Denmark: status on 2013 legislation
Research undertaken in 2010 indicated that 70% of Danish producers now comply with EU legislation effective from January 2013, which will ban the use of traditional stalls for pregnant sows.
Page 50 of articles about behaviour-welfare
Belgium: Status of sow stall conversion
Just under 36% of Flemish sow farms have so far converted, with an additional 13% having plans to do so.
European Union - Animal Welfare: protection during transport improved but more needs to be done
The protection of animals during transport has improved but the report also highlights a series of problems hampering further improvement in the transport conditions of these animals.
Genetic and environmental effects on piglet survival and maternal behaviour of the farrowing sow
One of the key components of survival in alternative, loose-housed farrowing systems is maternal behaviour and understanding the characteristics of sows that influence survival in such environments should be an essential component when developing new breeding indices.
Individual piglets' contribution to the development of tail biting
This study aims to quantify the development of tail-biting behaviour at pen and individual piglet level, before and after the first visible tail damage.
Spain: the Commission calls on to address deficiencies in animal welfare
The European Commission called on Spain to take action to address deficiencies in the implementation of EU legislation on the welfare of animals at the time of slaughter.
Effects of tryptophan supplementation on aggression among group-housed gestating sows
Tryptophan supplementation does not reduce aggression in sows at mixing, but increases litter size at farrowing.
Belgium renounces castration without anesthesia
The National Federation of Belgian meat (FEBEV), has decided to abandon the practice of surgical castration of pigs without anesthesia starting in 2012.
Portugal: FVO final report on the implementation of controls for animal welfare
While there have been certain improvements in getting better compliance in the pig sector, in particular regarding manipulable material, overstocking, and care for sick animals and concerning enforcement, have not been fully addressed and require action. As a result of the lack of mortality and medicine records, the CA cannot adequately verify the care of sick animals.
USA: USDA announces directive to improve humane handling enforcement measures to ensure consistent treatment of livestock
This directive provides new instructions for inspection program personnel to ensure that treatment of livestock during handling and slaughter minimizes the animal’s amount of excitement, pain, injury or discomfort.
Oral fluid
Oral fluid samples can at times replace traditional blood testing while requiring less labor and technical skill. Also there is clearly reduced stress for people and pigs, which is becoming important in modern food animal production.
EFSA - Preparatory work for the future assessing of pig's welfare (II)
Preparatory work for the future development of animal based measures for assessing the welfare of weaned, growing and fattening pigs including aspects related to space allowance, floor types, tail biting and need for tail docking.
EFSA - Preparatory work for the future assessing of pig's welfare (I)
Preparatory work for the future development of animal based measures for assessing the welfare of sow, boar and piglet including aspects related to pig castration.
Netherlands – New regulation for the transport of livestock
As of July 1 the Dutch government will only recognize the QLL quality system (Quality system Livestock Logistics) for transport and centers for animal collection, meaning that the use of all other certification systems will be abandoned.
Behavioral indexes of piglet welfare: Comparison of indoor and outdoor housing systems
Investigative, social-play and conflict behaviors may be effective indexes of the welfare level of piglets, especially investigative and conflict behaviors.
Sow preferences for farrowing under a cover with and without access to straw
Since feed-back from a functional nest may improve maternal behaviour and thus piglet survival we investigated if access to a covered area and ad libitum access to straw would improve maternal behaviour of importance for piglet survival.