Subject: Health /Diseases

Assessing good physical health and resilience as a foundation for positive welfare in chickens

Lisa Jung, Ruth C. Newberry, Yukari Togami, Manja Zupan Šemrov

Published in 2026

Study proposing anatomical and physiological indicators to assess the health and resilience of chickens, with a view to developing proactive and potentially automated assessment tools to support positive animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

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Integration of computer vision-based behavioral monitoring and machine learning to enhance precision in health and welfare monitoring systems in pig farming

Eddiemar B. Lagua, Hong-Seok Mun, Md Sharifuzzaman, Md Kamrul Hasan, Ahsan Mehtab, Jin-Gu Kang, Young-Hwa Kim, Chul-Ju Yang

Published in 2026

Study showing that computer vision and machine learning are effective in detecting stress-related behaviors in pigs. The models perform very well (especially in binary), but the precise detection of certain states still needs improvement.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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Chiens de race : l’esthétique peut-elle justifier la souffrance ?

Valérie Chansigaud

Published in 2026

Article recounting the history of the selection by breeders of animals with extreme body types and describing the health and welfare issues that result from this.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Riding with care: A review of factors that influence the welfare of the ridden horse and a case for the application of the precautionary principle in equestrian pursuits

Caleigh Copelin, Katrina Merkies

Published in 2026

Review showing that the welfare of ridden horses is dependent on many factors relating to the equipment used, the rider, and a horse's health, and that respect for these factors is essential in maintaining the social acceptability that allows equestrian sports to continue. 

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Equines

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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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Heat stress: an environmental challenge to immune resilience and health in dairy cows

Arslan Tariq, John J. Bromfield

Published in 2026

Scientific review of knowledge on heat stress in dairy cows. The management of heat stress requires a combination of adjustments to the environment, targeted nutrition, and genetic selection for thermotolerance.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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The Influence of Environmental and Genetic Factors and Training Background on the Welfare of Herding Dogs

B. Pilarczyk; R. Pilarczyk; M. Bąkowska; A. Tomza-Marciniak; E. Kwita; J. Udała

Published in 2026

Bibliographic review concluding that the effectiveness and well-being of sheepdogs depend on genetic factors, living conditions, and, above all, training methods based on positive reinforcement and a relationship of trust.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories:Canine

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Welfare indicators in cattle farming in the face of heat stress: a review in climate change scenarios

IMF de Souza, CEL Sousa, VS Pinto, LGP Vilela, AdS Souza, JPS Cunha, CV Araújo, MdNB Gomes, LKX Silva, LG Martorano, KAL Neves, RNC Camargo-Júnior, ÉBR Silva, WC da Silva

Published in 2026

Comparative review showing that Zebu cattle are more resilient to high temperatures and disease than European cattle, although the latter are more productive. The authors stress the importance of taking account of climate constraints in genetic selection.

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Bovines

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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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Animal welfare indicators and stress response of broiler chickens raised at low and high stocking density

Chan Ho Kim, Ki Hyun Kim, Ju Lan Chun, Se Jin Lim, Jung Hwan Jeon

Published in 2025

Study showing that lower stocking densities in broiler chickens improve welfare (drier litter, less foot dermatitis, lower corticosterone) and feed efficiency, despite slightly lower feed intake and body weight.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

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