issues

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The changing face and associated drivers of research on welfare of the gestating sow

Maria Costanza Galli, Flaviana Gottardo, Barbara Contiero, Annalisa Scollo, Laura Ann Boyle

Published in 2021

Scientific review noting a growing interest among scientists in Oceania, Latin America and Asia in the welfare issues for pregnant sows, as well as the emergence of new research topics in recent years, including group sow management and environmental enrichment.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Enrichment, Housing, Living environment,Societal issues

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A review of factors affecting the welfare of dairy calves in pasture-based production systems

Megan Verdon

Published in 2021

A scientific review identifying the following risk factors for poor welfare in pasture-reared dairy calves (common to all rearing systems): perinatal mortality, poor passive transfer of immunity, poor pain management during disbudding and insufficient milk in the feed.  In addition, separation from the mother and the culling of male calves reduces the public acceptability of dairy farming. It makes recommendations for improving farming practices.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Maternity, Living environment, Breeding and rearing systems, Societal issues

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Centennial Review: A revisiting of hen welfare and egg safety consequences of mandatory outdoor access for organic egg production

Peter S. Holt

Published in 2021

A scientific review comparing the welfare of laying hens and the sanitary quality of their eggs in free-range and indoor systems. It concludes that diseases are more frequent and severe and that there is a greater risk of Salmonella infections and the contamination of eggs by toxic industrial by-products in hens with access to the outdoors.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Societal issues, Risk management, Housing, Living environment, Breeding and rearing systems, Pathogen transfer

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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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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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Animal Welfare Assessment in Antibiotic-Free and Conventional Broiler Chicken

Luigi Iannetti, Sara Romagnoli, Giuseppe Cotturone, Michele Podaliri Vulpiani

Published in 2021

Scientific paper comparing the main animal welfare criteria for batches of chickens reared with and without antibiotics, showing that the overall scores are comparable, especially for health indicators, and that batches of chickens reared without antibiotics had a better management score but scored less well on the good-feeding principle.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Livestock systems, Welfare indicators

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Analysis of Housing Risk Factors for the Welfare of Lean and Heavy Pigs in a Sample of European Fattening Farms

Paolo Ferrari, Alessandro Ulrici, Matteo Barbari

Published in 2021

Scientific paper investigating the risk factors for welfare and health on pig-fattening farms in 7 European countries, and showing that it is possible to divide them into 3 risk categories according to the body weight of the animals and the presence of a solid floor resting area.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Livestock building, Enrichment, Risk management, Welfare indicator, Living environment, Stress, Livestock system

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