Equids slaughtered for human consumption in many countries are stunned with penetrating captive bolt (PCB) to produce an irreversible state of unconsciousness to prevent pain and distress before exsanguination. This topic is much-studied for the most commonly slaughtered species, while literature remains limited on Equidae, particularly donkeys (Equus asinus). This study, in a Mexican commercial abattoir, examined the effectiveness of pneumatic PCB stunning with electroencephalographic (EEG) and behavioural signs in 13 donkeys. Forty-six percent (6/13) of donkeys had periods of ‘normal-like’ EEG after PCB stunning, between 1 to 9 s in duration. However, in all animals, this changed to either ‘transitional’ EEG or ‘isoelectric’ waveforms. The normal-like EEG phases were characterised by increased theta, alpha and beta activity in the EEG power spectrum. Just one donkey showed behavioural signs of incomplete concussion after stunning, showing both rhythmic breathing and spontaneous blinking, alongside normal-like EEG. In addition, four animals did not reach isoelectric EEG during the 30 s of recording. Shot position frequently deviated caudally from the suggested position and this was significantly associated with the presence of normal-like EEG and behavioural signs. These results highlight welfare concerns related to delayed or incomplete loss of consciousness in these animals, indicating the need for species-specific stunning guidelines. In conclusion, EEG is a useful research tool to substantially assist in understanding the risks of a potential return of consciousness after stunning. This could help to refine ideal airline pressure, shot position and validate behavioural signs that better evaluate consciousness in donkeys.

Considering the welfare of animals used in research is crucial for both the validity of the results obtained and for the social acceptance of animal research. In Europe, the majority of the 5,784 primates currently used for scientific purposes are macaques (Macaca fascicularis and M. mulatta). Inadequate housing conditions can lead to various physiological and behavioural alterations that indicate poor welfare and can impact upon the quality of the data collected. Although there are a number of documents that summarise scientific knowledge on welfare issues and describe the basic needs of macaques, a specific and comprehensive welfare evaluation tool is lacking for the two aforementioned species when housed in a research context. The objective of the Primate Welfare INdicators (PWIN) project is to develop a welfare assessment tool for macaques used in scientific research, through the adaptation of the existing AWIN protocol for farm animals. PWIN aims to provide an objective lifelong assessment of macaque welfare, with repeated evaluations taking place not only during studies but also before and after experimental procedures. The tool comprises an evaluation of macaque housing, nutrition, health and behaviour, complemented by behavioural observations using 10-min continuous focal sampling. PWIN will support ethical research practices, facilitate compliance with regulatory requirements, and enhance information transparency during inspections and project authorisation processes. Beyond tool development, this research seeks to encourage laboratory teams, including researchers, caretakers, and veterinarians, to regularly monitor macaque welfare at the individual level. The imperative to enhance animal welfare considerations in scientific research aligns with European legislation and the 3Rs principle. By establishing a versatile, species-specific method, this research aims to improve existing practices and support ethical, sustainable primate research.

In this Opinion Paper, we argue that the absence of animal welfare in the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) may not be as detrimental as some suggest. We put forward the view that the welfare of animals is an integral part of the concept of sustainability, that development which affects animals cannot be sustainable without due consideration to their welfare, and we give examples in support of this position. Put simply: no mention means animal welfare could be, and potentially should be, anywhere and everywhere in the goals. For livestock species, we submit that the synergies between the SDGs when animal welfare is included greatly outweigh the conflicts usually highlighted. Further, considering animal welfare as both an achievable goal and as a mechanism for sustainable development allows improvement of animal welfare to carry the weight it warrants: an animal with poor welfare is not a sustainable animal. By extension, products from animals with poor welfare cannot be considered sustainable, and animal welfare is necessarily included in a well-functioning ecosystem. Through the paper we argue that the challenge is not to add in animal welfare, but to think sustainability with animal welfare. We conclude by giving directions to where animal welfare can be integrated when developing sustainable actions.

