Key words: Robustness

A systematic reviewon whether regenerative agriculture improves animal welfare : A qualitative analysis with a One Welfare perspective

Matías Javier Hargreaves-Méndez, María José Hötzel

Published in 2023

Review of the scientific literature to determine the extent to which regenerative farming systems are or are not associated with positive One Welfare outcomes. It reveals that articles mainly associated animal welfare with animal health, human welfare with the financial situation of the farm and the farmer's self-awareness, and environmental conservation with soil improvement. It shows that processes affecting human welfare and environmental conservation can also affect animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords: Environment, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships, Resilience, Robustness,Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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On-farm hatching and contact with adult hen post hatch induce sex-dependent effects on performance and welfare in broiler chickens

Laurence A Guilloteau, Aline Bertin, Sabine Crochet, Charlotte Bagnard, Alice Hondelatte, Laure Ravon, Catherine Schouler, Karine Germain, Anne Collin

Published in 2023

Scientific study of the effects of on-farm hatching as opposed to that in a hatchery, including the presence of an adult hen at hatching as an environmental enrichment element, the hatching process, chick quality scores, and chick growth, health and robustness.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Key words:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Robustness, Livestock system

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Impact of water stress on adaptation and performance of sheep and goats in dryland regions under climate change scenarios: a systematic review

Diriba Tulu, Sileshi Gadissa, Feyisa Hundessa

Published in 2023

Scientific article demonstrating that, despite changes affecting their physiology, blood, biochemistry and  water and food consumption behaviors, sheep and goats can adapt to higher salinity levels in their drinking water in arid environments. Better adaptation is to be observed in local breeds, which prove to be more resilient.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Goats, Sheep

Keywords:Animal adaptation to its environment, Environment, Risk management, Resilience, Robustness, Stress, Societal issues

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Review: Assessment of dairy cow welfare at pasture: measures available, gaps to address, and pathways to development of ad-hoc protocols

L. Aubé, M.M. Mialon, E. Mollaret, L. Mounier, I. Veissier, A. de Boyer des Roches

Published in 2022

Scientific review of the benefits and risks of grazing for dairy cows, measures that can be used to assess the welfare of cows on pasture, and the knowledge gaps that need to be filled to develop specific welfare indicators.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Living environment, Robustness, Stress

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A pilot study about on-farm assessment of health and welfare in rabbits kept in different housing systems

Angela Trocino, Francesca Menegon, Cristina Zomeño, Dario Pasqualin, Giovanni Cunial, Gerolamo Xiccato, Fabrizio Pirrone, Daniela Bertotto, Martina Bortoletti, Francesco Dorigo, Antonio Lavazza Guido Di Martino

Published in 2022

Scientific article comparing the health and welfare levels of breeding rabbits living with their litters and of growing rabbits in four different housing systems: two unenriched cage systems, enriched cages and pens. Although it does not reveal major health differences, it does identify management and environmental factors other than housing that can influence health and welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Monogastric

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

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Welfare issues and potential solutions for laying hens in free range and organic production systems: A review based on literature and interviews

Claire Bonnefous, Anne Collin, Laurence A. Guilloteau, Vanessa Guesdon, Christine Filliat, Sophie Réhault-Godbert, T. Bas Rodenburg, Frank A. M. Tuyttens, Laura Warin, Sanna Steenfeldt, Lisa Baldinger, Martina Re, Raffaella Ponzio, Anna Zuliani, Pietro Venezia, Minna Väre, Patricia Parrott, Keith Walley, Jarkko K. Niemi, Christine Leterrier

Published in 2022

Scientific review identifying an increased risk to free-range hens of microbial and parasitic infections, heat stress and predation. They do, however, have better bone quality and show less evidence of pecking behaviors. The review sets out existing preventive strategies and identifies missed opportunities to use genetics and prenatal and nutritional factors to prevent these welfare issues in free-range systems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal adaptation to environment, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment, Resilience, Robustness, Stress, Livestocksystems

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Improving heat stress resilience should be priority for swine industry

Ann Hess

Published in 2022

Summary of a webinar hosted by the USDA on how to mitigate the impacts of heat stress on the health and welfare of pigs in factory farming. It presents research findings to improve heat stress resilience in pigs through a three-part approach, that looks at management, nutrition and genetics.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Risk management, Living environment, Resilience, Robustness, Stress

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The Genetics of Thermoregulation in Pigs: A Review

Jean-Luc Gourdine, Wendy Mercedes Rauw, Hélène Gilbert, Nausicaa Poullet

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the physiological reasons for the sensitivity of pigs to heat stress, current knowledge concerning genetics and the variability between pig breeds in terms of thermoregulation, phenotypes for use in genetic studies, and the needs of future research to improve heat tolerance in pigs.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Resilience, Robustness, Stress, Breeding and rearing systems

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Genome editing and farmed animals

Pete Mills

Published in 2021

Report describing genome editing techniques, and critically analysing their potential use for livestock. It makes recommendations, in particular the need for a full scientific review of the literature before changing the UK regulations in this area and for a dialogue between scientists and the public on these issues.

Document Types: Opinions

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Societal issues, Resilience, Robustness, Livestock systems

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Unintended consequences of selection for increased production on the health and welfare of livestock

Este van Marle-Köster, Carina Visser

Published in 2021

A scientific review showing the deleterious effects of the use of genetic selection for increased productivity on the fertility, welfare and health of livestock. Inbreeding has led to genetic defects, increased lameness, hoof problems and mastitis, Pathways are suggested to incorporate welfare and health in breeding practices.

Document Types: Scientific review

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Resilience, Robustness, Breeding and rearing

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