Subject: Housing

Animal Board Invited Review: Intrinsic hedonic value, complexity, and possibility for action as essential characteristics of a welfare-friendly environment for animals

I. Veissier, C. Terlouw, R. Botreau, V. Deiss, S. Cowie

Published in 2026

Study examining how the hedonic value of the environment determines animal welfare. Welfare depends on a balance between positive emotions, environmental complexity and opportunities for behavioral expression: these factors must be optimized (rather than maximized), since an excess or a deficiency of any one of them can be harmful to welfare, with the optimal level varying by individual.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

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Environmental Enrichment in Aquaculture: Linking Welfare Goals to Practical Application

O. Spiliopoulos, S. Kadri, M. Sinclair, M. Vanderzwalmen, C. Brown

Published in 2026

A review summarizing current knowledge on environmental enrichment, a key strategy for improving the welfare of farmed fish. Its effectiveness depends on the specific context and requires a tailored approach.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

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Rethinking Poultry Welfare—Integrating Behavioral Science and Digital Innovations to Improve Animal Well-Being

Suresh Neethirajan

Published in 2026

Review article describing the welfare challenges associated with the intensification of poultry farming and the innovative solutions (behavioral, sensor-based, AI) that have been developed to address them, while emphasizing the need to validate and standardize such novel tools and to develop a sustainable interdisciplinary production pathway. 

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

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Behavioral indicators of positive welfare in broilers

Jenna Boewe, Marisa Erasmus

Published in 2026

The welfare of broiler chickens now includes positive states and the expression of natural behaviors, which are assessed using behavioral indicators and promoted through environmental enrichment.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

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Measuring shade use of dairy cattle at pasture with an on-cow light sensor: a case study

Lydiane Aubé, Bruno Meunier, Romain Lardy

Published in 2026

Study confirming the effectiveness of using a light sensor attached to grazing cows to automatically detect whether they are in the shade or in the sun. The technique works well and allows continuous monitoring of the cows' use of shade.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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The Influence of Environmental Conditions and Husbandry Practices on Goat Welfare

Pilarczyk R., Bąkowska M., Tomza-Marciniak A., Udała J., Seremak B., Kwita E., Sablik P., Pilarczyk B.

Published in 2026

Study showing that goat welfare depends strongly on the environment, diet, and social interactions. Appropriate farming practices (stress management, enrichment, and supervised pain management) and regular assessments significantly improve their welfare, but further research is needed.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Caprines

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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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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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Space density affects resting location and proximity of fattening pigs at night

Mathilde Coutant, Juliette Michel, Lene J. Pedersen, Mona L.V. Larsen

Published in 2026

Study showing that high stocking densities restrict pigs' choice of location and conditions for nighttime rest, reducing their opportunity to rest on solid flooring or away from other pigs, with potential negative implications for their welfare.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Porcines

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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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