Keywords: Behavioural disorders

Novel enrichment reduces boredom-associated behaviors in housed dairy cows

Alison L. Russell, Laura V. Randall, Nikki Eyre, Jasmeet Kaler, Martin J. Green

Published in 2024

Study showing that enrichment of the environment with a novel object reduces non-activity and milking refusals while increasing self-groomimg in dairy cows, indicating that such enrichments can alleviate boredom.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Housing, Behavioural disorders

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Welfare assessment of stabled horses in five equestrian disciplines

V. Jovanović, M. Vučinić, E. Voslarova, K. Nenadović

Published in 2024

Scientific study identifying several welfare problems in five categories of stabled horses (western riding horses, riding school horses, leisure horses, show jumping horses and endurance horses). Leisure horses received less exercise, and a lack of social contact was observed in 28% of horses in this category.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Working animals, Welfare indicators, Housing, Animal mediation, Human-animal relationships, Behavioural disorders

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Environmental Enrichment in Rabbit Husbandry: Comparative Impacts on Performance and Welfare

El-Sabrout K., Sherasiya A.; Ahmad S., Aggag S., Nannoni E., Cavallini D., Buonaiuto G.

Published in 2024

Summary article describing environmental stress and its negative impacts on rabbit welfare and productivity, causing disease and problem behavior. Environmental enrichment helps reduce this stress by meeting the natural behavioral needs of rabbits, thereby improving their welfare and performance.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Monogastric

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Stress, Behavioural disorders

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The effect of duration of ownership and time spent together during the day on cat owners' level of understanding of cats' body language

Abdurrahman Köseman, Ibrahim Şeker, Abdulsamed Erez, Şenol Koşan

Published in 2024

Study revealing that cat owners do understand some of their cats' body postures, but with limited accuracy. Female graduates, aged 21 to 40, who spent 1 to 5 hours a day with their cats, were best able to understand the latters' body language. However,the study showed that having owned their cats for a long time and spent long periods of time together were not enough to ensure that owners correctly understood their cats' body language.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Felines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Education, Living environment, Personality, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Socialization, Stress, Behavioural disorders

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A five-domains assessment of sow welfare in a novel free farrowing system

Kate Plush, David Lines, Lauren Staveley, Darryl D'Souza, Robert van Barneveld

Published in 2024

Study showing that sows housed in a maternity ring (MR) have better welfare than those in farrowing crates, with fewer frustration-related behaviors and injuries and less medication required for piglets. Assessment using the five-domain framework reveals a more positive emotional state for sows housed in MR.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Housing, Restraint equipment, Maternity, Fear, Behavioural disorders

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Evaluation of a scheme to identify risks for tail biting in pigs

D'Alessio RM, Mc Aloon CG, Correia-Gomes C, Hanlon A, O'Driscoll K

Published in 2024

Study evaluating a tail-biting risk assessment program on 27 pig farms. Results showed little correlation between management practices and tail-biting risk, despite identifying areas for improvement such as stocking density, enrichment provision and incidence of tail docking. The study underscores the need to improve the training of assessors. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressivity, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Housing, Mutilation, Carcass quality, Behavioural disorders

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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:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

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Neigh-bours: Why every young horse needs good friends. A pilot study during the breaking-in period

Anna Flamand, Cheyenne Zellenka, Juliette Mos, Audrey Starczan, Aurélien Polak, Odile Petit

Published in 2024

Study showing that young horses benefiting from daily social interaction during breaking-in show less abnormal behavior and stress than those isolated in individual stalls. The routine integration of social contact improves the welfare and relaxation of horses during training, suggesting that this feature could be beneficial in equestrian centers.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Animalhousing, Animal mediation, Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Socialization, Stress, Behavioural disorders, Working animals

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Effect of different LED light colors on welfare, performance, some behavioral patterns, and blood parameters of Muscovy ducks

Eman Hefnawy, Eman Elgazzar, Ahmed Sabek, Saeed El-laithy, Souad Ahmed

Published in 2024

Study evaluating the impact of different LED light colors on the welfare of Muscovy ducks. Blue light proved particularly beneficial, reducing feather pecking, tonic immobility time, and cortisol levels, while it improved feather condition without affecting growth.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Behavioural disorders

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Occurrence of tail docking and tail biting in weaner pigs - A preliminary study in Portuguese abattoirs

Gomes-Neves, E, Teixeira, MF, Cardoso, MF

Published in 2024

Study revealing that tail docking is still practised despite being banned in Europe, and that weaners with undocked tails are more likely to suffer from bites, especially when transiting through assembly centers prior to slaughter. The carcasses of pigs with tail lesions are more frequently downgraded, underlining the need for new regulations to improve animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Animal trade, Pain, Mutilation, Carcass quality, Transport, Behavioural disorders

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