Keywords: Living environment

Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for poultry

Andy Butterworth, Cecile Arnould, Thea Fiks-van Niekerk...

Published in 2009

The document sets out the indicators used to assess the welfare of poultry (broiler and laying hens), including the rearing and abattoir phases. The chosen indicators concern the resources available to the animal (housing, activities), measurements taken from the animal, and a qualitative evaluation. The document explains registration procedures, qualitative and frequency scoring methods, and the aggregation of criteria from four of the five domains of welfare: nutrition, environment, health and appropriate behaviours.

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Livestock buildings, Pain, Enrichment, Environment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Restraint equipment, Living environment, Mutilation, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Stress

General Principles for the welfare of animals in production systems: the underlying science and its application

Fraser D., Duncan I.J.H., Edwards S.A., Grandin T., Gregory N.G., Guyonnet V., Hemsworth P.H., Huertas S.M., Huzzey J.M., Mellor D.J., Mench J.A., Spinka M., Whay H.R.,

Published in 2013

Presentation of the 10 general principles relating to welfare in production systems adopted by the OIE for the development of standards

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Pain, Enrichment, Environment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment,Mutilation, Fear, Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for pigs

Antoni Dalmau, Antonio Velarde, Kamara Scott, Sandra Edwards

Published in 2009

This document sets out the indicators used to assess welfare in pig production (breeding sows, growing pigs), including the rearing and abattoir phases. The chosen indicators concern the resources available to the animal (housing, activities), measurements taken from the animal, and a qualitative evaluation. The document explains registration procedures, qualitative and frequency scoring methods and the aggregation of criteria from four of the five domains of welfare: nutrition, environment, health and appropriate behaviours. 

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Livestock buildings, Pain, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Restraint equipment, Living environment, Mutilation, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Social ties in farmed ruminants: limits on and means of action to encourage the integration of the animal in its environment

Boissy A., Nowak R., Orgeur P., Veissier I.

Published in 2001

Farmed ruminants belong to gregarious species. Their social organisation is based on stable dominance-subordination relationships which ensure the resolution of many conflicts that are inherent in the promiscuity among animals in livestock farming. Social organisation is also based on affinity relationships that ensure group cohesion and increase tolerance between animals in situations of conflict. Furthermore, affinity relationships are closely involved in the adaptation of the animal to its living environment, since partners will influence the animal's response to its surroundings. Thus, whether through the development of behaviours that are more respectful of the animals' social needs, or by the management of periods of social transition, the adaptation and welfare of farm animals will be considerably increased.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Ruminants

Keywords: Consciousness, Enrichment, Metacognition, Living environment, Cognitive processes

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Standardising the assessment of environmental enrichment and tail-docking legal requirements for finishing pigs in Europe

Hothersall B., Whistance L., Zedlacher H., Algers B., Andersson E., Bracke M., Courboulay V., Ferrari P., Leeb C., Mullan S., Nowicki J., Meunier-Salaün M.C., Schwarz T., Stadig L., Main D.

Published in 2016

This  e-learning module providing a concise summary of the scientific evidence that underpins EU legislation on pig enrichment and harvesting has been produced in seven languages, with the aim of improving consistency in professional judgements regarding legal compliance on farms. The mark profiles indicated that the roles of the participants had an impact on their scores but that the training led to overall improvement in: (i) their ability to identify enrichments which, due to their type or use by pigs, may be insufficient to ensure compliance; (ii) their knowledge of risk factors for tail biting; and (iii) their recognition of when tail docking occurs.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Mutilation

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Risk factors and detection of lameness using infrared thermography in dairy cows- a review

Novotna I., Langova L., Havlicek Z.

Published in 2019

Lameness in dairy cows is a worldwide problem, usually a consequence of hoof diseases. Hoof problems have a negative impact on animal health and welfare as well as the economy of the farm. Prevention and early diagnosis of lameness should prevent the development of the disease and consequent high costs of animal treatment. In this review, the most common causes of both infectious and noninfectious lesions are described. Susceptibility to lesions is primarily influenced by the quality of the horn. The quality of the horn is influenced by internal and external conditions such as hygiene, nutrition, hormonal changes during calving and lactation, the animal's age or genetic predisposition. The next part of this review summarizes the basic principles and possibilities of using infrared thermography in the early detection of lameness in dairy cows.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Pain, Environment, Living environment, Stress

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Abreuvement des porcs dans le cadre du bien-être animal

