The transition from conventional cage systems to cage-free egg production in China remains limited despite apparently increasing consumer demand for cage-free eggs. This study interviewed 15 large-scale Chinese egg producers using cages and/or cage-free systems (i.e. single-, multi-tier and free-range) to investigate the perceived challenges and opportunities during the transition. The cage farms’ scales range from 110,000 to 30 million, while the cage-free farms keep between 12,000 and 300,000 laying hens. Drawing upon the COM-B model of the Behaviour Change Wheel, this study explored how producers’ Capabilities, Opportunities, and Motivations impact decision-making processes. Key findings reveal that cage and cage-free producers considered consumer demand and profitability as primary drivers for adopting cage-free systems. While free-range producers were more confident in the market, barn system producers faced greater uncertainty due to limited engagement from corporate buyers. Moreover, these cage-free producers believed reliable certification and labelling schemes to be critical for building consumer trust and ensuring the success of cage-free operations. All the participants perceived access to sufficient land and financial resources to be essential for a successful transition. While most studies propose education as a long-term strategy to promote the growth of the cage-free egg sector, our findings are the first to highlight that engaging corporate buyers and establishing trustworthy certification schemes are the most crucial short-term interventions required to drive the development of large-scale cage-free farms and support sustained improvements in animal welfare in China.

Breeding management in laboratory rodents is challenging, particularly around parturition and the neonatal period, where cage disturbance is often avoided in an attempt to limit neonatal mortality. Nevertheless, cage-side observations and single daily checks frequently underestimate pup numbers born and miss parturition complications. Home Cage Monitoring (HCM) systems are gaining popularity in animal facilities, detecting critical events such as food availability and activity levels. Parturition is a complex event involving specific patterns of behaviour, activity and vocalisations. In this study, audio and video data were collected from parturition events of single-housed C57BL/6J females and breeding pairs housed in a prototype rack with integrated microphones. Vocalisations were detected during parturition in both housing conditions, with minimal vocalisations observed prior to parturition, except for ultrasonic sounds in pair-housed mice (Mus musculus). After parturition, all vocalisations gradually decreased. Despite limitations such as the need for post-event analysis and the focus on a single mouse strain, this study suggests that detecting vocalisations can be a promising basis for developing automated parturition detection. This highlights the potential of HCM systems for improving breeding management and welfare in laboratory rodent colonies.

Dog relinquishment has been a persistent issue in Taiwan. The commercialisation of companion animals, inadequate regulation of pet shops and unethical breeding, and the cultural opposition to euthanasia have contributed to rising stray populations and overwhelmed shelters. However, current measures in Taiwan have focused predominantly on post-relinquishment management, with insufficient attention paid to the sources of relinquished dogs. This study examines the pathway of dog relinquishment by tracing acquisition motivation, choice of purchase channel, ownership experience, and potential relinquishment. Using an online survey of 444 Taiwanese dog owners, this study explores the interplay between these factors. While several factors relate to relinquishment, owners’ knowledge and motivations are the strongest predictors of successful ownership, as better-prepared owners tend to choose more appropriate acquisition channels, apply more effective training methods, and report fewer problem behaviours. Strengthening pre-acquisition education and tightening channel regulations may be key to reducing dog relinquishment and improving animal welfare in Taiwan.

The use of camera traps in wildlife conservation and ecological research is a popular method of data capture due in large part to the perceived low interference levels for the animals being studied. However, evidence exists that some species alter their behaviour when exposed to this technology. The primary aim of this study was to address whether researchers working with this technology in the ecology and forestry fields are making considerations for the possible impacts of cameras on animal behaviour. A secondary aim was to investigate how the use of this technology is framed in recent publications. In this rapid systematic literature review, we conducted a search on Web of Science and we identified 267 papers published in the last five years, in the fields of ecology and forestry, that met our inclusion criteria. We screened the studies for mentions of the impact of camera traps on the welfare of wildlife. Surprisingly, only 7.5% of the papers considered the possible animal welfare impacts of camera use on the wildlife species of interest in their study, with most comparing it to invasive methods and therefore framing this technology positively. We strongly encourage researchers working in this field to consider the impact of this technology on the specific species being studied. Whilst we recognise that the use of camera traps avoids direct handling of the animals, the short- and long-term effects of using this technology should not be ignored and should, at a minimum, be acknowledged in the limitations.

