Keywords: Animal-based measurements

Scientific paper demonstrating that the composition and diversity of the caecal microbiota of broilers vary according to their levels of welfare and the presence or absence of Campylobacter in their microbiota.

Scientific review of the various precision farming systems that can be used to manage the needs, health and monitoring of grazing livestock, allowing any threat to care plans or welfare to be quickly remedied.

Scientific review on the evaluation of stress epi-biomarkers in pigs and the potential benefits of research to develop a robust molecular tool for animal welfare certification based on epi-biomarkers.

Scientific paper on tests to ascertain the suitability of QBA to assess the emotional state of laying hens. Using QBA, 3 main dimensions were found to explain more than 80% of variations in emotional state - mood, alertness and arousal.

Report on the Animal Health and Welfare Network meeting which produced a list of the animal-based measures used in abattoirs that are most relevant for the on-farm monitoring of the welfare of calves.

Scientific review summarising and analysing the main uses of smart sensors, big data and deep learning for  the behavioural recognition and health monitoring of farm animals, with a focus on bovine lameness.

Scientific review showing that facial expressions are an essential element in maintaining good social interactions between dogs and humans, and that they provide information about a dog's emotions and pain perception that can be used in pain management by veterinarians.

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.

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.

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.