Key words: Robustness

Welfare and performance benefits of shade provision during summer for feedlot cattle in a temperate climatic zone

David W Miller, Anne L Barnes, Teresa Collins, Liselotte Pannier, Joshua Aleri, Shane K Maloney, Fiona Anderson

Published in 2024

Study evaluating the benefits of access to shade for cattle in a temperate zone. Results showed a slight improvement in weight gain and calmer, more sociable behavior in cattle with access to shade under conditions of moderate heat stress.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal adaptation to environment, Animal-based measurement, Environment, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Robustness, Behavioral disorders

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Review: Space allowance for growing pigs: animal welfare, performance and on-farm practicality

K.L. Chidgey

Published in 2024

Scientific synthesis exploring the scientific basis of the most common approaches to determining minimum space allowances for growing pigs, and examining the various factors that influence and interact with their spatial needs and affective states.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Key words:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment, One Welfare, Resilience, Robustness, livestock farming system

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Review: Welfare in farm animals from an animal-centred point of view

Huber, K

Published in 2024

Scientific synthesis highlighting the anatomical and physiological alterations undergone by high-production livestock, leading to an imbalance between their natural capacities and the demands of industrial production. It calls for an ethical approach to animal welfare, focusing on their physiological limits, for more sustainable and respectful production.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Animal adaptation to environment, Societal issues, Evolutionary process, Resilience, Robustness

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Heat stress measuring methods in dairy cows

Alessandra Aloia, Aristide Maggiolino, Lucrezia Forte, Pasquale De Palo

Published in 2024

Study exploring predictors other  than the temperature-humidity index (THI) to assess heat stress in cattle. Other early predictors use non-invasive, animal-based strategies, thanks to precision breeding technologies.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal adaptation to environment, Animal-based measurement, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Living environment, Robustness, Stress

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Combining Automated Behaviour Recognition and Physiological Data to Characterize Heat Tolerance and Animal Welfare in Growing Pigs

Poullet Nausicaa, Guichard Johanna, Beramice David, Dantec Laurent, Gourdine Jean-Luc, Bonneau Mathieu

Published in 2024

Study combining computer visual monitoring and temperature measurements to monitor the behavior and thermoregulation of 22 pigs exposed to tropical temperatures (ranging from 20.3 to 27.9°C) and thermoneutral conditions (22°C). Pigs exposed to heat stress spent more time lying on their sides to dissipate heat, and a thermal discomfort index (HDI) was created to assess the impact on their welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal adaptation to the environment, Animal-based measurement, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Behavioral disorders

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A Review of the Effects of Stress on Dairy Cattle Behaviour

Viktor Jurkovich, Péter Hejel, Levente Kovács

Published in 2024

Scientific review article describing how stress factors (pain, illness, discomfort, etc.) modify the behavior of dairy cows, influencing their feeding habits, social interactions and general welfare. The study explores the effectiveness of the various coping mechanisms used by cows to alleviate stress (physiological adaptations and behavioral responses).

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal adaptation to the environment, Pain, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Restraint equipment, Resilience, Robustness, Stress, Behavioural disorders

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Face au changement climatique, quelles stratégies d’atténuation et d’adaptation pour les productions avicoles ?

Anne Collin, Vincent Coustham, Jacob Kokou Tona, Sophie Tesseraud, Sandrine Mignon-Grasteau, Bertrand Méda, Anaïs Vitorino Carvalho, Yann Guyot, Sandrine Lagarrigue, Frédérique Pitel, Tatiana Zerjal

Published in 2024

Review proposing strategies to reduce the impact of poultry production on the environment. This may involve, for example, a combination of innovation strategies in nutrition, health, early reprogramming, or animal genetics.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Environment, Risk management, Housing, Living environment, One Welfare, Pollution, Evolutionary process, Robustness, Livestock farming system, Societal issues.

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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 measurement, Livestock buildings, Welfare indicator, Housing, Carcass quality, Robustness, Behavioral 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 indicator, Robustness, Stress, Transportation, Behavioral 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 measurement, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

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