Keywords : Housing

Article describing horses' visual spectrum, their color preferences and the impact of environmental color choices on their welfare. 

Systematic review analyzing methods to assess the welfare of sows and piglets in different housing systems in the period around farrowing and lactation: it looks at conventional farrowing crates and alternative systems (loose farrowing pens, group housing, outdoor farrowing, hinged crates and ellipsoid crates).

European Commission report on the national legislation and systems put in place by Italy to protect the welfare of turkeys during production. Italy has transposed, implemented and, for certain parameters, further developed the EU legal framework. However, there is still room for improvement in areas such as stocking densities, mutilation and environmental enrichment.

Scientific article reporting that dogs housed in pairs in shelters, even for a short time, exhibit fewer stress-related behaviors (lip licking, whining, and ears back) than dogs housed individually. In addition, the urinary cortisol:creatinine levels in non-isolated dogs were lower.

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.

Answer from the European Commission to an MEP's question on the provenance of eggs used in processed products and the tightening of regulations on the accurate labelling of these products.

Question from a Member of the French National Assembly on the introduction of mobile on-farm slaughterhouses. The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty has announced the recent publication of a regulation amending Regulation (EC) 853/53/2004 to regulate the use of mobile on-farm slaughter units.

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.

Scientific article showing the positive effect of music on cows' willingness to enter the milking parlour and on their blood leukocyte profile.

Scientific article showing that, when given a choice, gilts prefer to spend time in an open pen rather than in an individual stall. Intrinsic (personality) and extrinsic (time of day, experimental day) factors also influence gilts' housing preferences.