Species : Multiple species

Animal welfare during transport, evolution, and perspectives of European Union Legislation and Policy

Massimo Giangaspero and Pasquale Turno

Published in 2024

Article retailing the history of the transport of live animals in the EU and setting out current issues surrounding it. Despite gradual improvements, recent opinions issued by EFSA and a report by the European Court of Auditors highlight the need to revise the legislation to resolve continued problems.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Animal trade, Fear, Stress, Transport

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Closing the Gaps in Fish Welfare: The Case for More Fundamental Work Into Physical Enrichment

Helen C. Spence-Jones - Joachim G. Frommen - Nick A. R. Jones

Published in 2024

Summary of the various research studies carried out on use of physical enrichment in fish farming to improve fish welfare. Although research on fish welfare remains limited, the authors note an increase in publications on the subject. Efforts are still needed to diversify the range of welfare indicators used (beyond the common metrics of growth and behavior).

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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

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Enhancing Welfare for Aquarium Fishes with an Ecologically Relevant Environment

Paul Rose

Published in 2024

Article highlighting the importance of  achieving a better understanding of the biology and behavior of domestic fish in order to provide them with appropriate care when raised in aquariums.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment, Socialization

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European animal breeders vision for 2030

EFFAB - European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders

Published in 2024

Document from the European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders (EFFAB) stressing the importance of technological innovations to improve animal health, reduce environmental impacts and guarantee food safety.

Document types: Technical Paper

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Precision farming, Societal issues, environment, livestock farming system

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The role of ethical orientation in animal welfare choice behaviour: A segmentation study

Anne O. Peschel, Kristina Thomsen, George Tsalis, Klaus G. Grunert

Published in 2025

Scoping review showing that consumers' ethical views (ethical orientation) strongly influence their preferences on animal welfare measures, with a particular focus on access to outdoors for animals.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Bovines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords: Carcass quality,Livestock buildings, Environment, Housing, Living environment, Pollution, Societal issues, livestock farming system

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Poultry Preslaughter Operations in Hot Environments: The Present Knowledge and the Next Steps Forward

Vieira FMC, Portugal MAG, de Borba LP, Angrecka S, Herbut P, Jongbo AO, De-Sousa KT, Deniz M.

Published in 2024

Overview of the challenges faced by the poultry industry. According to the authors, improving thermal management and logistics, particularly during pre-slaughter operations, is crucial to minimizing stress, injury and economic losses.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Consciousness, Carcass quality, Education, Pain, Stress, Transport

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Development of Welfare Protocols at Slaughter in Farmed Fish

Mercogliano, R., Avolio, A., Castiello, F., Ferrante, M.C.

Published in 2024

Study exploring gaps in fish protection during slaughter. Improved welfare protocols could not only reduce fish suffering, but also improve meat quality and positively influence consumer perception and the economics of aquaculture.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Consciousness, Carcass quality, Education, Pain, Stress, Transport

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Near and Dear? If animal welfare concepts do not apply to species at a great phylogenetic distance from humans, what concepts might serve as alternatives?

Arndt SS, van der Staay FJ, Goerlich VC.

Published in 2024

Synthesis examining four possible guiding principles for the treatment of animals, both sentient and non-sentient, in light of their capacity to experience emotions. In particular, it proposes using the concept of animal integrity, potentially complemented by that of ecosystem integrity, while retaining current concepts of animal welfare for sentient species.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Biodiversity, Consciousness, Cognitive processes, Evolutionary processes, Human-animal relationships, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

Access the source: Near and Dear? If animal welfare concepts do not apply to species that are phylogenetically distant from humans, what concepts might serve as alternatives?

Sustainable poultry farming practices: a critical review of current strategies and future prospects

Ramesh Bahadur Bist, Keshav Bist, Sandesh Poudel, Deepak Subedi, Xiao Yang, Bidur Paneru, Sudhagar Mani, Dongyi Wang, Lilong Chai

Published in 2024

Overview exploring strategies for sustainable poultry farming such as organic farming, use of alternative proteins, biotechnological innovations and waste management to minimize ecological footprints and improve economic viability. The study calls for increased collaboration between researchers, policy-makers and professionals to promote ethical, sustainable and resilient poultry production for the future.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Livestock buildings, Education, Precision farming, Societal issues, Environment, Risk management, Housing, Living environment, Pollution, Carcass quality, Breeding and Rearing systems

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Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations – Summary of public feedback received after adoption of the proposal

Council of the European Union

Published in 2024

Results of public consultation with over 5,000 responses following the proposal to update the European regulation on the transport of live animals in 2023. The majority of citizens support stricter measures, such as a ban on shipping and long-distance transport, and a shift towards transporting meat rather than live animals. Opinions differ between NGOs, which call for shorter journeys, and the farming industry, which is concerned about the proposed limitations.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Animal trade, Societal issues, Abuse, Stress, Transport

Access the source: Regulation on the Protection of Animals During Transport and Related Operations – Summary of Public Feedback Received After Adoption of the Proposal