While parrots are popular companion animals, many experience significant welfare challenges, often resulting from not fulfilling their behavioural, environmental, and social needs. To address this issue, we developed a welfare assessment tool designed specifically for companion parrot caregivers. We involved a panel of seven experts with extensive working experience with companion parrots and in animal welfare assessment. Using an iterative process consisting of four online surveys and nine focus group meetings, the expert panel was invited to select relevant welfare indicators, rephrase selected indicators into user-friendly questions, identify missing content, and finally review the wording and structure of the tool. A preliminary version of the tool was then evaluated by four additional anonymous external experts and 69 parrot caregivers for its completeness, clarity and practicality through an online survey. Feedback from this stage was incorporated, and the revised version was subsequently reviewed again by the initial expert panel. The resulting tool, PsittaWel (freely downloadable at: https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/psittawel), consists of 75 questions covering 145 welfare indicators and is divided into eight sections covering key aspects of parrot welfare: general information; physical health; housing and physical activity; provision of enrichment and exploration; nutrition and maintenance behaviours; social and reproductive behaviours; parrot-human interactions; maladaptive and fear-related behaviours. Further research is needed to assess the reliability of the indicators. Nevertheless, PsittaWel is already a valuable tool for caregivers to monitor welfare and identify potential room for improvement, ultimately improving the lives of their companion parrot.

The objective of this study was to characterise chronic stress in gestating sows (n = 66; parity 0–6) housed within the same facility, assigned to gestation stalls or group pens (25 sows per pen) within two days of breeding until day 111 (± 1.4) of gestation using hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) as a biological marker of longer-term stress. Hair was shaved from the right hip at day 6.0 (± 3.8), day 37, day 74, and day 111 of gestation; day 37 and day 111 samples were analysed for cortisol. Housing system, parity class (0–1 [n = 23], 2–3 [n = 17], and 4–6 [n = 26]), and their interactions were explored. Stall-housed parity 0–1 females had higher HCC than all other females regardless of housing system, suggesting that gilts and parity 1 females in stall housing may experience greater chronic stress during gestation.

Rodents remain the predominant mammalian species used for biomedical research and must be humanely killed upon completion of the scientific work. Across the UK, cervical dislocation is reported as the most common method for humanely killing laboratory rodents. Cervical dislocation involves the separation of the vertebrae at the top of the spine and can be achieved manually or mechanically (e.g. using a tool). There is no standardised method for achieving consistent cervical dislocation in the desired location, and no dedicated tool specifically designed, validated and commercially available to achieve accurate and effective dislocation. Previous work has highlighted inaccuracy in method application and, as such, has the potential to risk animal welfare at killing. The aim of this work was to identify the techniques used by personnel across UK institutions for performing cervical dislocation using an online questionnaire. We found marked inconsistencies in technique and the use of tools to aid the application. Mice are predominantly killed via manual operation (i.e. without the aid of a tool), while rats are more often killed using mechanical aids. A wide range of improvised tools (i.e. not designed for killing) were reported, including pens, scissors, and cage scrapers. Further, there was little or no consensus regarding which physical actions are essential for a successful dislocation (i.e. a stretch and/or a twist), and a lack of reported institutional standard operating procedures. Further work is needed to establish validated methods and clear standards to ensure this common method is applied humanely and consistently.

Domestic cats (Felis catus) are favoured companion animals, but also highly effective predators that have caused substantial declines and extinctions of native fauna in many places where they have been introduced. In Australia, free-roaming pet cats kill hundreds of millions of native animals annually, contributing to one of the world’s most severe modern extinction crises. In response, policy, advocacy and public messaging has increasingly promoted responsible pet cat management, including containment, on the multiple grounds of biodiversity protection, public amenity, disease spread reduction, and benefits to cat health and welfare. A recent article by Glanville C, Hampton JO, and Sandøe P 2025 Calling a trade-off a trade-off in arguments for cat confinement. Animal Welfare 34: e65. https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2025.10041. challenges this messaging, arguing that claiming welfare benefits from cat containment is wilfully or negligently misleading. Here, we respond to four central arguments advanced by Glanville et al. We argue that separating physical health from welfare is conceptually flawed; that containment, like free-roaming, involves welfare pros and cons to cats (and their prey) that must all be evaluated concurrently; that privileging a cat’s freedom to roam ignores the welfare and rights of the animals harmed by roaming cats; and that allegations of “bad faith” or deceptive messaging by containment advocates are unfounded and unhelpful. While acknowledging that containment requires enriched care from cat owners, any uncertainty regarding relative welfare outcomes of containment versus free-roaming for cats does not justify ignoring the clear and severe welfare and conservation harms imposed on other animals by free-roaming cats. In Australia, pet cat containment remains a pragmatic pathway that aligns conservation objectives with overall animal welfare.

Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammals and the only great apes that spend most of their lives in the treetops. To navigate this environment, they use a wide range of locomotion behaviours. In zoos, however, orangutans often show increased terrestriality and rely on locomotion behaviours that are rarely seen in the wild, such as quadrupedal locomotion. These differences raise welfare concerns, as they may impair the development of their musculoskeletal system and reduce energy expenditure, thereby increasing obesity risk. Enclosure design may mitigate these effects by encouraging more species-typical locomotion. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate differences in locomotion behaviour of orangutans across two enclosure types, one with more flexible structures and one with more rigid structures. We performed focal observations of seven Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in Apenheul Primate Park (Apeldoorn, The Netherlands), recording their time budgets, types of locomotion and the structures used for locomotion. While overall time budgets, including time spent moving, did not differ meaningfully between enclosures, orangutans showed increased rates of species-typical locomotion behaviours, such as suspensory locomotion, in the enclosures with more flexible structures. Moreover, orangutans specifically used the flexible structures in their enclosure to perform these behaviours. Our findings highlight the importance of enclosure design, with flexible structures stimulating more species-typical locomotion in orangutans. However, rates of species-typical locomotion remained below those observed in the wild, indicating that further efforts are needed to stimulate zoo-housed orangutans toward natural locomotion patterns. Future research should explore additional strategies to promote arboreal and species-typical movement patterns in zoo-housed apes.

Understanding chicken cognition is essential for improving welfare in production systems, as it reveals how animals perceive and respond to their environment. Barren housing can compromise welfare, including negative affective states and cognitive deficits, but previous research mostly focused on effects of barren environments on young animals. Here, we investigated whether hens moved to battery cages once adults show lower cognitive performance than those kept cage-free. Because stable inter-individual differences (personality traits) can modulate how animals respond to environmental changes, we also explored whether personality modulates this effect. Sixty hens were reared in enriched aviary pens; at 18 weeks, half were transferred to battery cages (456 cm² per hen) and the rest remained cage-free (5,333 cm² per hen) for 64 days before testing. Personality was assessed through four standardised tests, and spatial memory was evaluated with a modified hole-board task. Working memory (WM), general working memory (GWM), and reference memory (RM) were calculated from visit ratios. Behaviours after birds consumed all baited rewards were recorded to assess responses to reward omission (e.g. extinction learning). Battery hens outperformed cage-free hens in all memory metrics and were more active during the post-reward period, showing more empty-cup visits. While the enhanced memory performance of battery hens is likely driven by increased reward motivation and greater engagement with the task, our results also suggest these birds showed a deficit in extinction learning. Personality also influenced performance: more fearful hens had lower WM and GWM and were slower to find baited cups. Housing and personality jointly shaped cognition in laying hens, highlighting that enhanced performance under poor conditions may not indicate better welfare, but rather a shift in motivation for food rewards.

External injuries and morphological deformities may serve as useful indicators when assessing the welfare of wild animals, as they can be easily observed, be scored in a non-disruptive manner, and likely correlate with reductions in welfare in many contexts. However, the welfare effects of injuries and deformities have so far been mostly examined for animals in captivity. In contrast, the many fish living in the wild have received considerably less attention, especially in relation to naturally occurring causes, such as parasitism, predation attempts, and intra-specific conflict. Here, I attempt to quantify the prevalence of injuries and deformities in wild fish by conducting a targeted review of six relevant journals, and suggest areas where future research would be particularly useful. The results indicate that both anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic factors can cause injuries and deformities in wild fish, and that many of the focal species (i.e. the species studied in the reviewed papers) are closely related. The average prevalence of injuries and/or deformities was 15% across studies. Despite the existence of potential confounding factors (e.g. a selection bias in terms of focal populations and species), these results highlight the potential importance of injuries and deformities as determinants and indicators of fish welfare in the wild.

Translocations are a conservation method used to establish or supplement self-sustaining populations. However, research regarding the welfare implications of this strategy is limited, particularly in recipient wild populations. Introductions of captive-born individuals are commonly used to supplement populations of endangered white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes), the UK’s only native crayfish species. To determine effects of translocation, both introduced and wild crayfish were marked and PIT-tagged, then monitored through behavioural observations and body condition scoring. We undertook analysis on welfare indicators, comparing resident and captive crayfish, as well as resident crayfish pre- and post-introduction. Our results provide some evidence that translocation events alter behaviour of resident crayfish. We also found some evidence that wild and captive-born crayfish differ in behaviour, with potentially negative welfare implications. By contrast, body condition analysis showed no variation pre- and post-introduction, suggesting that captive-born crayfish can effectively adapt to natural environments. Some behavioural differences were also better explained by other predictors rather than origin of animal. Multiple influences on the behaviour of crayfish were identified, including sex and weather conditions. Moreover, we identified factors which could enhance the welfare of this species in captivity and increase translocation efficacy, such as replicating features of natural environments in hatcheries. We also establish a basis for future research which could enhance conservation and understanding of the species.

