Subject: Health /Diseases

Animal welfare review: Sows are more vulnerable towards transport than most other pig categories

EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)

Published in 2024

Article on a summary report published by EURCAW-Pigs showing that sows are the pig category most affected by transport. The three risks specific to sows are: sensitivity to heat stress, a lack of transport suitability that is strongly connected to the poor general health of a large proportion of cull sows compared with average finisher sows, and the tendency of sows to fight when mixed with unfamiliar conspecifics.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal trade, End of life, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Stress, Transport, Behavioural disorders, Aging

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Survey report: Collect information on the national system to protect fish welfare in aquaculture

Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission

Published in 2024

Report on a survey carried out in Denmark in 2023 to gather information on the national fish welfare system for aquaculture. The Danish authorities take the view that current scientific knowledge is not sufficient to serve as a basis for the creation of a legislative framework for the welfare of farmed fish.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Animal trade, livestock farming systemTransport

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Animal board invited review: Improving animal health and welfare in the transition of livestock farming systems: Towards social acceptability and sustainability

C. Ducrot, M.B. Barrio, A. Boissy, F. Charrier, S. Even, P. Mormède, S. Petit, M.-H. Pinard-van der laan, F. Schelcher, F. Casabianca, A. Ducos, G. Foucras, R. Guatteo, J.-L. Peyraud, M. Vayssier-Taussat, P. Veysset, N.C. Friggens, X. Fernandez

Published in 2024

The shared views of a group of INRAE researchers on the interdisciplinary research needed to support the transition to sustainable livestock production systems. Animal health and welfare are at the heart of these issues.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Societal issues, Environment, Living environment, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system

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Active walking in broiler chickens: a flagship for good welfare, a goal for smart farming and a practical starting point for automated welfare recognition

Marian Stamp Dawkins

Published in 2024

Scientific article suggesting that active walking in broiler chickens can be a reliable indicator of health and welfare. Its sustained and regular pattern of expression is detectable by automated systems.  This smart detection of active walking deficiencies can be carried out both on an individual chicken and on a group of chickens, even at high stocking densities.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

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Advancements in artificial intelligence technology for improving animal welfare: Current applications and research progress

Li Zhang, Wenqiang Guo, Chenrui Lv, Meng Guo, Mei Yang, Qiuyue Fu, Xiaomeng Liu

Published in 2024

Article summarizing the various technological advances in the field of artificial intelligence for animal health and welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

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Effect of classical music on growth performance, stress level, antioxidant index, immune function and meat quality in broilers at different stocking densities

Xinlei Gao, Jiangang Gong, Bowen Yang, Yanci Liu, Hongjian Xu, Yanshuang Hao, Jialin Jing, Zhihua Feng, Lihua Li

Published in 2024

Scientific article demonstrating that classical music in broiler rearing can reduce the adverse effects of high density stocking on some parameters for stress, health and meat quality.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Carcass quality,Enrichment, Stress

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Veal calf welfare and rearing 

Didier Bastien, Magdéléna Chanteperdrix, Virginie Lefoul, Christophe Martineau, Etienne Labussière, Manuel Tourtier

Published in 2024

Article summarising papers on veal calves given at the 74th European Animal Science Congress (EAAP). The presentations discussed work to identify societal expectations, establish the impact of different housing and feeding methods, evaluate changes in antibiotic use and develop tools for assessing biosecurity on farms.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Housing, Socialization, livestock farming system

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Welfare issues resulting from feed restriction in pregnant sows

EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)

Published in 2024

This article, intended for inspectors in EU Member States, describes the effects of feed restriction on the welfare of pregnant sows. Indicators of hunger-related aggression and stereotypies are described, along with measures to help sows feel satiated by increasing the fibre content of their diet, and to mitigate these behaviors by modifying various aspects of the living environment.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Housing, Behavioural disorders

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-003635/23: Reviving our local slaughterhouses by requiring meat to be exported instead of live animals

Question: Annika Bruna (ID). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Answer to a question from an MEP asking the European Commission about its position on a proposal to boost small local abattoirs by stopping the long-distance transport of live animals and replacing it with the transport of meat.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Ruminants, Poultry

Keywords:Animal trade, Carcass quality, Transport

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European Parliament: written answer to question E-003639/23: Elite equestrian sport and animal welfare

Question: Niels Fugland (S&D). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Answer to a Member's question on the measures the Commission intends to take to ensure that the welfare of horses in equestrian sport is respected

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Equines

Key word: Animal mediation, Education, Housing,Working animals

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