Keywords: Societal issues

Access to bedding and outdoor runs for growing-finishing pigs: is it possible to improve welfare without increasing environmental impacts?

A.K. Ruckli, S. Hörtenhuber, S. Dippel, P. Ferrari, M. Gebska, M. Heinonen, J. Helmerichs, C. Hubbard, H. Spoolder, A. Valros, C. Winckler, C. Leeb

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the provision of bedding or access to an outdoor run to improve pig welfare can have an impact on the environment through changes in feed efficiency and manure management.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Societal issues, Enrichment, Environment, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Housing, Pollution, livestock farming system

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-001193/2024: Legislative proposals on harmonised animal welfare rules for turkeys

Question: Tom Vandenkendelaere (PPE). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Answer from the European Commission to a parliamentary quetion on the timetable for the presentation of future legislative proposals following on from the EFSA's opinion on animal welfare and, more specifically, on turkey welfare.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Housing, Societal issues

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Understanding dairy farmers' trade-offs between environmental, social and economic sustainability attributes in feeding systems: The role of farmers' identities

Oyakhilomen Oyinbo, Helena Hansson

Published in 2024

Sociological survey of dairy farmers highlighting the trade-offs they face in adopting sustainable production practices. Farmers concerned about the impact of their feeding systems on the environment and society are motivated above all by their pro-environmental and pro-social identities. The strengthening of identity could be part of a political argument to encourage the adoption of grassland systems.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Biodiversity, Environment, Lactation, Living environment, One Welfare, Pollution, Societal issues, livestock farming system

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Consumers across five European countries prioritise animal welfare above environmental sustainability when buying meat and dairy products

Jeanine Ammann, Gabriele Mack, Nadja El Benni, Shan Jin, Paul Newell-Price, Sophie Tindale, Erik Hunter, Victoria Vicario-Modroño, Rosa Gallardo-Cobos, Pedro Sánchez-Zamora, Simona Miškolci, Lynn J. Frewer

Published in 2024

Analysis of a survey among meat and dairy consumers in five European countries showing that freshness, quality/taste and animal welfare are the characteristics considered to be most important. Environmental factors such as food miles, carbon footprints and organic production appear to bew less important, even if they are perceived as useful.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Bovines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Education, Carcass quality, Environment, Carcass quality, Pollution, Livestock farming system, Welfare indicators, Processing, Societal issues

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European Parliament: written answer to question E-003741/2023: Aid for poultry farmers who improve their flocks' environment 

Question: Annika Bruna (ID). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Reply from the European Commission to a Member of Parliament on the insufficient aid provided for European poultry farmers trying to enrich  the living environment of their animals, and who must face foreign competition due to increased imports of poultry products not subject to European legislation.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal trade, Enrichment, Environment, Housing, Restraint equipment, Pollution, Livestock farming system, Transport, Societal issues

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Climate change, public health, and animal welfare: towards a One Health approach to reducing animal agriculture's climate footprint

Verkuijl Cleo, Smit Jessie, Green Jonathan M. H., Nordquist Rebecca E., Sebo Jeff, Hayek Matthew N., Hötzel Maria José

Published in 2024

Scientific summary article comparing the potential impacts on public health and animal welfare of three types of strategies often proposed in livestock farming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: (1) "sustainable intensification" methods, (2) "species shift" approaches, and (3) "systemic dietary change" approaches.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Environment, Risk management, Living environment, One Welfare, Pollution, Livestock farming system, Societal issues

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Face au changement climatique, quelles stratégies d’atténuation et d’adaptation pour les productions avicoles ?

Anne Collin, Vincent Coustham, Jacob Kokou Tona, Sophie Tesseraud, Sandrine Mignon-Grasteau, Bertrand Méda, Anaïs Vitorino Carvalho, Yann Guyot, Sandrine Lagarrigue, Frédérique Pitel, Tatiana Zerjal

Published in 2024

Review proposing strategies to reduce the impact of poultry production on the environment. This may involve, for example, a combination of innovation strategies in nutrition, health, early reprogramming, or animal genetics.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Environment, Risk management, Housing, Living environment, One Welfare, Pollution, Evolutionary processes, Robustness, Livestock farming system, Societal issues.

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Analyse d’impact ex post de trente ans de recherche et développement sur les conditions de pré-abattage des ruminants

Christine BERGER, Laëtitia CLAVEL, Barbara DUCREUX, Valérie DAVID

Published in 2024

Analysis of the impact of R&D work carried out over the last thirty years on the pre-slaughter animal welfare of ruminants.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Ruminants

Keywords:  Carcass quality, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Education, Euthanasia, One Welfare, Livestock farming system, Transport, Societal issues

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Brief research report: the evolution of animal welfare legislation for pigs in 13 EU member states, 1991-2020

Anna Wallenbeck, Anette Wichman, Lisa Höglind, Sigrid Agenäs, Helena Hansson, Shon Ferguson

Published in 2024

Report mapping the evolution of six key aspects of pig welfare legislation in 13 EU countries over the period 1991-2020, with the key aspects being selected according to their economic impact and international competitiveness in the pig production sector. National legislation in Member States has become more stringent, exceeding EU minimum levels in some countries.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Societal issues

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Animal sentience included in Belgian Constitution

Eurogroup for Animals

Published in 2024

Article announcing the addition of animal sentience to the Belgian Constitution, making Belgium the sixth EU member state to include animals in its Constitution.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Consciousness, Societal issues

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