Species : Multiple species

Cognition and the human-animal relationship: a review of the socio-cognitive skills of domestic mammals towards humans

Plotine Jardat, Léa Lansade

Published in 2021

Scientific review of 5 social-cognitive abilities possessed by domestic mammals in relation to humans: ability to distinguish between humans and recognise individuals;  perception of human emotions; interpretation of our attentional states and goals; use of referential communication (recognising human signals or sending signals to humans); and engagement in social learning with humans.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Keywords:Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships

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Animal Signals, Music and Emotional Well-Being

Charles T. Snowdon

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the effect of music on the emotional state of animals. It recommends that available information on the sensory systems and behaviours of each species should be taken into account so that music can be selected in light of the desired emotional response from the animal, thereby improving its well-being.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Living environment, Livestock farming system

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Projet de guide de bonnes pratiques de protection animale en abattoirs de volailles – Avis révisé de l’Anses – Rapport révisé d’expertise collective

Anses

Published in 2021

Revised Opinion from Anses and revised collective expertise report on the draft guide to good welfare practices in poultry abattoirs. Particular aims are to assess its compliance with Regulation 1099/2009/EC and its logic and consistency, to identify the points to be addressed in light of new scientific knowledge, and to propose possible improvements.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Stress

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Animal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the Welfare of Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Kimberly Ekstrand, Amanda J. Flanagan, Ilyan E. Lin, Brendon Vejseli, Allicyn Cole, Anna P. Lally, Robert L. Morris, Kathleen N. Morgan

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the levels of susceptibility to the Covid-19 virus of various animal species that have contact with humans. Dogs and pigs appear to have low susceptibility levels. Ferrets, mink, some hamster species, cats and non-human primates show high susceptibility levels.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords:Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Pathogen transfer

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French Assemblée Nationale: Written answer to question n°39377: Major system failures in abattoirs

Question: Ms Danièle Obono (La France insoumise - Paris). Answer: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Published in 2021

Written answer to a parliamentary question on the measures taken by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food in respect of the failings found in abattoirs  and whether a general audit of French abattoirs is under consideration, along with the compulsory publication of annual reports on compliance with standards and regulations.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Fear, Stress

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The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Assessing Affective States in Livestock

Suresh Neethirajan

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify and then assess emotions in livestock.  These developments call for a multidisciplinary approach that combines affective computing, bioengineering and applied ethology to overcome both theoretical and practical obstacles.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Modelling

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Emerging indicators of fish welfare in aquaculture

Michelle Orietta Barreto, Sonia Rey Planellas, Yifei Yang, Clive Phillips, Kris Descovich

Published in 2021

A scientific review of invasive and non-invasive fish-welfare assessment methods, with a focus on their practical application in aquaculture. New technologies are helping to improve the accuracy, automation and practical applicability of these methods.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Livestock farming system

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-003334/21: Equivalence of veterinary medicines for animal welfare

Question: Eleonora Evi (Greens/EFA). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2021

Written answer from the European Commission to a question on the regulations regarding the prescribing of human medicinal products for animals when no suitable medicinal product is available to treat an animal's diagnosed condition.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Keywords: Societal issues

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Companion Animal Type and Level of Engagement Matter: A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Links between Companion Animal Guardianship, Loneliness and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Heather Clements, Stephanie Valentin, Nicholas Jenkins, Jean Rankin, Nancy R. Gee, Donna Snellgrove, Katherine A. Sloman

Published in 2021

Scientific paper reporting on work to test whether pet ownership and interactions reduced owners' loneliness and unhappiness during the Covid-19 pandemic. Counter-intuitively, although owners expressed the view that their pet had a beneficial effect on their mental well-being, the data presented by the authors do not support this impression.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canines, Felines, Fish

Keywords : Human-animal relationships

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002137/2021: The case of the Gulf Livestock 2 vessel and its non-compliance with live animal transport legislation

Question: Marisa Matias (The Left), Anja Hazekamp (The Left. Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Community

Published in 2021

Answer to a question about serious non-compliance found on a Portuguese vessel carrying live calves where poor welfare conditions were evident.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords: Societal issues, Transport

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