Welfare Assessment

Visual lateralization as an indicator of animal welfare

Functional specialization of the brain hemispheres has been observed across the animal kingdom, with the left hemisphere being associated with positive emotions while the right hemisphere is associated with negative emotions. In vertebrates, contralateral eye use is indicative of which...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Crisante, A., Burman, O. H. P., Pike, T. W. et al. 2025. Visual lateralization as an indicator of animal welfare. Biology Letters 21(10), 20250445.

The ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language is associated with experience with animals

In light of an increasing interest in the human ability to read equine emotions, Braun et al. (2024) recently showed that horse-experienced individuals performed better in interpreting affective states in horses’ body language than horse-inexperienced individuals. Further, individuals with a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal Interaction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Braun, M. N., Bülow, S., Müller-Klein, A. et al. 2025. The ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language is associated with experience with animals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 290, 106716.

The use of infra-red thermography to study emotions of wild crested macaques (Macaca nigra) in their natural habitat

Infra-red thermography (IRT) has been validated across a range of taxa as a non-invasive method to quantify physiological changes (variation in skin temperature) that serve as a proxy for emotional arousal in humans and other animals. While its effectiveness has...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Berthier, J. M., Wheeler, B. C., Qomariah, I. N. et al. 2025. The use of infra-red thermography to study emotions of wild crested macaques (Macaca nigra) in their natural habitat. Physiology & Behavior 296, 114904.

Validation of body condition scoring as a screening test for low body condition and obesity in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Assessing body weight is common practice for monitoring health in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Body composition analysis via quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) is a more in-depth assessment allowing measurements of lean and fat mass, but it is expensive and remains...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Arroyo, J. P., Alvarez, A., Alvarez, L. et al. 2025. Validation of body condition scoring as a screening test for low body condition and obesity in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). American Journal of Primatology 87(8), e70068.

Editorial: Fish welfare in aquaculture and research—where are we going?

Rapid technical developments are taking place in aquaculture, and its production is increasing globally every year by more than 4%. Research is the necessary foundation for politics to define reasonable regulations and recommend guidelines for aquaculture, but also the basis...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Stocking Density, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish, Salmon, Trout, Zebrafish

Citation: Pietsch, C. 2025. Editorial: Fish welfare in aquaculture and research—where are we going? Animals 15(16), 2367.

Selection of animal welfare indicators for primates in rescue centres using the Delphi method: Cebus albifrons as a case study

Wildlife rescue centres face considerable challenges in promoting animal welfare and enhancing the care and housing conditions of animals under professional supervision. These challenges are further compounded by the diversity of species admitted, each with distinct specific needs. In Colombia...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Capuchin, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Pereira Bengoa, V. E., Manteca, X. 2025. Selection of animal welfare indicators for primates in rescue centres using the Delphi method: Cebus albifrons as a case study. Animals 15(17), 2473.

Automated facial feature evaluation system to prevent stress of head fixed mice

Head fixation of rodents is a widely utilized and important technique that enables laboratories to measure brain activity during behavior, but head fixation can increase stress which affects both behavior and underlying brain activity, as well as animal welfare. It...

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

Citation: Nasr, A., Rettinger, G., Mansvelder, H. D. et al. 2025. Automated facial feature evaluation system to prevent stress of head fixed mice. PLOS ONE 20(6), e0322530.

Voluntary additional welfare monitoring of farm animals used in research: Maximising benefits requires sustained support

The aim of this project was to co-create an animal welfare monitoring system that incorporated both positive and negative welfare measures that would contribute to best practice husbandry standards of farm animals in a real animal research setting. Researchers worked...

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

Citation: Mullan, S., Stokes, J., Hale, H. E. et al. 2025. Voluntary additional welfare monitoring of farm animals used in research: Maximising benefits requires sustained support. Animals 15(19), 2817.

Clinical interpretation of body language and behavioral modifications to recognize pain in domestic mammals

Nonhuman animals use nonverbal cues to communicate their mental state about positive and negative events, including pain. Pain is a multidimensional process that elicits behavioral changes aimed at preventing further damage and promoting healing. These changes include restrictions on movement...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cat, Cattle, Dog, Equine, Goat, Pig

Citation: Mota-Rojas, D., Whittaker, A. L., Lanzoni, L. et al. 2025. Clinical interpretation of body language and behavioral modifications to recognize pain in domestic mammals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Body condition scoring and weighing—Going combo!

Evaluating an animal’s nutritional status and overall fitness ensures its welfare. While weight is often used as a single proxy for overall fitness, it may not capture changes in muscle or fat mass on its own. This is why body...

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

Citation: McClenaghan, M., Galichet, C., Murphy, S. et al. 2025. Body condition scoring and weighing—Going combo! Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 138–140.