Keywords: Consciousness

A formal model for assessing the economic impact of animal welfare improvements at bovine and porcine slaughter

J. Jerlström, C. Berg, A.H. Karlsson, A. Wallenbeck, H. Hansson

Published in 2022

Scientific paper to evaluate the possible economic impact of improved animal welfare in abattoirs; to develop an economic model demonstrating the theoretical contribution of animal welfare to the profitability of abattoirs; and to validate this economic model through focus groups of Swedish abattoir personnel.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines, Porcines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Stress

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Welfare of pigs on farm

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW): Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler

Published in 2022

EFSA scientific opinion on the welfare of all categories of pigs found in the main European farming systems. It identifies the most important welfare risks,  the appropriate animal based measurements, and their consequences, describing preventive and corrective measures. It provides recommendations for each system to address specific pig welfare issues related to tail biting and the European citizens' initiative "End the Cage Age".

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements,Adaptation of the animal to the environmentAdaptation of the environment to the animal, Consciousness, Housing, Memory, Enrichment, Risk management, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Societal issues, Livestock farming system, Mutilation, Welfare indicators

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Anastasiya Ramankevich, Karolina Wengerska, Kinga Rokicka, Kamil Drabik, Kornel Kasperek, Agnieszka Ziemiańska, Justyna Batkowska

EURCAW-Pigs

Published in 2022

Fact sheet outlining regulations and proposing animal-based indicators to confirm the death of suckling piglets when euthanised. These indicators include the absence of muscle tone, respiration (apnea), heartbeat, response to corneal and palpebral stimuli and pupil dilation.

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Stress

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A Review of Equine Sleep: Implications for Equine Welfare

Linda Greening, Sebastian McBride

Published in 2022

Scientific review of equine sleep characteristics: what is "normal" sleep in horses? what methods are used to measure it? what factors affect sleep quality or quantity? and are changes in sleep quality and/or quantity associated with negative impacts on horse welfare? The review identifies knowledge gaps for future research.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Memory

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Welfare of farm animals : studying it to improve it

Stéphane Ingrand, Xavier Fernandez

Published in 2022

Scientific study of the impact of research carried out at INRAE over the last 30 years with the aim of improving the welfare of farm animals. This research has led to the implementation of new national and European regulations, and the adoption of new practices and equipment in animal husbandry.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Mutilation, Stress, Livestock farming system

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A Kettle of Fish: A Review of the Scientific Literature for Evidence of Fish Sentience

Helen Lambert, Amelia Cornish, Angie Elwin, Neil D'Cruze

Published in 2022

Scientific review of the scientific evidence on fish sentience and its implications for the commercial farming of fish. It concludes that there is a need to review the welfare regulations for farmed fish.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Livestock farming system, Societal issues

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-001279/22: Restricting the practice of 'halal' by Islamic butchers

Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR). Answer: Executive VP Vestager on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2022

Answer to a question on the sale of halal meat without the knowledge of consumers in the absence of specific labelling, and the restriction this will place on  competition. 

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Stress

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Rapport du CGAAER n° 19075-01 : Comité de suivi et d’évaluation de l’expérimentation du dispositif de contrôle par vidéo dans les abattoirs tel que prévu par l’article 71 de la loi du 30 octobre 2018

François Gerster

Published in 2022

Conclusions of the monitoring committee for the video-monitoring pilot carried out in 5 volunteer abattoirs, all of which were satisfied with the system and wished to keep it. The advantages and disadvantages of this system are listed, and suggestions are made for improvements.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Stress

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Slaughtering of heifers in a local or an industrial abattoir: Animal welfare and meat quality consequences

Pablo Guarnido-López, Virginia Celia Resconi, María del Mar Campo, Ana Guerrero, Gustavo Adolfo María, José Luis Olleta

Published in 2022

Scientific paper comparing animal stress responses and meat quality in a small local abattoir and in an industrial abattoir. Values for several stress indicators were lower in the animals treated in the local abattoir, and the appearance and organoleptic qualities of the local abattoir meat were superior.

Document Types: Scientific paper

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

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Stress

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My Fear Is Not, and Never Will Be, Your Fear: On Emotions and Feelings in Animals

Mariska E. Kret, Jorg J. M. Massen, Frans B. M. de Waal

Published in 2022

Scientific article explaining ways that the presence or absence of emotions and feelings in animals can be assessed and recommending multi-methodological approaches to the issue.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Consciousness, Societal issues, Fear, Human-animal relationships

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