Depopulation of end-of-lay hens can result in stress and injury for both hens and catchers. A pilot study was assessed to optimise hen and catcher well-being during loading. Two add-on prototypes for attaching to transport container drawers were tested on five commercial aviary farms: prototype 1 (metal tube with vertical flaps); and prototype 2 (frame with horizontal flaps). Per flock, a subset of 800 end-of-lay hens was assigned to one of three treatments: Standard container with 15 drawers; Standard container plus prototype 1; and Standard container plus prototype 2. Parameters (filling duration, number of escapes, number of body part entrapments, restlessness, and loading inefficiency in container) were scored during the catch, supplemented by a post-loading catcher survey, and at the slaughterhouse (loading damage prevalence, number of dead-on-arrivals). The three treatments were compared using a 1–7 Likert scale. Hens were significantly calmer with prototype 1 compared to prototype 2 with no significant difference relative to the standard container. Loading was less efficient for prototype 2 vs the standard container. Catchers preferred prototype 1 and the standard container over prototype 2 for ease of use and hen calmness and prototype 2 showed no advantages for efficiency or animal and catcher well-being. Prototype 1 resulted in fewer breast bruises than the standard container with no difference in loading efficiency and requires larger-scale testing for enhancing effectiveness, animal and catcher well-being.

Much research has assessed methods of pain control for cattle castration, but there remains a lack of consensus regarding best practice. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published research including both an untreated control (i.e. castrated without pain mitigation) and at least one unimodal or multimodal analgesia treatment (i.e. castrated with a local anaesthetic alone, or in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) to summarise findings on castration pain management. Studies were included if they castrated by surgery, elastration or crushing, and reported at least one of the following outcomes: cortisol, change in bodyweight, foot stomping, wound licking, a subjective assessment of pain using a visual analogue scale, or stride length. Our search identified 383 publications, of which 17 were eligible for inclusion. Most publications focused on surgical castration (n = 14), and the most frequently reported outcome was blood cortisol (n = 13). None of the included studies were assessed as having a low risk of bias, mostly due to a lack of reporting blinding procedures and reasons for missing data. Using a three-level random effect model, we concluded that multimodal analgesia reduced blood cortisol concentrations in the first hour following surgical castration in comparison to the control group; this effect was diminished but still evident at 3 and 4 h, but not beyond at 6, 12 and 24 h. Too few data were available to meaningfully assess other outcomes and methods. Variability in methods and outcomes between studies, and risks of bias, hinder our capacity to provide science-based recommendations for best practice.

In livestock production, animal welfare is shaped by the quality of the relationship between animals and the farmers with whom they interact. This study investigated the perceptions of Spanish farmers of extensive mountain cow-calf systems regarding the impact of human intervention on animal behaviour, with attention to the human-animal relationship (HAR), farm management strategies, and interactions between animals and unfamiliar people. The research was conducted within the context of cow-calf systems managed under extensive mountain conditions. Seven focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted, involving 60 mountain cattle farmers from Aragon, Navarra, and the Basque Country. The findings of our study demonstrate that the quality of HAR is contingent upon a multitude of variables, which exert a profound influence on the duration, intimacy, and strength of these relationships, particularly in response to environmental conditions, as reflected, for example, in the changing frequency of human-animal interactions during periods of outdoor grazing compared to times of confinement. Farmers also showed interest in understanding animal behavioural responses in different management scenarios to adapt and individualise their strategies. Across all FGDs, participants recognised the farmer’s role in influencing animals to be less reactive or fearful toward humans through their handling style. Finally, the interactions between people and cows extend beyond farmers and their families, incorporating a variety of unfamiliar individuals who also play a role in each cow’s relationships with humans. Therefore, farmers’ perceptions reveal that animals’ responses to humans are not homogeneous but are highly dependent upon context, ontogeny and levels of familiarity.

