In natural settings, dairy cows separate from the herd to give birth. When kept indoors, seeking isolation before calving may be restricted and may depend on space and resources provided in maternity housing. The effect of group maternity pens on behavior around calving and labor progress is...

Three housing systems for fattening rabbits were compared using a stocking density of 15 rabbits m^-2. The rabbits were housed in large pens (3.67 m², 50 rabbits), small pens (0.66 m², 10 rabbits) or in conventional standard cages (0.39 m², 6 rabbits) from 31 to 72 days of age. Rabbits housed in...

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of prepartum stocking density on social, lying, and feeding behavior of dairy animals and to investigate the relationship between social rank and stocking density. In total, 756 Jersey animals were enrolled in the study approximately 4 wk...

Freestall availability affects cattle behaviour and most studies in this area have focused on overstocking. We studied the effects of three levels of stall availability, including both over- and understocking on the time budgets and agonistic interactions in 36 dairy cattle in four stable groups....

The aim of this study was to compare the growth performance, slaughter results, and carcass and meat quality of rabbits reared in different housing systems. To this purpose, 456 Hyplus crossbred rabbits were reared from weaning (35 d of age) until slaughter (77 d) in 40 bicellular wire net cages...

Metritis in dairy cows has been associated with changes in behavior at the feed bunk, but little is known about the effects on behavior at the lying stall. The aim of this study was to investigate stall use by primiparous dairy cows diagnosed with metritis, specifically time spent in the stall,...

At 34 days of age, 376 crossbred rabbits of both sexes were housed in 16 open-top collective pens (1.68 m²) according to a 2×2×2 factorial arrangement with two types of pen floor (plastic v. wooden slatted), two stocking densities (12 v. 16 animals/m²) and two slaughter ages (76 v. 83 days). The...

This study investigated the implementation of walk-in/lock-in stalls (free access stalls) for group housed sows. The objectives were to compare two different pen configurations ('I-pen' vs. 'T-pen') by determining the proportion and type (size/parity) of sows that used the free space areas, and how ...

In the development and implementation of housing systems for pigs, there has been a significant focus on pig welfare including loose housing of lactating sows either indoors or outdoors. However, it is equally important to consider the environmental and economic aspects of housing systems to ensure ...

Thirty lactating Comisana breed ewes were used for the trial and were subdivided into 2 experimental groups. Both experimental groups were placed on pasture during daylight hours and reared in 2 equal indoor pens during nighttime. The indoor pen was provided with an outdoor area allowing 2.5 m² per ...