Giving animals the opportunity to exercise agency can improve their welfare, but horse owners and researchers may not be aware of the growing body of agency research in other animals, and studies on agency and choice in horses are scattered across disciplines and not connected to each other or to broader theory. This paper summarises research findings on management of domestic horses through the lens of animal agency and explores the potential applications of research on choice, control, and challenge in animals to improve the welfare of horses.

Hot-iron disbudding is a very common, painful procedure performed in dairy farms. One of the gold standard practices recommends combining the use of a local anaesthetic (e.g. procaine) and analgesic (e.g. meloxicam) to control pain. However, it is unknown if calves still experience pain during and after the procedure when using multi-modal pain relief. Here, we explored the affective consequence of disbudding using a conditioned place aversion paradigm where inferences are based on learnt aversion to places associated with negative experiences. We conducted two experiments: (1) calves were disbudded in their home-pen and then conditioned immediately afterwards for 6 h so that conditioning involved post-operative pain only; and (2) calves were disbudded in the conditioning compartment and remained there for the following 6 h so that conditioning included the potential pain and fear from the procedure and any post-operative pain. All calves were conditioned in the other (control) conditioning compartment either 2 days before or after disbudding. In both experiments, calves who were disbudded on the second conditioning (control conditioning happening 2 days before the procedure) showed no aversion to the compartment associated with disbudding, suggesting that pain was minimal in the 6 h post-disbudding. However, in Experiment 2, calves displayed a preference for the disbudding compartment when disbudding occurred first (control conditioning happened 2 days later) suggesting they were in more pain on day 2 than in the hours following the procedure. These results show that calves may experience pain for days after hot-iron disbudding, calling for more work on long-lasting pain following disbudding.

Interaction with humans in early life is known to influence animal behaviour, stress responses, and welfare, but whether animals perceive gentle handling as emotionally positive remains unclear. Here, we used a conditioned place preference paradigm widely used in affective neuroscience but rarely implemented in poultry, to assess whether chicks experience positive emotions when gently handled. Twenty Hy-Line W-80 chicks were tested in a two-chamber apparatus distinguished by colour cues. Following baseline preference assessment, chicks were exposed to conditioning sessions in which chambers were paired with either gentle handling treatment (soft stroking and calm talking) or a neutral human presence (static and silent). Chicks received six 5-min sessions of each treatment across 12 days, on alternating days (one session per day), and colour-treatment pairings were counterbalanced across individuals. Post-conditioning preference was assessed over three consecutive days. Chicks consistently spent more time in the chamber previously associated with gentle handling across test days. Importantly, chicks did not show an aversion to the neutral chamber. These results indicate that gentle human contact acquired positive associative value rather than merely reducing aversion. These findings provide experimental evidence that human-animal interactions can function as rewarding stimuli in poultry, which has implications for husbandry practices and welfare assessment frameworks.

Tail biting in pigs is a serious problem both from an animal welfare and an economic perspective. Once the behaviour starts, it is important to identify it and intervene immediately to restrict the spread and risk of secondary problems, such as infections. In this study, we tested whether thermal camera imaging could be used as an aid for early detection of tail biting. We also assessed links between skin temperature, tail health and saliva biomarkers for stress and inflammation. Bitten tails were slightly warmer based on thermal imaging than non-lesioned tails. However, the difference was not sufficiently large or specific to enable its use as a practical tool in the early detection of tail lesions. The methodology, however, warrants further investigation. Shortened, but healed tails had a lower skin temperature than tails of other health categories. In combination with a lower saliva cortisol level in pigs with shortened tails, potentially indicative of chronic stress, this supports previous studies indicating chronic pain in shortened pig tails, and/or chronic stress as a result of being a victim of tail biting. These findings provide a further insight into the link between stress, infections and tail biting, while also illustrating potential for skin temperature changes to be used as an early indicator of health and welfare challenges in pigs.

Tail biting in growing pigs is both a sign and cause of impaired welfare. On one-day visits to ten Finnish farms, we assessed weaned pigs between approximately 4 to 10 weeks of age. On each farm, tail health was assessed at the pen level in 2–15 rooms (n = 81) selected randomly within age strata (n = 3), and on individual level in one high-prevalence pen per age category (n = 37 pens). Risk factors for tail biting were assessed in 2–3 age-representative rooms per farm according to 57 resource- and animal-based questions on environment, hygiene, health, feeding and enrichment. Tail health data were reduced into three pen- and three individual-level principal components. Component scores were used as outcome variables when establishing effects of risk factors on tail health using regression tree analysis and mixed modelling. Tail health deteriorated over the weaner period, especially from the first to the second third. Besides age, risk factors for impaired tail health consisted predominantly of shortcomings related to basic needs, such as adequate resting areas and enrichment. In the individual-level data, different risk factors could be associated with different types of tail lesions in problem pens, suggesting distinct aetiologies. In conclusion, improvements to the early environment in the farms studied here may have a significant positive impact on the well-being of pigs, not only post-weaning, but potentially permanently if experiencing less tail biting in early life leads to prevention later.

