Keywords: Adaptation of the environment to the animal

Air bubble curtain improves the welfare of captive rainbow trout fry and fingerlings

Océane Amichaud, Thomas Lafond, Georgina Lea Fazekas, Aude Kleiber, Thierry Kerneis, Axel Batard, Lionel Goardon, Laurent Labbé, Sophie Lambert, Sylvain Milla, Violaine Colson

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the repeated diffusion of bubbles in a tank improved the welfare of rainbow trout. The short-term (~7 weeks) and long-term (~21 weeks) enrichment effects were similar to those observed with more conventional environmental enrichment (provision of plants and shelter). The fish were less aggressive, less fearful and showed enhanced learning abilities.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Learning, training, Enrichment, Wefare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Behavioural disorders, Stress

Go to document

Research Note: Welfare and stress responses of broiler chickens raised in conventional and animal welfare-certified broiler farms

Kwon Byung-Yeon, Lee Hyun-Gwan, Jeon Yong-Sung, Song Ju-Yong, Kim Sang-Ho, Kim Dong-Wook, Kim Chan-Ho, Lee Kyung-Woo

Published in 2024

Study comparing the welfare of broilers reared on conventional and welfare-certified farms. Chickens on the certified farm scored lower hock burn and feather dirtiness and had better gait scores, although corticosterone levels in feathers were higher, warranting further study.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Welfare indicators, Housing, Carcass quality, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

Go to document

Audit report: Evaluate the effectiveness of official controls to protect the welfare of cattle kept for beef production in France

Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission

Published in 2024

Audit report assessing the effectiveness of official controls to protect the welfare of cattle in France. While the audit concludes overall that the system of animal welfare controls on cattle farms features competent staff, appropriate guidance and coordination, and effective implementation of comprehensive inspections, the implementation of risk-based planning is inadequate in some departmental directorates, as it fails to take account of relevant factors such as activities carried out by operators (dehorning, tethering). The absence of verification procedures prevents authorities from being able to demonstrate that controls are achieving their objectives. The report contains recommendations for the competent authorities.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Education, Restraint equipment, Mutilation, Livestock farming system

Go to document

Animal board invited review: Improving animal health and welfare in the transition of livestock farming systems: Towards social acceptability and sustainability

C. Ducrot, M.B. Barrio, A. Boissy, F. Charrier, S. Even, P. Mormède, S. Petit, M.-H. Pinard-van der laan, F. Schelcher, F. Casabianca, A. Ducos, G. Foucras, R. Guatteo, J.-L. Peyraud, M. Vayssier-Taussat, P. Veysset, N.C. Friggens, X. Fernandez

Published in 2024

The shared views of a group of INRAE researchers on the interdisciplinary research needed to support the transition to sustainable livestock production systems. Animal health and welfare are at the heart of these issues.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Societal issues, Environment, Living environment, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system

Go to document

Veal calf welfare and rearing 

Didier Bastien, Magdéléna Chanteperdrix, Virginie Lefoul, Christophe Martineau, Etienne Labussière, Manuel Tourtier

Published in 2024

Article summarising papers on veal calves given at the 74th European Animal Science Congress (EAAP). The presentations discussed work to identify societal expectations, establish the impact of different housing and feeding methods, evaluate changes in antibiotic use and develop tools for assessing biosecurity on farms.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Housing, Socialization, livestock farming system

Go to document

National Assembly: written answer to question n°12527: Welfare and protection of farm animals

Question: Béatrice Roullaud (Rassemblement National - Seine-et-Marne). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2024

Answer from MASA to a parliamentary question from a French Member of Parliament on the revision of European legislation on the welfare and protection of farm animals, which has not as yet delivered all of the expected package, in particular the ban on cages due to be in place by 2027.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Pigs, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment, Livestock farming system

Go to document

Feeding predictability as a cognitive enrichment protects brain function and physiological status in rainbow trout: a multidisciplinary approach to assess fish welfare

A. Kleiber, J. Roy, V. Brunet, E. Baranek, J.M. Le-Calvez, T. Kerneis, A. Batard, S. Calvez, L. Pineau, S. Milla, V. Guesdon, L. Calandreau, V. Colson

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the feeding predictability contributes to cognitive enrichment, offering a way to improve the welfare and immune status of rainbow trout.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Stress

Go to document

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 reporting that hens with access to elevated platforms during the rearing phase make better use of the space in laying aviaries when they are first transferred there 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:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Livestock buildings

Go to document

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing

Go to document

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

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Marika Vitali, Gizella Aboagye, Sean Ashe, Chiara Fabris, Yves Van de Stede, Denise Candiani

Published in 2023

Report listing those animal-based measures that the AHAW network considers useful to record and monitor in abattoirs as a means to assess the on-farm welfare of cattle. The information contained in this report will be used to draw up EFSA's scientific opinion on the welfare of cattle on farm, due in 2025.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, Carcass quality, Stress, Livestock farming system

Go to document