Keywords: Welfare indicators

Indicator factsheets (EURCAW-Poultry-SFA)

EURCAW-Poultry-SFA

Published in 2024

Technical data sheets published by EURCAW-Poultry-SFA containing the main indicators for the assessment of the state of consciousness of broilers and turkeys, the "iceberg" indicators to assess severe pecking, feather cleanliness, foot pad dermatitis in broilers and leg lesions at slaughter in laying hens.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Education, Euthanasia, Welfare indicators, Mutilation, Vocalisation

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Ad libitum feeding systems for lactating sows: effects on productivity and welfare of sows and piglets

Sarah C. Gorr, Christine Leeb, Werner Zollitsch, Christoph Winckler, Thomas D. Parsons

Published in 2024

Scientific article evaluating the effects of three ad libitum feeding systems on the productivity and welfare of suckling sows. Results show that sows fed ad libitum convert feed more efficiently for better piglet growth without additional weight loss. With these systems, sows spend more time feeding, which would meet the pigs' behavioral need to forage.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, Behavioural disorders

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The behavior and welfare of neglected species: some examples from fish and mammals

Bukhari SSUH, Parkes RSV, Sneddon LU, McElligott AG

Published in 2024

Synthesis of concepts and methods for assessing animal welfare through the study of behavior, illustrated by work on certain "neglected" species (buffalo, camels, donkeys, mules and lumpfish). The authors conclude that there is an extreme lack of balance in the species generally studied in research on animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Camelids, Equines, Fish, Ruminants

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Working animals, Welfare indicators, Animal mediation, Behavioural disorders

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What We (Don't) Know about Parrot Welfare: A Systematic Literature Review

Andrea Piseddu, Yvonne van Zeeland, and Jean-Loup Rault

Published in 2024

Synthesis of the scientific literature examining potential welfare indicators applicable to pet parrots. The study identifies indicators such as behavioral changes (activity level, social interactions, exploration), body measurements (weight, plumage condition) and abnormal behaviors. These results serve as a starting point for work on a species that is rarely studied. 

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal Categories:Birds (excluding poultry)

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, Behavioural disorders

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Air bubble curtain improves the welfare of captive rainbow trout fry and fingerlings

Océane Amichaud, Thomas Lafond, Georgina Lea Fazekas, Aude Kleiber, Thierry Kerneis, Axel Batard, Lionel Goardon, Laurent Labbé, Sophie Lambert, Sylvain Milla, Violaine Colson

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the repeated diffusion of bubbles in a tank improved the welfare of rainbow trout. The short-term (~7 weeks) and long-term (~21 weeks) enrichment effects were similar to those observed with more conventional environmental enrichment (provision of plants and shelter). The fish were less aggressive, less fearful and showed enhanced learning abilities.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Learning, training, Enrichment, Wefare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Behavioural disorders, Stress

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Research Note: Welfare and stress responses of broiler chickens raised in conventional and animal welfare-certified broiler farms

Kwon Byung-Yeon, Lee Hyun-Gwan, Jeon Yong-Sung, Song Ju-Yong, Kim Sang-Ho, Kim Dong-Wook, Kim Chan-Ho, Lee Kyung-Woo

Published in 2024

Study comparing the welfare of broilers reared on conventional and welfare-certified farms. Chickens on the certified farm scored lower hock burn and feather dirtiness and had better gait scores, although corticosterone levels in feathers were higher, warranting further study.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Welfare indicators, Housing, Carcass quality, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

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Animal welfare review: Sows are more vulnerable towards transport than most other pig categories

EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)

Published in 2024

Article on a summary report published by EURCAW-Pigs showing that sows are the pig category most affected by transport. The three risks specific to sows are: sensitivity to heat stress, a lack of transport suitability that is strongly connected to the poor general health of a large proportion of cull sows compared with average finisher sows, and the tendency of sows to fight when mixed with unfamiliar conspecifics.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal trade, End of life, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Stress, Transportation, Behavioural disorders, Aging

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Active walking in broiler chickens: a flagship for good welfare, a goal for smart farming and a practical starting point for automated welfare recognition

Marian Stamp Dawkins

Published in 2024

Scientific article suggesting that active walking in broiler chickens can be a reliable indicator of health and welfare. Its sustained and regular pattern of expression is detectable by automated systems.  This smart detection of active walking deficiencies can be carried out both on an individual chicken and on a group of chickens, even at high stocking densities.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

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Advancements in artificial intelligence technology for improving animal welfare: Current applications and research progress

Li Zhang, Wenqiang Guo, Chenrui Lv, Meng Guo, Mei Yang, Qiuyue Fu, Xiaomeng Liu

Published in 2024

Article summarizing the various technological advances in the field of artificial intelligence for animal health and welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

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Veal calf welfare and rearing 

Didier Bastien, Magdéléna Chanteperdrix, Virginie Lefoul, Christophe Martineau, Etienne Labussière, Manuel Tourtier

Published in 2024

Article summarising papers on veal calves given at the 74th European Animal Science Congress (EAAP). The presentations discussed work to identify societal expectations, establish the impact of different housing and feeding methods, evaluate changes in antibiotic use and develop tools for assessing biosecurity on farms.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines

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

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