The aim of this study was a comparison of the behaviour and stress burden of horses in a tie stalls, stabling in individual boxes and keeping horses in small groups in a group box, each with daily paddock movement (approx. 7 h). The study was carried out with eight healthy warmblood horses at the...

Intensive rabbit farming in Germany is subject to the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act and since 2014 also to the special requirements of the Order on the Protection of Animals and the Keeping of Production Animals (German designation: Tierschutz-Nutztierhaltungsverordnung). Due to legally...

This article describes the regulatory and welfare aspects for the design of farrowing houses for sows in Germany.

After the ban of conventional cages, the question on the welfare of laying hens in alternative systems is raised. The furnished cages, which have been considered as welfare-friendly and which are allowed by EU legislation, are still debated in Germany. The crucial points are whether they offer...

The lying and rumination behavior of dairy cows is internationally used as an animal welfare indicator. Dairy cow housing in Switzerland is subordinated to detailed legal requirements. It is particularly described that the lying area for cows must be covered with a sufficient amount of bedding. In...

Objectives: In order to gain information concerning housing conditions of budgerigars and cockatiels, the most frequently kept pet birds in Germany, a country-wide online survey among non-commercial bird owners was performed within the realm of the EXOPET study. Material and methods: The received...

Previous trial setups already demonstrated the efficacy of enrichment materials and objects and an open water trough, installed in conventional pens of undocked weaners with simultaneously reduced stocking density. The behavioural disorder tail biting was significantly reduced by these measures....

In this study the circumstances of horse husbandry in a region of Western Germany were gathered under aspects of animal welfare. For this reason a questionnaire based on recommendations and guidelines was created. Within the study 83 horse-keeping farms and 1580 horses were recorded. Results:...

It is possible to successfully keep horned dairy cows in freestall housing. However, it requires husbandry conditions and management measures that take into account the species-specific behavior of the cattle as much as possible and promote a stable and calm herd. The leaflet summarizes the current ...

Sows housed in individual crates are not able to perform normal behaviour patterns. Thus this way of housing is not compatible with animal welfare requirements. In narrow crates the animals may suffer pain and distress. If sows are housed in crates that do not allow them their normal resting ...