Physiological responses and blood gas exchange following long-distance transport of piglets weaned at different ages over unpaved or paved roads
This study investigated the physiological changes associated with the prolonged transport of piglets weaned at three different ages: 10 (W10), 15 (W15) and 21(W21) days under two experimental conditions: over an unpaved (UPR) vs. a paved road (PR). During the experiment the piglets were exposed to two stressors simultaneously: weaning and transport in a vehicle […]
Unloading or not unloading? Sheep welfare implication of rest stop at control post after a 29 h transport
In Europe, maximum journey time for transported sheep is set at 29 h (EC Regulation 1/2005), after which animals must be unloaded, fed and watered in control posts stopping for 24 h, as all other species, before continuing their journey. The industry considers these resting times too general, not taking into account the peculiar differences […]
Development of a new welfare assessment protocol for practical application in long-term dog shelters
In many European shelters, dogs may spend many years confined. A poor environment and inappropriate management may lead to a low quality of life. The absence of harmonised European regulatory frameworks defining the minimum requirements for shelter facilities makes the definition of welfare standards for kennelled dogs challenging. Here, a new protocol was developed and […]
Feasibility and validity of animal-based indicators for on-farm welfare assessment of thermal stress in dairy goats
This investigation tested the feasibility and validity of indicators of cold and heat stress in dairy goats for on-farm welfare assessment protocols. The study was performed on two intensive dairy farms in Italy. Two different 3-point scale (0-2) scoring systems were applied to assess cold and heat stress. Cold and heat stress scores were visually […]