Subject: Intraspecies relationships

Producer perceptions of dairy calf management, behavior, and welfare

S.B. Doyle, C.L. Wickens, J.M.C. Van Os, E.K. Miller-Cushon

Published in 2024

Results of a survey to gain an understanding of dairy calf farmers' perceptions of the management, behavior and welfare of their animals. Farmers seemed to attach great importance to the welfare of their calves. Those who installed group housing were more interested in the subjective welfare of their calves. Individual perceptions of animal welfare would appear to depend on the respondents' practical experience.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Housing, Living environment, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships, livestock farming system

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Fowl language: AI is learning to analyze chicken communications to help us understand what all the clucking's about

Suresh Neethirajan

Published in 2024

Popular science article on the benefits of an AI tool to interpret the complex vocal linguistic system used by chickens. Combined with an analysis of non-vocal cues, the tool would make it possible to understand the birds' emotional states. This interpretation of different chicken vocalizations could lead to improved farming practices and a change in how we view our relationship with animals.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Human-animal relationships, Vocalisation

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Air bubble curtain improves the welfare of captive rainbow trout fry and fingerlings

Océane Amichaud, Thomas Lafond, Georgina Lea Fazekas, Aude Kleiber, Thierry Kerneis, Axel Batard, Lionel Goardon, Laurent Labbé, Sophie Lambert, Sylvain Milla, Violaine Colson

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the repeated diffusion of bubbles in a tank improved the welfare of rainbow trout. The short-term (~7 weeks) and long-term (~21 weeks) enrichment effects were similar to those observed with more conventional environmental enrichment (provision of plants and shelter). The fish were less aggressive, less fearful and showed enhanced learning abilities.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Learning, training, Enrichment, Wefare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Behavioural disorders, Stress

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A Multidimensional Evaluation of the Factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) That Are Associated with, and Predictive of, Behaviour Disorders in Dogs

Rachel Malkani, Sharmini Paramasivam, Sarah Wolfensohn

Published in 2024

Scientific article to evaluate predictors for behavioral problems in dogs using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG)to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence their welfare. The study shows that aggression towards the caregiver, and the frequency of fear and anxiety episodes are predictive factors for behavioral problems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Pain, Welfare indicators, Personality, Human-animal relationships, Behavioural disorders

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Multi-animal 3D social pose estimation, identification and behaviour embedding with a few-shot learning framework

Yaning Han, Ke Chen, Yunke Wang, Wenhao Liu, Zhouwei Wang, Xiaojing Wang, Chuanliang Han, Jiahui Liao, Kang Huang, Shengyuan Cai, Yiting Huang, Nan Wang, Jinxiu Li, Yangwangzi Song, Jing Li, Guo-Dong Wang, Liping Wang, Yaping Zhang, Pengfei Wei

Published in 2024

Scientific article presenting a computer tool for quantifying subtle animal social behaviors in fields such as neuroscience and ecology

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Precision farming, Socialization

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002825/2023: A call to ban debeaking in Europe

Aurélia Beigneux (ID). Reply: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2023

Answer to a question on the measures the European Commission intends to take to limit or even ban the debeaking of laying hens and, more generally, to better control intensive farming and encourage animal welfare on farms.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Mutilation, Livestock farming system

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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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The importance of slaughterhouses in monitoring the occurrence of tail biting in pigs - Review

M. Svoboda, N. Hodkovicova, A. Siwicki, W. Szweda

Published in 2023

Scientific review of factors influencing the incidence of tail biting on pig farms and of prevention strategies, looking at tail docking, the negative effects of tail biting in pigs, the advantages and disadvantages of examining tail lesions in abattoirs, and setting out a methodical procedure for assessing tail lesions.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Pain, Societal issues, Mutilation, livestock farming system

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Characterization of social behavior in a group of domestic donkeys (Equus asinus)

Miina Lõoke, Paolo Mongillo, Martina Bortoletti, Simona Normando, Lieta Marinelli

Published in 2023

Scientific article on the distribution aross the day of intraspecific social behaviors in a group of donkeys and characterizing affiliative and agonistic social interactions during periods of peak activity.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Socialization

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What are farm animals thinking?

David Grimm

Published in 2023

Article summarizing recent research on the mental faculties of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, describing the importance of this work   in better addressing the needs of the above species, and explaining why it had not previously been  arried out.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Consciousness, Memory, Metacognition, Personality, Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships

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