Socialisation is important for normal social and behavioural development in companion animals. However, little research has focused on kitten socialisation or owner attitudes towards kitten socialisation programmes. Thus, we used a quantitative online survey to describe US cat owner attitudes towards kitten socialisation and elucidate aspects of socialisation programmes deemed important by owners. Questions (n = 45) included participant demographics, participant experiences with socialisation, information regarding participants’ cats (Felis catus), where participants receive socialisation information, and rating the importance of socialisation components. Participants were recruited via advertisements posted on social media and an online news article. Of the 2,238 responses, participants were most frequently women (74.7%), owning two cats (38.0%), who had not worked with cats professionally (72.9%). Most participants had not heard of socialisation programmes for kittens (69.3%), but would be interested in enrolling in a future programme (50.4%). Participants indicated important aspects of kitten socialisation programmes as: education about reducing problem behaviours (87%); understanding cat body language (85.8%); and getting kittens used to handling (83.1%). A logistic regression revealed that the presence of aggression in their current cat predicted interest in a future programme, as well as living in an urban or suburban area. These results suggest a lack of owner awareness of kitten socialisation, and indicate many owners are interested in enrolling in a future kitten socialisation programme. Further research should explore methods to improve access to kitten socialisation information, elucidate components of current socialisation programmes, and assess their impact on owner management and cat behaviour.

North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli), endemic to New Zealand (NZ), are held in captivity both within and outside of NZ. However, more knowledge is required regarding how kiwi are housed and managed. This study aimed to characterise the demographics and reported health/behavioural issues of the captive population of kiwi, investigate current housing and husbandry practices, and explore the association between reported behavioural problems and housing practices. Between November 2021 and June 2022, all 31 facilities holding kiwi were invited to participate in a questionnaire. Thirteen facilities within NZ (92.9% response rate) and ten elsewhere in the world (58.8%) responded, covering 97 kiwi in NZ (93.3%) and 40 outside NZ (83.3%). Kiwi in NZ were younger on average than birds elsewhere. Environmental conditions, including enclosure size, temperature, and lighting, varied across facilities. Health issues were reported in 39% of kiwi and behavioural in 20%, with common behavioural issues including stereotypical or reproduction-related behaviours. Kiwi in those facilities outside of NZ were heavier and housed in smaller enclosures. Kiwi in nocturnal houses were more likely to be reported as displaying behavioural problems than off-display enclosures. A higher proportion of NZ kiwi were housed in nocturnal houses compared to elsewhere, and one in five NZ kiwi were reported as displaying a behavioural problem, compared to 1/8 in other countries. Behavioural issues in kiwi may be underreported due to their nocturnal nature, and both behavioural and health challenges could negatively impact their welfare. Further research is essential to optimise captive conditions and improve health, behaviour, and welfare outcomes for this iconic species.

This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various physical environmental enrichment items such as brushes, ropes, teats, chains, balls, cowhides/blocks, at improving the welfare of indoor-housed calves, heifers, and cattle. This review of 33 peer-reviewed papers and one industry report evaluated different welfare-related outcomes following physical environmental enrichment, including feed intake, lying time, play and exploratory behaviour, aggression, stereotypic behaviour and cross-sucking behaviour. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that calves and heifers enrolled in experimental studies using enrichment items had significantly improved growth rates, and increased locomotor play, but the overall reduction in cross-sucking behaviour was small and non-significant. The effect of enrichment on feed intake, aggression/stereotypic behaviour, play behaviour, cleanliness score contrasted between studies, with some reporting improvements while others showed no effect of environmental enrichment in these parameters. The risk of bias assessment revealed limitations in researcher blinding, sequence generation, and allocation concealment across the literature assessing the effectiveness of environmental enrichment on animal welfare. Overall, this review underscores the significant positive impact of physical enrichment on the welfare and behaviour of indoor-housed cattle, while highlighting the need for further research to optimise enrichment strategies across different cattle age groups and housing conditions.

