Animal category: Cattle

Public Views of Dairy Calf Welfare and Dairy Consumption Habits of American Youth and Adults

Rielle K. Perttu, Beth A. Ventura, Aaron K. Rendahl, Marcia I. Endres

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting the results of an opinion poll on the welfare of dairy calves and the consumption of dairy products by Americans. The most important requirement for the calves in the view of all participants concerned their physical welfare, with a 'natural' lifestyle, humane treatment and the emotional state of the animals coming a distant second. The majority (94%) of respondents were consumers of dairy products.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

Go to document

Invited review: Freedom from thirst-Do dairy cows and calves have sufficient access to drinking water?

Margit BakJensen, Mogens Vestergaard

Published in 2021

Scientific review of what is known about the water requirements of 1) young calves, depending on their feeding regime (ad libitum or limited milk), state of health and ambient temperature; 2) dairy cows, depending on their milk yield, feed composition and housing (under cover or on pasture). It concludes that research on the length and positioning of water troughs is needed.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Enrichment, Lactation, Housing, Livestock farming system, Welfare indicators

Go to document

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

Go to document

European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002137/2021: The case of the Gulf Livestock 2 vessel and its non-compliance with live animal transport legislation

Question: Marisa Matias (The Left), Anja Hazekamp (The Left. Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Community

Published in 2021

Answer to a question about serious non-compliance found on a Portuguese vessel carrying live calves where poor welfare conditions were evident.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords: Societal issues, Transport

Go to document

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

Go to document

Bien-être animal : vers un label européen ?

Vie Publique Editorial Board

Published in 2021

Article summarising the main findings of a study by the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) on animal welfare legislation and the EU labelling project. In the view of the EPRS, the legislation is outdated because of structural changes that have occurred in production systems and because it does not allow for recognition of the fact that animals are sentient beings. Europe-wide labelling is viewed as the best response to the increasing number of labelling systems now operating among Member States.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

Go to document

European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002470/2021: 'Halal' Islamic slaughtering method. Clarification with regard to consumer protection and compatibility with animal welfare legislation

Question: Gianantonio Da Re (ID). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2021

Parliamentary question on ritual slaughter and halal labelling

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress

Go to document

Good animal welfare by design: An approach to incorporate animal capacities in engineering design

H.J.E. van Weeghel, A.P. Bos, M.H. Jansen, W.W. Ursinus, P.W.G. Groot Koerkamp

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting a method of designing breeding and rearing systems that takes into account the animal as a subject, in order to improve animal welfare. Giving an animal the opportunity to influence its environment through choices and decision making according to its own preferences allows the animal to have positive experiences. The aim of the method is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between human goals and animal welfare in future breeding and rearing systems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

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

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Consciousness, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Livestock farming system

Go to document

Le transport maritime des animaux vivants destinés à l’abattage

Académie vétérinaire de France

Published in 2021

In view of the increasing number of accidents related to the transport of live animals by sea, the Veterinary Academy sets out the existing regulations, identifies the ways these rules can be broken, announces the creation of a working group to issue an opinion on the matter and, pending this, makes a number of recommendations.

Document Types: Opinions

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

Keywords: Societal issues, Stress, Transport

ICAR Poster on Hoof Health - French translation

ICAR

Published in 2021

French translation of a poster showing images of the main hoof lesions to be found in cattle, to enable differential diagnosis to be carried out. It complements the ICAR atlas on hoof health.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines

Keywords:Pain