Welfare Assessment

Enhancing captive welfare management with deep learning: Video-based detection of gibbon behaviors using YOWOvG

Accurate monitoring of animal behavior is critical for assessing welfare and informing conservation strategies for vulnerable species like the eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys). To overcome limitations of manual observation and single-frame analysis in captive settings, this study developed the...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Luo, J., Du, Y., Wang, Y. et al. 2026. Enhancing captive welfare management with deep learning: Video-based detection of gibbon behaviors using YOWOvG. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 29(1), 160–175.

Enhancing rodent welfare, cost savings, and efficiency: Implementation and review of data-driven improvements

At the University of Chicago, we have implemented multiple practical, data-driven 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) strategies to improve rodent welfare over the past 5 years. As there are limited publications that outline an institutional approach, this work reviews the enhancements...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Husbandry & Management, Relocation & Transport, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Luchins, K. R., Felgenhauer, J. L. 2026. Enhancing rodent welfare, cost savings, and efficiency: Implementation and review of data-driven improvements. JAALAS 65(2), 159–167.

A comparative analysis of the cat stress score and the novel psychological quality of life assessment tool for cats in a shelter setting

Given that there were approximately 4 million cats in shelters across 20 countries in 2024, there is a critical need to have accurate, reliable, non-invasive tools to evaluate shelter cat stress and welfare. This study was conducted to validate the...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Lamon, T. K., Slater, M. R., Daigle, C. et al. 2026. A comparative analysis of the cat stress score and the novel psychological quality of life assessment tool for cats in a shelter setting. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 297, 106925.

A collaborative, multi-institutional growth standard for dam-reared infant rhesus and pigtail macaques (Macaca mulatta and Macaca nemestrina) in research settings

A multicenter study was undertaken to generate new weight-for-age growth standards to monitor the growth of infant rhesus and pigtail macaques in research breeding colonies. Previously, single institutions have developed reference growth curves, under the assumption of linear growth, for...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Haertel, A. J., Berns, K. E., Falkenstein, K. (Shelley) P. et al. 2026. A collaborative, multi-institutional growth standard for dam-reared infant rhesus and pigtail macaques (Macaca mulatta and Macaca nemestrina) in research settings. American Journal of Primatology 88(3), e70139.

Gas bubble venting: A novel behavioral indicator of stress in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Reliable, non-invasive behavioral indicators of stress are essential for improving real-time welfare monitoring in aquaculture, yet few validated markers are currently available for assessing the welfare of farmed fish. This study aimed to identify novel stress-related behaviors in Atlantic salmon...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Fish, Salmon

Citation: Gunnes, M., Green, E. A. L., Andersen, I. L. et al. 2025. Gas bubble venting: A novel behavioral indicator of stress in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 293, 106857.

The good, the bad, the comfortable: A review of welfare practices and indicators based on the five domains model in farmed deer

Increasing consumer interest in game meat has globally expanded wild animal farming, with deer being a prominent non-traditional species farmed in numerous countries. Consequently, methods for assessing the welfare of captive animals have been developed over the last few decades,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Esattore, B., Bartošová, H., Bartošová, J. 2025. The good, the bad, the comfortable: A review of welfare practices and indicators based on the five domains model in farmed deer. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 28(4), 618–632.

Laying the groundwork for reptile welfare assessment in zoos and private keeping: A literature-based proposal

With the increasing number and diversity of reptile species kept in zoological facilities and households, their welfare in captivity warrants structured and consistent evaluation. However, focused research on reptile welfare remains limited within the broader field of animal welfare science....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Crocodile & Alligator, Lizard, Reptile, Snake, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Yeh, H.-M., Huang, C.-C., Chiang, Y.-W. 2025. Laying the groundwork for reptile welfare assessment in zoos and private keeping: A literature-based proposal. Animal Welfare 34, e70.

Exploring dietary practices and faecal consistency in zoo-housed cotton-top tamarins Oedipomidas oedipus

The cotton-top tamarin Oedipomidas oedipus is currently classified as critically endangered by the IUCN, prompting intensive conservation efforts, including the maintenance of healthy populations under human care. However, ensuring optimal welfare and health remains challenging, particularly in terms of nutritional...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Urrego, A. C. B., Mendoza, J. C., Vieira, M. F. et al. 2026. Exploring dietary practices and faecal consistency in zoo-housed cotton-top tamarins Oedipomidas oedipus. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 14(1), 38–45.

Through the calf’s eye: Exploring infrared thermography to uncover pair-housed calves’ affective states

Pair housing has been proven to improve calves’ welfare during the pre-weaning phase, potentially promoting positive emotions. Based on the emotional valence hypothesis, according to which positive emotions are mainly processed in the left brain hemisphere, infrared thermography (IRT) may...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Rossi, G. P., Barbieri, S., Costa, E. D. et al. 2026. Through the calf’s eye: Exploring infrared thermography to uncover pair-housed calves’ affective states. Animals 16(2).

Tears and saliva as alternative matrices for minimally invasive assessment of acute stress and pain in sheep

This study evaluated tears and saliva as alternatives to blood for determining cortisol concentration in healthy and chronically lame Merino meat sheep with dermatitis interdigitalis contagiosa (DINCO). Twelve healthy (HEALTHY) and 36 sheep with DINCO were included. After enrollment and...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Rachidi, F., Wagner, R., Fieseler, H. et al. 2026. Tears and saliva as alternative matrices for minimally invasive assessment of acute stress and pain in sheep. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 13