Commercial cattle slaughter operations have shown an increasing trend towards automation, with the aim being to improve animal welfare, product quality and efficiency. Several cattle slaughter plants have introduced mechanical rump pushers (RP) prior to the entrance of the stun box to reduce human-animal interaction and facilitate a smoother transition from the raceway to stun box. Presently, there are no data regarding the use of RPs in commercial slaughter environments operating at 40 cattle per hour. Therefore, this study observed normal operations at a UK slaughter plant, which has an RP installed, and assessed the level of coercion required to enter the RP, the use of the RP, cattle behaviour inside the RP and carcase bruising. The RP was used on 267 of the 815 cattle observed (32.8%) and was more likely to be used on dairy cattle and those who received a higher coercion score when entering the RP. Overall, 60 cattle (7.4%) required the highest coercion score and four (0.49%) required the use of the electric goad. Inside the RP, eleven animals slipped (1.8%) and ten vocalised (1.6%) although no incidences were directly associated with RP use. However, increased time restrained in the RP was significantly associated with more gate slams into the RP entrance gate. The use of the RP was not significantly associated with carcase bruising. These results are encouraging, and although it cannot be concluded that the presence of an RP improves cattle welfare at slaughter, use of automation within cattle slaughter facilities warrants further investigation.

Successive negative contrast (SNC) is a decrease in response when animals unexpectedly face reward devaluation to levels below those of animals always receiving low-value rewards. SNC appears to be influenced by background affective states and has thus been proposed as a tool for assessing animal welfare. While reported in several mammal species, findings of SNC in dogs (Canis lups familiaris) have been inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the suitability of SNC to assess affective states in dogs. For this purpose, it is important that the test can be consistently used across populations, and we therefore tested the reaction to reward devaluation in laboratory, shelter, and owned dogs (n = 12 per population). After assessing individual food preferences, reward devaluation tasks were performed where animals first solved a puzzle toy for high-value rewards (pre-shift), then for low-value rewards (post-shift), and again for high-value rewards (re-shift). Results showed that shelter dogs and three owned dogs removed fewer cones of the puzzle, ate fewer rewards, and took longer to complete the task (remove all cones) in the post-shift phase compared to pre- and re-shift phases. Conversely, no reduction in number of cones removed nor in number of rewards eaten was found for laboratory and the remaining nine owned dogs. The behaviour of the first group (response reduction following reward devaluation) is consistent with SNC, whereas the behaviour of the second (no change in behaviour after reward devaluation) is not. The inconsistency of SNC within and across dog populations raises questions regarding its suitability for evaluating dog welfare.

Effective, continuing professional development opportunities provide veterinarians with the necessary skills to uphold animal welfare standards. In India, surgical neutering is integral in successfully managing the large, free-roaming dog population; the delivery of skills-based, training opportunities which result in long-term behavioural changes remains challenging. Indian veterinarians attending a 12-day, practically focused, training programme on canine surgical neutering, completed a questionnaire prior to the commencement of training and 10–12 months afterwards. Questions explored the programme’s impact on their attitudes, working practices, and retained knowledge. A total of 207 participants completed both questionnaires. Ten to 12 months after attendance, most participants reported increased confidence undertaking common surgical and clinical tasks; they felt both motivated and able to use their newly acquired knowledge and skills in their workplace, with some peer-to-peer skills transfer opportunities. Many reported high levels of employer engagement resulting in improvements in the workplace, including equipment investment. Evidence for sustained improvements in working practices were noted in four key areas: surgical practices, use of perioperative analgesia, use of perioperative antibiotics, and post-operative wound management. Average knowledge scores in four areas (surgical skills, peri-operative analgesia, post-operative antibiotics and post-operative care) increased significantly 10–12 months after the training programme as compared to before, after accounting for other participants’ characteristics. These findings provide evidence for sustained improvements in workplace practices and patient care after attending a skills-based training opportunity, with a concomitant positive impact on standards of animal welfare. Furthermore, it may inform the development and implementation of future, educational, outcomes-focused training initiatives.

