Subject: Enrichment

Fowl play: Do age and aviary design affect play in cage-free laying hens?

Xiaowen Ma, Vrinda Ambike, Valentina Bongiorno, Jacquelyn A. Jacobs, Janice C. Swanson, Tina M. Widowski, Janice M. Siegford

Published in 2026

Study showing that the play behavior of laying hens decreases significantly with age, and is influenced by aviary design and space allocation per bird. Certain activities, such as more frequent running or wing flapping, were influenced by aviary design and space per bird. The study concludes that housing configuration influences welfare and may interact with the hens' developmental stage.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Poultry

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Perch-based enrichment and broiler growth, welfare and behaviour

B. F. Sevinç B. Yılmaz Dikmen

Published in 2026

Study showing that perch-based enrichment does not affect growth or most welfare windicators in broiler chickens, but that it reduces hock burn and slightly improves locomotion.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Poultry

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Aggressive behaviors in rabbits. A review

Zsolt Szendrő

Published in 2026

Scientific literature review on aggressive behavior in farmed rabbits at different stages of the production cycle and measures to reduce it. The author highlights the particular problem posed by the group housing of females in commercial farming, a practice that leads to aggression and chronic stress.

Document types: Scientific documents

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Welfare assessment of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) on farm

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (AHAW), Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Anette Boklund, Sabine Dippel, Fernanda Dorea, Jordi Figuerola, Mette S. Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Angel Miranda Chueca, Eleonora Nannoni, Romolo Nonno, Karl Stahl, Jutta Berk, Joanna Marchewka, Nienke van Staaveren, Oana Maria Balmos, Chiara Fabris, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Yves Van der Stede, Marika Vitali, Cristina Rojo Gimeno, Antonio Velarde, Anja Brinch Riber

Published in 2026

New EFSA scientific opinion identifyinh key welfare concerns for turkeys. To improve turkey welfare, the EFSA experts recommend increasing space allowances, implementing appropriate enrichment techniques, phasing out mutilations, and avoiding the practice of culling flocks.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Poultry

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Flexible use of a multi-purpose tool by a cow

Antonio J. Osuna-Mascaró, Alice M.I. Auersperg

Published in 2026

Scientific article reporting on the different and adaptive ways that an individual cow was observed to use a deck brush. This individual case study invites a reexamination of the flexible use of tools and, more broadly, the cognitive abilities of farm animals.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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Do pigs like to brush? An observational study of pig brushing behavior in a commercial production environment

Niclas Högberg, Lena Skånberg, Oleksiy Guzhva, Rebecka Westin, Axel Sannö, Anna Wallenbeck, Maria Vilain Rørvang

Published in 2025

First study to describe the brushing behavior of pregnant sows. The results show that they voluntarily use a mechanical brush, suggesting that this equipment may be an appropriate form of enrichment for the welfare of pigs on farm.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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Bien-être animal : avancées scientifiques et innovations pour des systèmes d’élevage durables

research group

Published in 2026

Special issue of INRAE Productions Animales featuring ten articles on scientific advances and technological innovations to develop sustainable livestock farming systems that incorporate animal welfare

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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Welfare and productivity in Muscovy ducks: Impact of swimming pond availability

Lukáš Zita, Ondřej Krunt, Jitka Edrová, Jakub Vorel, Eva Chmelíková, Antonella Dalle Zotte

Published in 2025

Scientific article showing that access to a pond significantly improves hygiene, health, and natural behaviors in Muscovy ducks, while also promoting growth and carcass quality that is at least equivalent, if not superior.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

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Review on environmental enrichments for farmed rabbits

Moles Xenia, Abdelli Nedra, Tolini Clara

Published in 2025

Summary of the different types of environmental enrichment used for domestic rabbits.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Monogastric

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Focusing on biological stimuli: a new framework for environmental enrichment in aquaculture and fisheries fields

Yijie He, Zonghang Zhang, Zhenghao Xiao, Bo Liang, Jiezhang Mo, Boshan Zhu, Wenhua Liu

Published in 2026

Scientific synthesis on environmental enrichment for captive fish. Enrichment enhances fish adaptability and welfare, but its development is hampered by methodological and conceptual limitations. The authors propose new theoretical and practical frameworks to strengthen scientific rigor and guide the design of multisensory enrichment, particularly biotic enrichment, in aquaculture.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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