Key words: Weaning

Development of the calf grimace scale for pain and stress assessment in castrated Angus beef calves

Farghal, M., Pajor, E., Luna, S.P.L., Pang D., Windeyer M.C. & Ceballos M.C.

Published in 2024

Scientific study measuring the effectiveness of a Calf Grimace Scale (CGS) for assessing pain and stress. VGS scores increase after castration, but also under the effect of external factors such as separation from the mother. The VGS can therefore identify acute pain and also detect stress in calves.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Castration, Pain, Weaning, Sterilization, Stress

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A Systematic Review on Management Practices Affecting Welfare in Male Calves: A Five Domains Model Approach

Tuberquia-López B.C., Álvarez Hernández, N., & Correa Valencia, N. M.

Published in 2024

Meta-analysis identifying practices such as ad libitum feeding, early intake of solid feed, housing in social groups and appropriate pain management as conducive to the welfare of veal calves, using a five-domain model approach.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Key words:Pain, Lactation, Housing, Mutilation, Weaning, Transportation

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Quantification of play behaviour in calves using automated ultra-wideband location data and its association with age, weaning and health status

J. A. Vázquez-Diosdado, C. Doidge, E. V. Bushby, F. Occhiuto and J. Kaler

Published in 2024

Article describing a quantification method that can automatically detect play behavior in rearing calves using location data from ultra-wideband sensors. The occurrence and duration of play behavior decreases with age, disease and increasing temperature, while play behavior increases during and after weaning. Play behavior is potentially a positive welfare indicator.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Weaning

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Burlap and buddies: the effects of social enrichment (preweaning mixing) and object enrichment (burlap) on piglet behavior and welfare in the postweaning environment

Ashlyn Scott, Arielle Le Heiget, Reyna Stefanson, Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire, Meagan King

Published in 2024

Scientific article demonstrating that early social enrichment encourages socialization with unfamiliar conspecifics during post-weaning, while object enrichment (burlap) allows pigs to divert their attention and limits aggressive behavior and the biting of conspecifics. Both types of enrichment can improve pig behavior and welfare after weaning.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Animal-based measurement, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Aggression, Enrichment, Housing, Weaning, Socialization, Behavioural disorders, Welfare indicators, Aggression

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Dairy farmers' preferences for immediate versus late calf separation

Albert Boaitey

Published in 2024

Analysis of a survey carried out in the US to gain an understanding of dairy calf farmers' perceptions of the practice of allowing prolonged contact between mother and calf. The survey concludes that the foster cow system was the preferred alternative to conventional early separation, followed by restricted suckling systems. The lowest-ranked alternative system was free contact between calf and mother.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Lactation, Housing, Maternity, One Welfare, Human-animal relationship, Weaning,  Livestock farming system

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Reducing Weaning Stress in Piglets by Pre-Weaning Socialization and Gradual Separation from the Sow: A Review

Céline Van Kerschaver, Diana Turpin, Joris Michiels, John Pluske

Published in 2023

Scientific review of alternative piglet management strategies to reduce weaning stress. These include the pre-weaning grouping of piglets from different litters and intermittent suckling. Their effects on post-weaning pig behavior, performance, mortality, gastrointestinal function and immunocompetence are described.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressivity, Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Housing, Weaning, Stress

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Devenir des jeunes ruminants laitiers : comment concilier élevage et attentes sociétales 

Dominique Pomiès, Caroline Constancis, Julien Jurquet, Isabelle Veissier, Hugues Caillat, Gilles Lagriffoul, Marie Drouet, Clément Fossaert, Yannick Le Cozler

Published in 2023

Review of the natural behaviors of young stock from the three major dairy breeds, and of farming practices currently employed for these young animals. It lists alternative practices that can meet the expectations of the public and consumers in terms of animal welfare, as well as those of farmers on improving their profession's public image and the way their products are sold.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords: Enrichment, Human-animal relationships, Lactation, Living environment, One Welfare, Weaning, Stress, Livestock systems,Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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Effects of improved early-life conditions on health, welfare, and performance of pigs raised on a conventional farm

S. Gavaud, K. Haurogné, A. Buchet, I. Garcia Vinado, M. Allard, A. Lehébel, M. Leblanc-Maridor, J.M. Bach, C. Belloc, B. Lieubeau, J. Hervé

Published in 2023

Scientific paper to examine the effects of the complete elimination of painful procedures and of reducing weaning stressors in the living conditions of piglets on a commercial farm. This form of management resulted in improved innate immunity at weaning, fewer and less severe body lesions but more tail lesions than in the control pigs.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Castration, Mutilation, Weaning, Socialization, Sterilization, Stress

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Chapter 4 of the book Husbandry interventions in suckling piglets, painful consequences and mitigation

Original chapter (English): A. Prunier, N. Devillers, M.S. Herskin, D.A. Sandrcock, A.R.L Sinclair, C. Tallet, E. von Borell. French translation: G. Aubin-Houzelstein for FRCAW. Proofreading: T. Bridgeman, A. Prunier

Published in 2022

Translation in French of Chapter 4 of the book Husbandry interventions in suckling piglets, painful consequences and mitigation

Document Types: Scientific work

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Mutilation, Human-animal relationships, Weaning, Stress

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A systematic review of the impact of housing on sow welfare during post-weaning and early pregnancy periods A systematic review of the impact of housing on sow welfare during post-weaning and early pregnancy periods A systematic review of the impact of housing on sow welfare during post-weaning and early pregnancy periods

Jen-Yun Chou, Thomas D. Parsons

Published in 2022

Systematic review of the literature showing that the indicators relating to housing that are used to measure the welfare of sows in the post-weaning and early gestation periods are mainly physiological and health-related. There is a lack of studies on the effects of housing on the mental welfare of sows during this period of their reproductive cycle.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Housing, Weaning, Stress, Welfare indicators

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