Subject: Health /Diseases

Dairy Cows Activity under Heat Stress: A Case Study in Spain

Adrián Ramón-Moragues, Patricia Carulla, Carlos Mínguez, Arantxa Villagrá, Fernando Estellés

Published in 2021

Scientific paper on work to assess the effects of heat stress on the behaviour of dairy cows using activity sensors to record 6 different behaviours, ambient temperature and humidity. It shows that raised temperatures and a higher heat index lead to an increase in general activity, changes in feeding habits and a decrease in rumination and resting behaviours, all of which are detrimental to animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Stress

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Give Them a Toy or Increase Time out of Kennel at Lawn Areas: What Is the Influence of These Interventions on Police Dogs' Welfare?

Letícia Bicudo Nogueira, Rupert Palme, Olívia Mendonça-Furtado

Published in 2021

Scientific paper showing that the provision of environmental enrichment for kenneled police dogs has a stress-reducing effect (reduced levels of cortisol metabolites in the stool) and that access to a grassed area reduces the frequency of stereotypic behaviours in dogs with strong stereotypical tendencies.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Welfare indicators

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Clinical insights: Recent advances in donkey medicine and welfare

Karen Rickards, Ramiro E. Toribio

Published in 2021

Editorial of a special issue of the Equine Veterinary Journal devoted to donkey health and welfare. It looks at pharmacology, diagnosis, disease prevalence and management practices for donkeys.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Welfare indicators, Livestock farming system

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Lying behaviour of housed and outdoor-managed pregnant sheep

Manod Williams, Chelsea N. Davis, Dewi Llyr Jones, Emma S. Davies, Penelope Vasina, David Cutress, Michael T. Rose, Rhys Aled Jones, Hefin Wyn Williams

Published in 2021

A scientific paper investigating the mobility and lying behaviours of ewes housed indoors or reared on grass using video recordings. It shows that 1 min video samples can reliably predict ewe lying behaviours and that there are links between breeding characteristics (ewe age, single or double gestation, body condition index, lambing ease etc) and measured lying behaviours (average daily lying time, average duration of lying episodes etc).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords:Precision farming, Housing, Modelling, Welfare indicators

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Effects of Different Housing Systems during Suckling and Rearing Period on Skin and Tail Lesions, Tail Losses and Performance of Growing and Finishing Pigs

Anita Lange, Michael Hahne, Christian Lambertz, Matthias Gauly, Michael Wendt, Heiko Janssen, Imke Traulsen

Published in 2021

Scientific paper investigating the impact of pig housing conditions on the incidence of tail lesions. It shows that keeping piglets in their farrowing pen during the lactation period significantly reduces the incidence of tail lesions and mortality in full-tailed pigs.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Pain, Housing, Stress

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The behavior of the sows: Can we predict it?

Paula Arroyo

Published in 2021

Technical article highlighting the importance of ethology in improving pig production. A better understanding of sow ethology can improve animal welfare, management, reproductive efficiency and, therefore, the profitability of the farm. The veterinarian has a new social and educational role to play in improving the welfare of sows and piglets. Staff also need to be trained in ethology, which will enable them to predict the behavioural profile of sows before the first farrowing, improve selection and reduce restraints on animal movement.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Lactation, Welfare indicators

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Ventilation in pig farms

Germán Bertsch

Published in 2021

This technical paper discusses ventilation as a critical factor for health and welfare in pig farming. It describes the different ventilation systems available and stresses that the choice of system depends on the needs of the individual pig farm. It recommends the use of natural ammonia-reducing additives as well as ventilation.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Livestock buildings

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Progress With Livestock Welfare in Extensive Production Systems: Lessons From Australia

Peter Andrew Windsor

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the animal welfare challenges faced by Australian extensive livestock farming and the improvements already in place to improve animal welfare: the development of standards and guidelines for improved farm animal welfare; improved consideration of welfare in the transport of live animals; better pain management for potentially painful routine livestock practices; and more monitoring and consideration of welfare on farms.

Document Types: Scientific review

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Transport

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Welfare Impact of Community-Based Veterinary and Breeding Services on Small Ruminant Keepers

Girma Tesfahun Kassie, Woinishet Asnake, Aynalem Haile, Tesfaye Getachew Mengistu, Solomon Gizaw, Barbara Rischkowsky

Published in 2021

Scientific paper examining the impact of an institutional partnership set up in Ethiopia to improve livestock husbandry practices and health. It shows that access to health services for small ruminants increased sampling, yield per head of sheep/goats and gross income per animal.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Goats, Sheep

Keywords: Welfare indicators, Livestock farming system

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Horses' physiological and behavioural responses during undergraduate veterinary practical teaching classes

Lauréline Guinnefollau, Charlotte F. Bolwell, Erica K. Gee, Elizabeth J. Norman, Chris W. Rogers

Published in 2021

Scientific paper investigating the stress responses of horses used in veterinary teaching practice. The indicators measured included heart rate and behavioural indicators suggestive of stress. Limited physiological and behavioural stress responses were observed, suggesting that the horses in question might become accustomed to being handled and being in a teaching environment.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Welfare indicators

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