Species : Multiple species

Knowledge of lateralized brain function can contribute to animal welfare

Lesley J. Rogers

Published in 2023

Scientific review of the relationship between hemispheric lateralization and behavior in animals. Experiments have shown an association between right-limb preference and positive cognitive bias, and left-limb preference and negative cognitive bias. Animals with weak lateralization tend to be more stressed, fearful and aggressive than those with strong lateralization.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurements, Brain integration, Personality, Cognitive processes, Stress

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question 10039 : Prise en considération du bien-être animal dans les SIQO

Question: Sandra Regol (Ecologist - NUPES - Bas-Rhin). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2023

Answer to a question on the intentions of the French Ministry of Agriculture concerning the reinforcement of animal welfare guarantees in the specifications for livestock farms operating under the SIQO (signs of origin and quality) scheme. 

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Societal issues, Livestock farming system, Welfare indicators

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Synthèse « Le statut juridique des animaux en France : Quelles évolutions ? Quelles répercussions pour l’élevage ? »

French Academy of Agriculture

Published in 2023

Synthesis of the outputs of a working group of the French Academy of Agriculture. It underlines that Western societies are seeking a balance between animal welfare and the economic uses of animals. Various legal scenarios have been explored, three of which appear compatible with livestock farming needs while recognizing animal sentience. It stresses the importance of raising public awareness of the implications of these legal developments and emphasizes the duties of human beings towards animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Societal issues, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships

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Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark: Aquatic Animal Welfare - Edition 2

Aquatic Life Institute

Published in 2023

Second edition of a reference tool for welfare-based certification of aquaculture facilities. It analyzes current welfare requirements as part of the basic farming standards of seven international seafood certification programs.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment, Pain, Welfare indicators, Stress

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Review: Towards an integrated concept of animal welfare

I. Reimert, L.E. Webb, M.A. van Marwijk, J.E. Bolhuis

Published in 2023

Scientific review setting out the history of the scientific study of animal welfare, and proposing that scientists in this field should specify the definition of animal welfare on which they base their work, the level at which their  assessment is carried out, the assumptions they rely on to measure welfare, and the period on which they focus, in order to enable comparison between studies.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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The Role of Preventative Medicine Programs in Animal Welfare and Wellbeing in Zoological Institutions

Paolo Martelli, Karthiyani Krishnasamy

Published in 2023

Scientific review highlighting the fact that the usual animal welfare paradigms do not apply to animals in zoos, particularly when the animals are undergoing veterinary treatment. In such circumstances, the animals' physiology and behavior are deregulated, and freedom of choice and comfort are limited. The authors propose that a distinction should be made between the state of well-being experienced by the animal (well-being) and the societal management of animal welfare (welfare), and to base the wefare management of zoo and aquarium animals on preventive medicine.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Wildlife, Fish

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Human-animal relationships

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European Parliament: written answer to question P-002012/23: Additional measures during animal transportation this summer

Question: Anja Hazekamp (The Left). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2023

Answer to a question on how the European Commission intends to apply the regulations banning the transport of live animals when temperatures exceed specified thresholds, and whether it intends to carry out additional temperature checks.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

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

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Final Report of an Audit of Croatia carried out from 2 May to 14 October 2022 in order to Evaluate Animal Welfare Controls During Transport by Livestock Vessel to non-EU Countries

DG SANTE

Published in 2023

Audit report identifying weaknesses in the current system to control the protection of animals transported by sea from Croatia to third countries, including the absence of documented procedures to for the authorization of transporters by sea and the failure of inspectors to identify certain deficiencies. It contains three recommendations to the competent authorities to improve the effectiveness of the official system for the protection of animal welfare during sea transport.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

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

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Choice, control, and animal welfare: definitions and essential inquiries to advance animal welfare science

Maisy D. Englund, Katherine A. Cronin

Published in 2023

Scientific review of animal psychology, including the importance of giving animals choice and control over their environment to improve their welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Consciousness, Societal issues, Enrichment, Living environment, Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships

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Does Animal Personality Research Actually Help Animals?

Björn Ólafsson

Published in 2023

Article defining animal personality, reviewing scientific knowledge on the subject, and setting out the pros and cons  of taking personality into account in livestock farming, for both farmers and animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Societal issues, Personality, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system

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