Efforts to include animal perspectives in decision-making are gaining attention, yet how to meaningfully represent these perspectives remains underexplored. This study investigated how university students engaged in taking the perspective of dairy cows and calves when introduced to the practice of cow-calf separation — either through a verbal description or a visually immersive video capturing the animals’ point of view. Focus groups were conducted to examine the range and depth of participants’ responses, and transcripts were thematically analysed. Results revealed that participants across both treatments acknowledged the animals’ experiences, particularly the emotional significance of the maternal bond. However, those exposed to the video condition engaged in more emotionally detailed and complex discussions, often referencing specific animal behaviours and vocalisations. The video appeared to enhance perspective-taking by increasing contextual richness, encouraging participants to interpret the animals’ experiences more vividly. While many participants expressed empathy or sympathy, others reported distress or hesitancy, citing challenges, such as anthropomorphism or uncertainty about accurately accessing animal perspectives. These findings underscore the potential for visual interventions to deepen understanding of non-human perspectives, while also highlighting psychological and cultural barriers to animal-inclusive decision-making. Our results suggest that perspective-taking can be a valuable tool in promoting ethical engagement with animal welfare. However, further research is needed to explore how such engagement influences actual decision-making, and how to balance emotional connection with critical reflection.

During commercial harvesting (shooting) of kangaroos, pouch young of shot females must be euthanased to prevent suffering. The current euthanasia method, manually applied concussive (or blunt force) trauma to the head, can be effective but is not always applied consistently and is often perceived by observers to be inhumane. The captive-bolt device (CBD), which fires a steel bolt that either penetrates or impacts the skull, could provide a more suitable alternative. We reviewed a range of potentially suitable CBDs and assessed the effectiveness of four types on live animals. Effectiveness of CBDs was determined by assessing behaviour, electroencephalogram (EEG) and evaluating brain and skull trauma post mortem. Pouch young were also euthanased using manual blunt force trauma for comparison. Shooting with a penetrating CBD produced brain activity that was inconsistent with consciousness in 100% (n = 20) of animals. Behavioural indicators of consciousness and normal-like EEG were not detected after shooting with the CBD and damage to the brain was extensive. Seven out of 29 (24%) joeys shot with a non-penetrating CBD were either still breathing (n = 1) or recovered breathing (n = 6) after shooting. All seven animals had no or only mild damage to the medulla. We conclude that a cartridge-powered, penetrating CBD and manual blunt force trauma can both achieve immediate unconsciousness in pouch young, but a second step to exsanguinate the animal must still be performed. Penetrating CBDs are preferred to manual blunt force trauma since they are more repeatable, less reliant upon operator skill and confidence and more likely to reduce animal (and observer) distress.

Despite common assertions that puppies acquired from low-welfare sources (e.g. ‘puppy farms’) and/or sold illegally (e.g. without buyers seeing their puppies’ mother pre-purchase) have poorer future health and welfare, remarkably little evidence supports this. We investigated the impact of puppy early-life risk factors, including owner acquisition behaviours, upon adult dog health outcomes. An online longitudinal survey followed a cohort of n = 985 ‘Pandemic Puppies’ purchased in the UK during 2020 aged < 16 weeks of age as they reached 21 months of age. Owners reported their dogs’ diagnosed health disorders and their expectations vs realities of veterinary costs since a ‘puppyhood’ questionnaire (while ≤ 7 months of age) in 2020. Multivariable modelling investigated risk factors for these outcomes, including early-life health, behaviour, and acquisition-related variables. Most owners (n = 931/985; 94.5%) reported ≥ one health problem in their dog since the 2020 questionnaire. Puppies sold < 6 weeks of age, without their owner having seen the puppy’s mother prior to purchase, or acquired by first-time owners were more likely to have a higher number of health disorders at 21 months old. One-quarter (n = 220/936; 23.5%) of owners had spent more than they expected on veterinary costs since acquiring their puppy, with owners of puppies sold without a microchip more likely to report this. Results suggest that longer-term health outcomes are linked to how and where a puppy is acquired. As many risk factors identified here are already illegal in England, Wales and Scotland, greater enforcement and awareness of this legislation is urgently needed to protect canine welfare.