Keywords: Enrichment

Scientific paper showing that growing pigs subjected to a musical stimulus for 8 days had a decreased stress response, and those subjected to the same musical stimulus for 60 days had an enhanced immune response. Pigs subjected to a noise stimulus were more aggressive and had a decreased immune response.

A scientific review of alternative materials to wood shavings and sawdust for use as poultry litter, including corncobs, straw and hay, sand, shredded paper, rice husks, peanut shells and gypsum. Consideration is given to their cost, availability, capacity to absorb and adsorb moisture, and the extent to which they allow birds to express their natural behaviour.

Scientific review of the effect of music on the emotional state of animals. It recommends that available information on the sensory systems and behaviours of each species should be taken into account so that music can be selected in light of the desired emotional response from the animal, thereby improving its well-being.

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.

Scientific review of what is known about the water requirements of 1) young calves, depending on their feeding regime (ad libitum or limited milk), state of health and ambient temperature; 2) dairy cows, depending on their milk yield, feed composition and housing (under cover or on pasture). It concludes that research on the length and positioning of water troughs is needed.

Scientific paper showing that the provision of environmental enrichment for kenneled police dogs has a stress-reducing effect (reduced levels of cortisol metabolites in the stool) and that access to a grassed area reduces the frequency of stereotypic behaviours in dogs with strong stereotypical tendencies.

This technical paper discusses ventilation as a critical factor for health and welfare in pig farming. It describes the different ventilation systems available and stresses that the choice of system depends on the needs of the individual pig farm. It recommends the use of natural ammonia-reducing additives as well as ventilation.

Scientific paper testing out various combinations of changes to elements of the Dutch broiler rearing system that might satisfy EU and consumer expectations in terms of environmental protection and animal welfare, while safeguarding the incomes of farmers. Those combinations that included animal welfare changes (lower stocking density, enrichment and/or daylight), tube heaters to reduce NH3 emissions and use of an ionisation technique to reduce fine particle emissions gave the best results.

A scientific review of animal welfare and consumer attitudes to broiler welfare. Leg disorders, techniques for assessing leg health, and possibilities for enriching the birds' environment to improve their mobility and leg health are described.

The first draft of the Guide de bonnes pratiques pour l’application des engagements de la charte pour le bien-être des équidés was submitted for evaluation to Anses, which issued its opinion in January 2021. This revised version 2.0, which incorporates Anses's recommendations, was validated by the Ministry of Agriculture on 15 July 2021.