Keywords: Stress

Analysis of Housing Risk Factors for the Welfare of Lean and Heavy Pigs in a Sample of European Fattening Farms

Paolo Ferrari, Alessandro Ulrici, Matteo Barbari

Published in 2021

Scientific paper investigating the risk factors for welfare and health on pig-fattening farms in 7 European countries, and showing that it is possible to divide them into 3 risk categories according to the body weight of the animals and the presence of a solid floor resting area.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Stress, Livestock farming system

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How Happy Are Equine Athletes? Stakeholder Perceptions of Equine Welfare Issues Associated with Equestrian Sport

Tamzin Furtado, Liane Preshaw, Jo Hockenhull, Jennifer Wathan, Janet Douglas, Sue Horseman, Rebecca Smith, Danica Pollard, Gina Pinchbeck, Jan Rogers Carol Hall

Published in 2021

Scientific article providing the views of equestrian sportsmen and women and of animal welfare researchers on the current welfare violations in equestrian sport. Respondents emphasised the conflict between the demands of competition and the psychological needs of horses, and were of the view that efforts to improve welfare should focus on training. They considered existing welfare assessment tools to be ill-suited to the real-life conditions of training and competition.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Learning, training, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Pet Reptiles - Are We Meeting Their Needs?

Alexandre Azevedo, Leonor Guimarães, Joel Ferraz, Martin Whiting, Manuel Magalhães-Sant'Ana

Published in 2021

Scientific article showing that although Portuguese pet reptile owners' knowledge of their animals' behaviour is generally good, they have very little knowledge of their pets' basic needs and that the conditions under which these are kept are often detrimental to their welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Reptiles

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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Aspects of Breeding Stallion Management with Specific Focus on Animal Welfare

Rodrigo Arruda de Oliveira, Christine Aurich

Published in 2021

Scientific review of how living environments affect stallions at stud, including social isolation in loose boxes or of agonistic behaviour in an outdoor herd setting, describing management methods to limit these risks to animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Welfare of sheep and goats at slaughter

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW), Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortazar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Miguel Angel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler, Denise Candiani, Cristina Rapagna, Yves Van der Stede, Virginie Michel

Published in 2021

Scientific Opinion on slaughter processes from a welfare perspective, covering three phases: pre-stunning (including arrival, unloading from the lorry, stalling, and the handling and movement of animals); stunning (including restraint); and bleeding.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories:Goats, Sheep

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Stress

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On-farm culling methods used for pigs

F. A. Dalla Costa, T. J. Gibson, S. E.O. Oliveira, N. G. Gregory, L. Faucitano, O. A. Dalla Costa

Published in 2021

Scientific review evaluating different on-farm slaughter methods in terms of the processes involved (mechanical and physiological), their efficiency and animal welfare

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Stress, Livestock farming system

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The Animal Welfare Science of Working Dogs: Current Perspectives on Recent Advances and Future Directions

Mia L. Cobb, Cynthia M. Otto, Aubrey H. Fine

Published in 2021

A scientific review of current knowledge on the welfare of working dogs, taking into account ethical issues, their interactions with humans and the five freedoms. It notes that there have been real advances in the last decade and points towards some research priorities for the future

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords: Human-animal relationships, Stress,Welfare indicators

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French Assemblée nationale: Written answer to question n°36537: Défendre le maintien et le développement des abattoirs de proximité

Question: Régis Juanico (Socialistes et apparentés - Loire). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2021

Answer to a question on the Government's intentions regarding the retention of  local abattoirs, in which the economic, environmental and animal welfare benefits of such establishments are evoked. 

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-003809/2021 : Fight against the proliferation of illegal ritual slaughter

Question: Annika Bruna (ID), Sylvia Limmer (ID), Jean-Paul Garraud (ID), Gianna Gancia (ID), Virginie Joron (ID), Aurélia Beigneux (ID), Jean-Lin Lacapelle (ID), Gerolf Annemans (ID) Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2021

Answer to a question on the infringement of the rules governing the slaughter of sheep, which the MEP considers to occur frequently during illegal ritual slaughter.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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The effect of animal shelter sound on cat behaviour and welfare

B.H. Eagan, E. Gordon, D. Fraser

Published in 2021

Scientific paper showing that the behavioural responses of cats in shelters vary according to sex and time of day, and are affected by noise levels. It advises that noise levels in shelters should be lowered to reduce fear and physiological responses in cats.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Felines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Housing, Living environment, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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