Publications

From ethogram to flow: Behavioral time budgets and transition networks in female harbor seals under human care

We quantified how exhibit design and routine management shape behavior and space use in captive harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Using a species-specific ethogram, scan sampling and focal follows on adult females housed in a modern zoo exhibit, we estimated time...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Briguori, M., Carlino, P., Carpino, C. et al. 2025. From ethogram to flow: Behavioral time budgets and transition networks in female harbor seals under human care. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 6(4).

Potential new biomarkers in pig saliva for differentiating between the effects of different conditions of mixing and density at pre-slaughter: A preliminary proteomicstudy

The intensification of pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) production systems raises concerns regarding animal welfare, particularly during pre-slaughter conditions, a phase associated with significant stress. Saliva is increasingly recognised as a non-invasive matrix for detecting stress-related biomarkers in pigs. This preliminary...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Euthanasia, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Botía, M., Muñoz-Prieto, A., Bustillo, A. O. et al. 2026. Potential new biomarkers in pig saliva for differentiating between the effects of different conditions of mixing and density at pre-slaughter: A preliminary proteomicstudy. Animal Welfare 35, e4.

Outdoor rearing and behavioural patterns in diverse rabbit breeds: An exploratory study

EU regulations on organic rabbit farming are relatively recent, and scientific evidence on key technical aspects remains limited. Outdoor systems may improve health and welfare by allowing natural behaviours, but their effectiveness depends on management practices, environmental conditions, and breed....

Year Published: 2025Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Bosa, L., Bernabucci, G., Federico, F. D. et al. 2025. Outdoor rearing and behavioural patterns in diverse rabbit breeds: An exploratory study. Animals 15(24).

Automated, stress-free, and precise measurement of songbird weight in neuroscience experiments

Monitoring the health and well-being of research animals is essential for both ethical and scientific purposes. In songbirds, body weight is one of the main indicators of their overall condition, yet traditional weighing methods can be intrusive and stress-inducing, which...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, HandlingAnimal Type: Bird, Other Bird

Citation: Bonneh, Y., Tuval, A., Ben-Shitrit, I. et al. 2026. Automated, stress-free, and precise measurement of songbird weight in neuroscience experiments. PLOS ONE 21(1), e0339848.

Introducing an innovative pain scale for assessing postpartum pain in mares: Preliminary clinical evaluation

Background: Pain after giving birth is commonly observed in horses, yet there has not been a specific tool developed for assessing this pain in postpartum mares. The goal was to adapt existing equine pain scales and to preliminarily validate a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Reproduction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Bolesławska-Szubartowska, J., Kucharczuk, M., Skrabska, A. et al. 2025. Introducing an innovative pain scale for assessing postpartum pain in mares: Preliminary clinical evaluation. Animals 15(23).

Refining the adjuvant-induced rat model of monoarthritis by optimizing the induction volume and injection site

Arthritis is a highly prevalent and disabling condition characterized by pathological joint-damage, clinical symptoms of pain and loss of normal joint function. Monoarthritis can be modelled in rodents via intraarticular injection of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA), inducing both joint inflammation...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Berke, M. S., Hansen, C. P., Kromann, S. et al. 2025. Refining the adjuvant-induced rat model of monoarthritis by optimizing the induction volume and injection site. Scientific Reports 15(1), 40281.

When pain outlasts our drugs: The case for sustained-release analgesia in sheep

Pain associated with routine husbandry procedures in sheep can persist for several days or even weeks, yet current analgesic options, such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) meloxicam, typically provide only 24–36 h of analgesia. This mismatch between pain duration...

Year Published: 2026Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Baygi, M. N., Metcalf, L. N., Kimble, B. et al. 2026. When pain outlasts our drugs: The case for sustained-release analgesia in sheep. Animals 16(3).

The effect of environment and husbandry practices on sheep welfare

The amount of attention paid to the welfare of animals and their maintenance conditions has grown considerably in recent years. This paper examines the effects of extensive and intensive housing systems on the environmental, behavioural, health, nutritional and social aspects...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Bąkowska, M., Pilarczyk, R., Juszczak-Czasnojć, M. et al. 2025. The effect of environment and husbandry practices on sheep welfare. Animals 15(22).

Euthanasia methods in invertebrates: A critical narrative review of methodological and welfare standards

Invertebrates are increasingly consumed and kept as pets, research models, and in zoological exhibits, creating a growing need to better understand their clinical management and welfare. However, the knowledge regarding nociception, pain perception, and euthanasia in invertebrates remains limited, and...

Year Published: 2026Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Crustacean, Insect & Spider, Invertebrate, Other Invertebrate

Citation: Bakker, J., Garza, M. A. de la, Morel, M. et al. 2026. Euthanasia methods in invertebrates: A critical narrative review of methodological and welfare standards. Animals 16(2).

Evaluating behavioral management practices for laboratory nonhuman primates: An international survey

The largest survey to date of behavioral management practices among facilities breeding and housing nonhuman primates (NHPs) for research was conducted from 2019 to 2020. Its primary objective was to analyze and compare practices across the European Union (EU), the...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Baker, K. C., Sewell, F. R., Prescott, M. J. 2026. Evaluating behavioral management practices for laboratory nonhuman primates: An international survey. Animals 16(1).