Animal welfare and reproductive performance in two Piemontese housing systems

Hen welfare in different housing systems.

Egg production systems have become subject to heightened levels of scrutiny. Multiple factors such as disease, skeletal and foot health, pest and parasite load, behavior, stress, affective states, nutrition, and genetics influence the level of welfare hens experience. Although the need to evaluate the influence of these factors on welfare is recognized, research is still in the early stages. We...

Housing options for farrowing: Considerations for animal welfare and economics

Housing systems for farrowing sows have changed very little in the past 30 years. At the mid 20th century, two farrowing environments were common – the outdoor hut in a pasture or lot, and an indoor farrowing pen. The farrowing pens were in low-cost buildings and thus the cost per square foot of building space was relatively low compared to today’s buildings. Farrowing sows indoors has proved t...

Contemporary Issues in Farm Animal Housing and Management Cattle Housing and Welfare

Welfare Assessment in Tunisian Dairy Herds by Animal-Linked Parameters and Performance Efficiency

Animal welfare considerations are becoming increasingly important for farming of animals, both in Tunisia and internationally. Practices which may have once been deemed acceptable are now being reassessed in the light of new knowledge and changing attitudes. And a clearly defined concept of welfare is needed for use in precise scientific measurements. If animal welfare is to be compared in diff...

Effect of day of mixing gestating sows on measures of reproductive performance and animal welfare.

Effects of day of mixing sows after breeding were measured for reproduction and welfare on a commercial research farm. Sows (n = 1,436) were weaned into stalls for breeding, and groups of sows were assigned to 1) no mixing and housed in individual stalls (STL), 2) mixed on d 3 to 7 after breeding (D3), 3) mixed on d 13 to 17 after breeding (D14), or 4) mixed 35 d after breeding (D35). Mixed sow...