ANSES

Published in 2016

The report addresses the watering of pigs, focusing on those with a soup feeding system and taking into account the different stages of rearing (post-weaning and fattening piglets, pregnant and lactating sows, etc). The experts stressed the importance of the economic issue with regard to the watering of pigs on the farm, but this economic analysis was outside the scope of the expertise. The expertise focused on the production of liquid manure in pig farming in connection with watering systems, but without analyzing the environmental side of its management. The supply of sufficient quantities of water is essential for the maintenance of homeostasis and the survival of the individual. Only permanent access to drinking water allows the physiological needs of pigs to be met flexibly and individually at all times. It also enables the animal to cope with risky situations, for example, when it is hot or when it is suffering from disorders (illness, intoxication, behaviour, etc.). Moreover, permanent access to water can contribute to a state of satiation when the animal is subjected to food rationing. Permanent access to water, together with regular checks on the quantities taken, can be a warning and prevention sign of the appearance of health and welfare problems. In the case of liquid feed without the presence of a supplementary drinking trough, most of the water needs are covered for most animals. However, this type of feed does not allow permanent access to water and therefore does not allow animals to drink systematically as soon as they are thirsty. Water can be provided in the trough, but it must guarantee the permanent presence of drinking water. To ensure adequate watering with troughs, it is necessary to ensure that their design, positioning and operation guarantee optimal access regardless of the physiological stage of the animals. In the absence of manipulable materials in the pens, the drinking trough may be the target of redirected behaviour, linked to frustrated investigative behaviour (cf. Anses opinion 2013-SA-018020). Such use diverts the function of the water trough as a drinking system and may result in restricted access to water for some pigs despite a permanent supply. The introduction of water troughs in soup feeding systems may lead to an increase in the amount of water in the manure produced. However, solutions to this problem include reducing the dilution rate of the soup where technically feasible in the farm (e.g. reducing "wastage" by optimising the design and flow rate of drinkers, covering slurry pits, etc.). The experts also recommend promoting the acquisition of technical references (water flows, number of pigs per trough...) on complementary watering. At the same time, an awareness programme for farmers should be developed on the importance of watering in terms of animal health and welfare. This programme should be accompanied by technical recommendations and accompanying measures to facilitate the introduction of watering systems.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Environment, Housing, Living environment, Stress

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Drinking water for liquid-fed pigs

Meunier-Salaün M.C., Chiron J. , Etore F., Fabre A., Laval A., Pol F., Prunier A., Ramonet Y., Nielsen B.

Published in 2017

Liquid feed can provide pigs with sufficient water to remain hydrated and prevent prolonged thirst. However, any lack of permanent access to fresh water prevents animals from drinking when they are thirsty. In addition, individual differences between pigs in a pen can result in the uneven distribution of water from liquid feeds, preventing some pigs from meeting their water needs. In this review, we examine the need for and provision of water for liquid-fed pigs in terms of production performance, behaviour, health and welfare. We highlight factors that may lead to water ingestion above or below requirements. Increased water requirements can be caused by several factors such as morbidity, ambient temperature or competition within the social group, underlining the need for permanent access to water, also provided for in EU legislation. Drinking animals may be the target of redirected behaviour in response to feeding restrictions or in the absence of rooting materials, thus leading to water losses. Water supply systems and the design of water troughs are essential components in ensuring easy access to water, regardless of the physiological condition of the pig, and in reducing water use, which has no benefit for the pig.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords : Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Housing, Living environment, Stress

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Enrichissement du milieu d’élevage des porcs par la mise à disposition des matériaux manipulables

ANSES

Published in 2015

This Opinion focuses on the value of manipulable materials, whose presence offers an effective means of enriching the living environment of pigs reared on slatted floors. They encourage the expression of investigative and manipulating behaviours but also, depending on the nature of the added materials, of maternal and foraging behaviours. They preclude behavioural frustration and induce positive emotions that can reduce deviant behaviours such as cannibalism and stereotyping and can limit negative emotions. Used properly, manipulable materials can have a positive impact on animal welfare. However, this impact is variable and can be negative, depending on the physical characteristics and distribution patterns of the manipulable materials. The impact is also negative when the manipulable materials introduce health risks. Before any routine use, the effect of the materials on welfare should be tested on the animal. In light of the prevalence of slatted floors on French livestock farms, it is desirable to make best use of such materials in ways that are worth developing further, under conditions that are adapted to the animal's welfare. Work on manipulable materials has been carried out very widely and has made it possible to identify the intrinsic qualities that retain the animals' interest and encourage investigation and manipulation. However, further work is still needed on animals' motives in using manipulable materials, on the latters' effectiveness, on methods of introduction and presentation,  on an economic evaluation of their distribution, on the development of new materials, on the health risks associated with their characteristics, on their effects on brain function, on the acceptability of their use by breeders and on the contribution of their use to the public's perception of livestock farming.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords : Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Housing, Living environment, Stress

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Bien-Etre animal

INRA

Published in 2007

Special issue on Animal Welfare, containing 14 original articles on aims, methodology and purpose, ethical foundations, variants for different species, how it is perceived by the animal industries.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Living environment,Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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