Welfare Assessment

Development and refinement of three animal-based broiler chicken welfare indicators

This study aimed to refine bird-soiling as a broiler chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) welfare indicator, and to develop and test two additional indicators, namely contact dermatitis on the breast and abdominal areas and carcase scratches. We constructed a questionnaire with...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Souza, A., Soriano, V. S., Schnaider, M. A. et al. 2018. Development and refinement of three animal-based broiler chicken welfare indicators. Animal Welfare 27(3), 263-274.

Validation of an accelerometer to quantify inactivity in laying hens with or without keel-bone fractures

Accelerometers are used to remotely monitor activity in various species in studies that quantify pain, document behavioural patterns, and measure individual activity differences. Studies validating accelerometers typically quantify various active states; however, targeting states specific to periods of inactivity, such...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Casey-Trott, T. M., Widowski, T. M. 2018. Validation of an accelerometer to quantify inactivity in laying hens with or without keel-bone fractures. Animal Welfare 27(2), 103-114.

What can kinematics tell us about the affective states of animals?

An animal's welfare state is intrinsically linked to its affective state. Evidence suggests that sentient, conscious animals can experience a range of affective states, such as pain, fear or boredom as well as positive affects like joy, curiosity, satiation or...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Guesgen, M. J., Bench, C. 2017. What can kinematics tell us about the affective states of animals? Animal Welfare 26( 4), 383-397.

Applying welfare science to bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Animal welfare science is a burgeoning field, but research on cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) is lacking. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are the most well-known and studied cetaceans, particularly in captivity, and thus are used in this review as a...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Clegg, I. L. K., van Elk, C. E., Delfour, F. 2017. Applying welfare science to bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Animal Welfare 26(2), 165-176.

Developing a horse welfare assessment protocol

This paper describes the development and pilot-testing of a horse welfare assessment protocol (HWAP). The HWAP consists of the collective measurement of numerous factors considered likely to affect a horse's welfare and is thereby designed to provide a holistic score...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Viksten, S. M., Visser, E. K., Nyman, S. 2017. Developing a horse welfare assessment protocol. Animal Welfare 26(1), 59-65.

Using technology to monitor and improve zoo animal welfare

While the international zoological community is committed to enhancing the welfare of individual animals, researchers have yet to take full advantage of the tools available for non-invasively tracking behavioural and physiological indicators of welfare. We review technology currently being applied...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Whitham, J. C., Miller, L. J. 2016. Using technology to monitor and improve zoo animal welfare. Animal Welfare 25(4), 395-409.

A preliminary approach on the stress assessment through harmless procedures in farmed seabream (Sparus aurata)

Fish welfare is a key factor in ensuring successful cultures. Farmed fish that are stressed have been shown to be susceptible to pathologies and present lower growth rates. The present work seeks to check the efficacy of faecal cortisol as...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Herrera, M., López, J., Herves, A. 2016. A preliminary approach on the stress assessment through harmless procedures in farmed seabream (Sparus aurata). Animal Welfare 25(4), 423-427.

Welfare assessment of horses: the AWIN approach

The EU-funded Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) research project (2011–2015) aimed to improve animal welfare through the development of practical on-farm animal welfare assessment protocols. The present study describes the application of the AWIN approach to the development of a welfare...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Dalla Costa, E., Dai, F., Lebelt, D. et al. 2016. Welfare assessment of horses: the AWIN approach. Animal Welfare 25(4), 481-488.

A standardised equine-based welfare assessment tool used for six years in low and middle income countries

The majority of horses, donkeys and mules (equids) are in low- and middle-income countries, where they remain a key source of labour in the construction, agriculture and tourism industries, as well as supporting households daily through transporting people and staple...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Sommerville, R., Brown, A. F., Upjohn, M. 2018. A standardised equine-based welfare assessment tool used for six years in low and middle income countries. PLOS ONE 13(2), e0192354.

Routine activities and emotion in the life of dairy cows: Integrating body language into an affective state framework

We assessed dairy cows' body postures while they were performing different stationary activities in a loose housing system and then used the variation within and between individuals to identify potential connections between specific postures and the valence and arousal dimensions...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: de Oliveira, D., Keeling, L. J. 2018. Routine activities and emotion in the life of dairy cows: Integrating body language into an affective state framework. PLOS ONE 13(5), e0195674.