Subject: Food

Ad libitum feeding systems for lactating sows: effects on productivity and welfare of sows and piglets

Sarah C. Gorr, Christine Leeb, Werner Zollitsch, Christoph Winckler, Thomas D. Parsons

Published in 2024

Scientific article evaluating the effects of three ad libitum feeding systems on the productivity and welfare of suckling sows. Results show that sows fed ad libitum convert feed more efficiently for better piglet growth without additional weight loss. With these systems, sows spend more time feeding, which would meet the pigs' behavioral need to forage.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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

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Welfare issues resulting from feed restriction in pregnant sows

EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)

Published in 2024

This article, intended for inspectors in EU Member States, describes the effects of feed restriction on the welfare of pregnant sows. Indicators of hunger-related aggression and stereotypies are described, along with measures to help sows feel satiated by increasing the fibre content of their diet, and to mitigate these behaviors by modifying various aspects of the living environment.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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

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Wanted dead or alive: ethics and animal welfare in food choice

Alessandro Di Marzio, Elza Birbele, Rebeka Šķērstiņa

Published in 2023

Scientific article presenting the results of a survey conducted among participants at the European Zoo Nutrition Conference 2023 on the use of live animals to feed zoo animals. Information was collected on respondents' own practices and views on the ethics of the practice.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife

Key word:Pain, Societal issues, One Welfare

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Feeding management of giraffe towards positive welfare

Sarah Depauw, Leen Verbist, Jeroen Stevens, Marina Salas

Published in 2023

Scientific article using the Five Domains of Animal Welfare model to optimize feeding strategies that promote positive affective states in zoo giraffes. The changes that were introduced increased the animals' pleasure, gastrointestinal comfort and engagement.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Does the provision of live black soldier fly and yellow mealworm larvae improve Muscovy duck welfare?

Marta Gariglio, Sihem Dabbou, Manuela Renna, Ilaria Biasato, Sara Bellezza Oddon, Marco Meneguz, Raul Daniel Miazzo, Stefania Bergagna, Elena Colombino, Elisabetta Macchi, Achille Schiavone

Published in 2023

Scientific paper evaluating the effect of fly larvae and mealworm-based feed enrichment on physiological and behavioral indicators of stress and aggression in Muscovy ducks, and on their growth performance.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Stress

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Dromedary camel's welfare: literature from 1980 to 2023 with a text mining and topic analysis approach

Naod T. Masebo, Martina Zappaterra, Martina Felici, Beatrice Benedetti, Barbara Padalino

Published in 2023

Scientific review of the main research topics related to dromedary welfare and how these have changed over time. The most frequently encountered topics are "Management of young animals and milk production", "Dromedary health and management systems", "Female and male reproduction", "Dromedary behaviors and feeding" and "Dromedary welfare". The review exposes major research gaps.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Camelidae

Keywords:Welfare indicators, Lactation

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Systematic review of the relationship between rumen acidosis and laminitis in cattle

Lorena Teixeira Passos, Arthur Fernandes Bettencourt, Luciano Antônio Ritt, Maria Eugênia Andrighetto Canozzi, Vivian Fischer

Published in 2023

Systematic literature review to clarify the relationship between the various clinical presentations of laminitis and diet-induced ruminal acidosis. The review failed to prove a link between diet (high levels of rapidly-digested carbohydrates), ruminal acidosis and acute laminitis.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Pain, Societal issues

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Effects of prebiotics and precision biotics on performance, animal welfare and environmental impact. A review

Francesca Leone, Valentina Ferrante

Published in 2023

Scientific review defining and examining the properties of precision prebiotics and biotics in poultry farming. It focuses in particular on their effects on litter  quality and the reduction of ammonia levels in the environment, and hence  on animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Food, Enrichment, Environment, Living environment, One Welfare, Health

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European Parliament: Written answer to question E-000948/23: Malnourished calves in Europe

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

Published in 2023

Answer to a question concerning the failure by member states to transpose Directive 2008/119/EC with regard to standards for the protection of calves, in particular as regards the monitoring of their hemoglobin blood levels, their feeding and their transport.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Carcass quality, Transport,Societal issues

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Détenir correctement les poules – Un enclos approprié, une alimentation adaptée, des conseils santé pratiques

Federal Department of Home Affairs, Swiss Confederation

Published in 2023

Leaflet for the use of private chicken owners in Switzerland. It provides information on the regulations, and on hens' physiological and behavioral needs in terms of improving their  health and welfare.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Enrichment, Housing, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Welfare indicators

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