Housing of breeding does in group pens can result in skin injuries and stress due to maternal protective behaviour and hierarchy fights. Aggression can be partly reduced by using single-litter cages during the first weeks of the reproductive cycle and by delaying the grouping of does with their...

European legislation (2008/120/EC) allows sows to be kept in gestation stalls for up to 4 weeks after service, but there are increased societal calls to reduce and/or ban their use. Mixing sows is inevitably associated with aggression, while reducing time spent in stalls means mixing sows into...

The quail populations are considered to be one of the largest among the poultry species. Although quail egg and meat production are growing rapidly, still, quail farming practices and welfare aspects are not well established. Stocking density is one of the factors that can significantly affect the ...

The study was conducted to analyse the micro-climatic variables and the performance of Large White Yorkshire sows in three different farrowing housing systems, viz., conventional farrowing house with guard rail and one-third slatted floor (T1), farrowing house with guard rail and floor level...

The broiler industry has come under sustained pressure from welfare organizations to improve broiler welfare. Breed and stocking density are important factors for broiler welfare and are often specified as criteria for higher welfare systems. However, it remains unknown how slower-growing broilers...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing stocking density on indices of cow comfort measured over a 24-h period, during peak lying time (0000 to 0400 h), and 1 h after the afternoon milking. Holstein cows (n=136) were assigned to 1 of 4 pens, and stocking densities of...

96 pregnant sows, previously penned in individual stalls, were housed in groups of 4 in pens containing 3 zones: 4 individual feeding stalls without rear gates; a communal sleeping kennel; and a dunging area between the stalls and kennel. The feeding stalls were either long (2m) or short (1m) with...

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...

In recent years, animal cleanliness during production has gradually attracted increasing attention. Although pigs by nature tend to excrete in dark and humid corners, in the prevalent highly intensive pig production, excessive stocking density often restricts the ability of pigs to excrete at...

There is growing societal pressure to eliminate close confinement of farm animals. However, under current EU legislation, sows can be kept in gestation stalls for up to 28 days post-service. Pregnant sows fight to establish a dominance hierarchy at mixing. This poses welfare and productivity...