Subject: Emotion

The Human Aspect of Horse Care: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted the Wellbeing of Equestrian Industry Stakeholders

Ashley Ward, Kate Stephen, Caroline Argo, Christine Watson, Patricia Harris, Madalina Neacsu, Wendy Russell, Dai Grove-White, Philippa Morrison

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting the results of a survey of equine stakeholders on their feelings about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It shows that the pandemic has affected veterinarians and horse owners due to restrictions on contact and human-horse interactions. However, the pandemic has also led to initiatives to maintain social links between owners as a remedy for isolation.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of animals to the environment, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

Go to document

Prevalence of Potential Indicators of Welfare Status in Young Calves at Meat Processing Premises in New Zealand

Anna L. Palmer, Ngaio J. Beausoleil, Alana C. Boulton, Naomi Cogger

Published in 2021

A scientific paper assessing the welfare of calves in the holding areas of abattoirs in New Zealand, using group and individual animal-based indicators. It proposes relevant indicators, recommending that they should be systematically incorporated into the protocols used to assess the welfare of calves at slaughter.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Consciousness, Fear, Stress

Go to document

Slaughter of Pregnant Cattle at an Austrian Abattoir: Prevalence and Gestational Age

Ignaz Zitterer, Peter Paulsen

Published in 2021

Scientific paper to determine the percentage of pregnant cows and heifers slaughtered in a medium-sized Austrian slaughterhouse. The observed prevalences are much higher than estimated (6.4% as against an estimated 2.5%). The article recommends that measures should be taken to avoid sending pregnant cows to slaughter for ethical and public health reasons.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Societal issues, Stress

Go to document

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

Go to document

Network analysis of tail-biting in pigs - indirect effect on tail posture

Thore Wilder, Joachim Krieter Nicole Kemper, Kathrin Büttner

Published in 2021

Scientific paper examining whether the tail position of pigs in a pen can be a predictive indicator for the occurrence of tail biting, taking into account the social structure of the group of penned pigs.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Pain, Modelling, Mutilation, Welfare indicators

Go to document

Public Views of Dairy Calf Welfare and Dairy Consumption Habits of American Youth and Adults

Rielle K. Perttu, Beth A. Ventura, Aaron K. Rendahl, Marcia I. Endres

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting the results of an opinion poll on the welfare of dairy calves and the consumption of dairy products by Americans. The most important requirement for the calves in the view of all participants concerned their physical welfare, with a 'natural' lifestyle, humane treatment and the emotional state of the animals coming a distant second. The majority (94%) of respondents were consumers of dairy products.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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

Go to document

Behavior and Welfare of Undocked Heavy Pigs Raised in Buildings with Different Ventilation Systems

Marika Vitali, Enrica Santolini, Marco Bovo, Patrizia Tassinari, Daniele Torreggiani,Paolo Trevisi

Published in 2021

Scientific paper comparing the influence of two ventilation systems (natural and mechanical) on the behaviour and welfare of fattening pigs. It concludes that the mechanical system is associated with a more positive emotional state in the pigs, but that in both systems high temperatures are associated with heat stress, and that the welfare state of the animals decreases during the last phases of fattening.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Housing, Livestock buildings, Stress

Go to document

Human-Dog Relationship during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy

Danila d'Angelo, Andrea Chirico, Luigi Sacchettino, Federica Manunta, Maurizio Martucci, Anna Cestaro, Luigi Avallone, Antonio Giordano, Francesca Ciani

Published in 2021

Scientific paper investigating the human-dog relationship during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy. No difference was found in the human-dog relationship during and outside the lockdown period, but owners' perceptions of the costs of dog ownership were lower during the lockdown.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords : Human-animal relationships

Go to document

The Application of Cameras in Precision Pig Farming: An Overview for Swine-Keeping Professionals

Elanchezhian Arulmozhi, Anil Bhujel, Byeong-Eun Moon, Hyeon-Tae Kim

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the state of the art of 3D imaging systems and 2D cameras as an efficient means to identify pig behaviour. It describes automated methods for the monitoring and study of feeding, watering, lying, locomotion, aggression and reproductive behaviour in pigs.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

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

Go to document

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

Go to document