Keywords: Welfare indicators

Welfare issues resulting from feed restriction in pregnant sows

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

Published in 2024

This article, intended for inspectors in EU Member States, describes the effects of feed restriction on the welfare of pregnant sows. Indicators of hunger-related aggression and stereotypies are described, along with measures to help sows feel satiated by increasing the fibre content of their diet, and to mitigate these behaviors by modifying various aspects of the living environment.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Behavioural disorders

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Behaviour of cull sows during transport to slaughter - effects of journey duration, a stationary period and temperature

Cecilie Kobek-Kjeldager, Line D. Jensen, Leslie Foldager, Louisa M. Gould, Karen Thodberg, Dorte Lene Schrøder-Petersen, Mette S. Herskin

Published in 2024

Scientific article describing the behavior of cull sows during transport. The results show that sows generally stand during transport, and aggression was observed throughout the journey. A higher proportion of sows who lie down during a prolonged stop after a long journey suggests fatigue.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressivity, Welfare indicators, Transport

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Environmental enrichments and data-driven welfare indicators for sheltered dogs using telemetric physiological measures and signal processing

Tiziano Travain, Teddy Lazebnik, Anna Zamansky, Simona Cafazzo, Paola Valsecchi, Eugenia Natoli

Published in 2024

Scientific article comparing the effects of different types of enrichment on the welfare of male dogs in shelters. The results show that intraspecific social enrichment provided by the presence of a female dog is the best stimulus compared with the presence of either entertaining objects or a human. It improves both sleep quality and the cyclicity of a set of measured physiological parameters.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Enrichment, Welfare indicators

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Loss of a grooming enrichment impacts physical, behavioural, and physiological measures of welfare in grazing beef cattle

Emily J. Dickson, Jessica E. Monk, Caroline Lee, Paul G. McDonald, Edward Narayan, Dana L. M. Campbell

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the loss of an enrichment element (grooming brush) to which grazing cattle are accustomed can adversely affect welfare, measured here by indicators of cleanliness, growth and fecal cortisol.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Behavioural disorders

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A Multidimensional Evaluation of the Factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) That Are Associated with, and Predictive of, Behaviour Disorders in Dogs

Rachel Malkani, Sharmini Paramasivam, Sarah Wolfensohn

Published in 2024

Scientific article to evaluate predictors for behavioral problems in dogs using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG)to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence their welfare. The study shows that aggression towards the caregiver, and the frequency of fear and anxiety episodes are predictive factors for behavioral problems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Pain, Welfare indicators, Personality, Human-animal relationships, Behavioural disorders

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Effect of extended heat stress in dairy cows on productive and behavioral traits

Daniela Lovarelli, Giulietta Minozzi, Alon Arazi, Marcella Guarino, Francesco Tiezzi

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that heat stress generated by intense heat waves increases activity in dairy cows and compromises milk production, resting time and milk quality.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Robustness, Stress

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Review: Using animal welfare to frame discussion on dairy farm technology

Daniel M. Weary, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk

Published in 2024

Review of scientific articles describing the advantages and disadvantages of the use of technology on dairy farms. Most articles report an improvement in animal welfare thanks to the technology studied, but the authors of the review are concerned over a possible lack of objectivity, suggesting that future studies should endeavor to address both potential advantages and disadvantages.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Lactation

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Feeding predictability as a cognitive enrichment protects brain function and physiological status in rainbow trout: a multidisciplinary approach to assess fish welfare

A. Kleiber, J. Roy, V. Brunet, E. Baranek, J.M. Le-Calvez, T. Kerneis, A. Batard, S. Calvez, L. Pineau, S. Milla, V. Guesdon, L. Calandreau, V. Colson

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the feeding predictability contributes to cognitive enrichment, offering a way to improve the welfare and immune status of rainbow trout.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Stress

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Advancing Animal Welfare in Zoos through Data Science: Scaling Up Continuous Improvement Efforts

Matyas Liptovszky

Published in 2024

Opinion piece arguing for the transformative potential of data science to advance animal welfare in zoos.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators

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Animal Welfare Committee: opinion on alternatives to culling newly hatched chicks in the egg and poultry industry

Animal Welfare Committtee (UK)

Published in 2023

Report on technologies with the potential to help end the culling of newly hatched male chicks. It identifies the possible risks to welfare posed by their use, and puts forward alternative  ideas and views on the matter.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Euthanasia, Welfare indicators, Societal issues, Stress

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