Welfare Assessment

An opportunistic study to assess African green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus aethiops) welfare using novel and classical biomarkers

The care and well-being of nonhuman primates (NHPs) in biomedical science have benefited from species-specific enrichment research. However, there remain few publications on African green monkey (AGM) welfare and husbandry. This opportunistic study aimed to explore the use of novel...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Roman, B. C., Hooper, S. E., Beierschmitt, A. M. et al. 2025. An opportunistic study to assess African green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus aethiops) welfare using novel and classical biomarkers. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 64(3), 480–487.

Evaluation of welfare indicators for companion parrots: A Delphi consultation survey

Parrots can experience several welfare challenges when kept as companions. Despite their popularity no science-based guidelines are available to assess parrot welfare. The aim of this Delphi study was to establish consensus on welfare indicators that could be meaningful and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Piseddu, A., van Zeeland, Y. R. A., Rault, J.-L. 2025. Evaluation of welfare indicators for companion parrots: A Delphi consultation survey. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 283, 106526.

Smart farming and Artificial Intelligence (AI): How can we ensure that animal welfare is a priority?

The increasing use of technology in livestock farming has the potential for making farming easier and more efficient and for improving animal welfare. There are also, however, potential dangers, one of which is that animal welfare becomes subordinated to the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Dawkins, M. S. 2025. Smart farming and Artificial Intelligence (AI): How can we ensure that animal welfare is a priority? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 283, 106519.

Assessment of postoperative analgesic efficacy and animal well-being using a novel triaxial accelerometer device, the rodent fitbit-like telemetry device

Accurate postoperative pain management is crucial for good animal welfare and science. We sought to evaluate mouse postoperative pain management efficacy by measuring activity using a novel triaxial acceleration device—the Rodent Fitbit-like telemetry device (RFB)—to monitor home cage activity. To...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Analgesia, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Campbell, M., Tolwani, A., Tolwani, R. et al. 2025. Assessment of postoperative analgesic efficacy and animal well-being using a novel triaxial accelerometer device, the rodent fitbit-like telemetry device. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 64(3), 457–467.

Bovine pain scale: A novel tool for pain assessment in cattle undergoing surgery in the hospital setting

Pain negatively impacts animal welfare and it is still neglected in ruminants. This original study aimed to develop and validate the Bovine Pain Scale (BPS) for acute pain assessment in hospitalized cattle undergoing surgery. This was a blinded, randomized, prospective...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Tomacheuski, R. M., Klostermann, C., Frank, D. et al. 2025. Bovine pain scale: A novel tool for pain assessment in cattle undergoing surgery in the hospital setting. PLOS ONE 20(5), e0323710.

Exploring the effect of play on heart rate variability as a measure of positive emotional states in pigs (2025)

Play behaviour has been suggested to be inherently rewarding for animals, inducing positive emotional states. The psychophysiological effect of emotions can be assessed through heart rate variability (HRV), serving as a proxy measure of sympathovagal balance. This study investigated how...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural Behavior, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Steinerová, K., Krause, A., Parker, S. E. et al. 2025. Exploring the effect of play on heart rate variability as a measure of positive emotional states in pigs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Hematological reference intervals for Danish crossbred Landrace Yorkshire Duroc (LYD) pigs used in biomedical research (2025)

The health and welfare of pigs used in biomedical research is essential to research quality and compliance with the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement). Hematological variables are objective markers to quantitatively determine health issues and evaluate physiological differences before and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Præstegaard, K. F., Winther-Larsen, A., Kousholt, B. S. 2025. Hematological reference intervals for Danish crossbred Landrace Yorkshire Duroc (LYD) pigs used in biomedical research. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 67(1), 11.

Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) (2025)

The Five Domains model (FDM) is a widely accepted framework for developing welfare assessment tools across various contexts, including wild animals under human care. However, only two protocols have been developed for captive cetaceans. This study aimed to create a...

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

Citation: Platto, S., Serres, A., Normando, S. C. et al. 2025. Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). Animal Welfare 34, e31.

A surgical recovery matrix to evaluate post-surgical recovery in mice using sham and myocardial infarction models of cardiac surgery as prototypes (2025)

Examinations of biomarkers are useful in measuring overall health. Endpoints are critical to assess the threshold where the scientific aim of the study does not prevail over the wellbeing of experimental laboratory animal. However, parameters able to assess health and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Surgery & Post-Op, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pal, E., Shokoples, B., Naik, S. et al. 2025. A surgical recovery matrix to evaluate post-surgical recovery in mice using sham and myocardial infarction models of cardiac surgery as prototypes. PLOS ONE 20(5), e0323317.

Modifying the attention bias test to assess the emotional state of dogs (2025)

The attention bias test is an established cognitive method used to evaluate emotional states in farm animals by examining their response to a stimulus under varying emotional conditions. This study adapted this test for dogs, utilizing naturally induced emotional states...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Molinaro, H. G., Smith, E., Crawford-Paz Soldán, E. et al. 2025. Modifying the attention bias test to assess the emotional state of dogs. Animals 15(6), 840.