Keywords: Societal issues

Conventional versus Ritual Slaughter–Ethical Aspects and Meat Quality

Jagoda Żurek, Mariusz Rudy, Magdalena Kachel, Stanisław Rudy

Published in 2021

Scientific review concerning the ethical aspects and quality of meat from animals undergoing conventional and ritual slaughter. The right to exercise one's religion is an inalienable right and animal welfare is an ethical issue, so it is essential that the assessment of ritual practices from an animal welfare perspective should be carried out in an objective and rigorous manner.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Goats, Sheep

Keywords:Consciousness, Carcass quality, Pain, Societal issues, Stress

Access the source: Conventional versus Ritual Slaughter—Ethical Aspects and Meat Quality

The Relationship between Animal Welfare and Antimicrobial Use in Italian Dairy Farms

Francesca Mazza, Federico Scali, Nicoletta Formenti, Claudia Romeo, Matteo Tonni, Giordano Ventura, Luigi Bertocchi, Valentina Lorenzi, Francesca Fusi, Clara Tolini, Gian Filippo Clemente, Federica Guadagno, Antonio Marco Maisano, Giovanni Santucci, Loredana Candela, Gianluca Antonio Romeo, Giovanni Loris Alborali

Published in 2021

Scientific paper to evaluate the relationship between levels of animal welfare and the use of antimicrobials in Italian dairy farms. No relationship could be found between these two factors. The use of category B antimicrobials and of intramammary treatments in dry cows were linked to levels of staff training.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Antibiotic resistance, Environment, Livestock farming system, Societal issues

Access the source: The Relationship between Animal Welfare and Antimicrobial Use on Italian Dairy Farms

Animal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the Welfare of Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Kimberly Ekstrand, Amanda J. Flanagan, Ilyan E. Lin, Brendon Vejseli, Allicyn Cole, Anna P. Lally, Robert L. Morris, Kathleen N. Morgan

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the levels of susceptibility to the Covid-19 virus of various animal species that have contact with humans. Dogs and pigs appear to have low susceptibility levels. Ferrets, mink, some hamster species, cats and non-human primates show high susceptibility levels.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords:Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Pathogen transfer

Access the source: Animal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the Welfare of Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tail-Biting in Pigs: A Scoping Review

Maggie Henry, Hannah Jansen, Maria del Rocio Amezcua, Terri L. O'Sullivan, Lee Niel, Anna Kate Shoveller, Robert M. Friendship

Published in 2021

Scientific review setting out to identify articles on risk factors and interventions associated with tail biting in pigs, along with data gaps in the literature.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Housing, Risk management, Societal issues, Mutilation, Pain

Access the source: Tail-Biting in Pigs: A Scoping Review

Assemblée nationale : Réponse écrite à la question n°39377 : Dysfonctionnements importants dans les abattoirs

Question: Ms Danièle Obono (La France insoumise - Paris). Answer: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2021

Written answer to a parliamentary question on the measures taken by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food in respect of the failings found in abattoirs  and whether a general audit of French abattoirs is under consideration, along with the compulsory publication of annual reports on compliance with standards and regulations.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Fear, Stress

Access the source: National Assembly: Written response to Question No. 39377: Significant Malfunctions in Slaughterhouses

The effects of farming systems (organic vs. conventional) on dairy cow welfare, based on the Welfare Quality® protocol

K. Wagner, J. Brinkmann, A. Bergschmidt, C. Renziehausen, S. Marcha

Published in 2021

Scientific article comparing the welfare levels of German conventional and organic dairy farms, using the Welfare Quality protocol. It shows that organic farms score better on the 4 main Welfare Quality principles, although there is wide variation between farms operating under the same farming system. Nevertheless, there is room for improvement on organic farms in the area of health.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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

Access the source: The Effects of Farming Systems (Organic vs. Conventional) on Dairy Cow Welfare, Based on the Welfare Quality® Protocol

The Human Aspect of Horse Care: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted the Wellbeing of Equestrian Industry Stakeholders

Ashley Ward, Kate Stephen, Caroline Argo, Christine Watson, Patricia Harris, Madalina Neacsu, Wendy Russell, Dai Grove-White, Philippa Morrison

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting the results of a survey of equine stakeholders on their feelings about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It shows that the pandemic has affected veterinarians and horse owners due to restrictions on contact and human-horse interactions. However, the pandemic has also led to initiatives to maintain social links between owners as a remedy for isolation.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of animals to the environment, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

Access the source: The Human Aspect of Horse Care: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted the Well-being of Stakeholders in the Equestrian Industry

Slaughter of Pregnant Cattle at an Austrian Abattoir: Prevalence and Gestational Age

Ignaz Zitterer, Peter Paulsen

Published in 2021

Scientific paper to determine the percentage of pregnant cows and heifers slaughtered in a medium-sized Austrian slaughterhouse. The observed prevalences are much higher than estimated (6.4% as against an estimated 2.5%). The article recommends that measures should be taken to avoid sending pregnant cows to slaughter for ethical and public health reasons.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Societal issues, Stress

Access the source: Slaughter of Pregnant Cattle at an Austrian Slaughterhouse: Prevalence and Gestational Age

La fin de l’élimination des poussins mâles programmée pour 2022

Christophe Violette

Published in 2021

Article reviewing the ban on the crushing of male chicks that will come in on 1 January 2022 in France, and describing the in ovo sexing method that is advocated as an alternative by the French Government. However, this method entails a significant financial cost for breeders, that will partly be covered by the State.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Pain, Societal issues, Livestock farming system

Access the source: The end of the culling of male chicks is scheduled for 2022

Assemblée nationale : Réponse écrite à la question n°39648 : Mesures d’accompagnement pour le développement des abattoirs mobiles en France

Question: Loïc Dombreval (La République en Marche - Alpes-Maritimes). Answer: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2021

Answer to a parliamentary question on the government's support measures for France's first mobile abattoir project, and whether the recovery plan could help the development of this new slaughtering method.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Carcass quality, Societal issues, Processing

Access the source: National Assembly: Written response to Question No. 39648: Support measures for the development of mobile slaughterhouses in France