An estimated 0.9 to 2.5 trillion individual wild finfish, destined for human or animal consumption, are captured globally each year by commercial fisheries. The majority of wild-caught fish die either from asphyxiation or evisceration; slaughter methods considered inhumane. Humane stunning or stun/killing may improve the welfare of wild-caught fish at the time of slaughter by rendering fish immediately insensible to pain, stress and suffering. Reducing fish stress during slaughter may also improve product quality. This study systematically mapped and narratively evaluated scientific research regarding humane stunning or stun/killing of wild finfish caught for food and feed on a commercial scale. Multiple knowledge gaps were identified: Key humane stunning parameters have only been scientifically tested, in terms of fish welfare and/or flesh quality, for a minority of wild-caught fish species and stunning methods. More species-specific protocols and use of brain activity measurements to accurately assess state of consciousness on application of the stunning method are required. More scientific testing of stunning methods in commercial wild-capture settings is needed to validate findings of controlled laboratory studies and ensure the methods are practical in fisheries. Research is needed to better understand the potential economic benefits of humane stunning for fishermen. From a donor perspective this review highlights the need to support more primary research into the feasibility and implementation of humane stunning or stun/killing in wild-capture fisheries.

The Five Domains model (FDM) is a widely accepted framework for developing welfare assessment tools across various contexts, including wild animals under human care. However, only two protocols have been developed for captive cetaceans. This study aimed to create a welfare assessment protocol based on the FDM for captive Yangtze finless porpoises (YFPs; Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). Indicators relevant to YFPs’ welfare were selected via a literature review, and validated through two consecutive questionnaire surveys, four discussions with a panel of three experts, and a blind review conducted by three additional cetacean welfare experts. This process resulted in the validation of 46 welfare indicators, which were used to develop the Yangtze Finless Porpoise-Welfare Assessment Protocol (YFP-WAP) which, in its final version, contains 150 indicators. Moreover, intensity levels (the degree of impact of each indicator on the porpoises’ welfare), valence (whether the indicator contributed positively or negatively to the porpoises’ welfare state), and mental states associated with each indicator were also assigned by the panels of experts. Additionally, a confidence score was assigned to each indicator’s intensity level, valence, and mental state that reflected experts’ level of uncertainty regarding the indicator impact on the YFPs’ welfare. This rigorous validation process provided transparency, helped ensure minimal bias, and reduced the likelihood of incorrect indicator elimination due to expert subjectivity. By integrating expert knowledge, the YFP-WAP provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating both positive and negative welfare states, supporting the ongoing care and management of YFPs in captivity.

To qualify and quantify animal welfare, novel assessment tools have been and are being developed, while existing assessment tools are being modified so that they can be applied to multiple species living under different housing and management conditions. The results of such assessments should be reliable, consistent and reproducible. We review the steps that should ideally be taken to develop, validate and apply animal welfare assessment tools. The first step should be to find a definition of animal welfare that the various stakeholders can agree upon. The second step should be to formulate and agree upon a framework for the evaluation of animal welfare. Both theoretical/conceptual frameworks, which provide a structure for research and suggest which facets are considered important, and ethical frameworks, which explicate the underlying moral position, should be considered. Finally, animal welfare assessment tools should be developed and validated based on both the adopted welfare definition and the welfare evaluation framework(s). However, this three-step approach has not always been followed in the development of welfare assessment tools currently in use. We expect that transparency and clarity regarding the underlying definitions and frameworks will increase the likelihood that the resulting welfare assessment tools will give similar weight to the aspects considered relevant to animal welfare, as it helps to specify the aspects that are considered to be key elements of animal welfare. This approach should lead to convergent assessment results and higher correlation of welfare indicators between assessment tools.

Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) have been consumed and revered in South American countries since precolonial times and continue to serve as both an important protein source and an economic driver for underserved and remote communities in the region. However, currently, there is limited peer-reviewed research on the welfare status of these animals in meat production systems. This scoping review seeks to provide an overview of guinea pig meat production in the region, highlighting potential welfare challenges and exploring opportunities to advance animal welfare practices within these systems.