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25 pages, 4508 KB

Open AccessArticle

How to Apply Positive-Reinforcement-Based Training for Self-Loading and Self-Unloading in Dromedary Camels

by Naod Thomas Masebo, Asim Faraz, Maria Gaia Angeloni, Faizan Saleem, Hassan Qadir Buzdar and Barbara Padalino

Animals 2026, 16(7), 1103; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16071103 - 3 Apr 2026

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Abstract

This study aimed to describe how to train dromedary camels to self-load and unload using positive-reinforcement-based training and to examine its effects on behavior and welfare. Twelve camels, six unbroken male camels (group A) and six broken mixed-gender camels (group B), underwent nine [...] Read more.

This study aimed to describe how to train dromedary camels to self-load and unload using positive-reinforcement-based training and to examine its effects on behavior and welfare. Twelve camels, six unbroken male camels (group A) and six broken mixed-gender camels (group B), underwent nine days of positive reinforcement training, after an initial day of behavioral tests. The training session included six phases: loading the clicker, approaching the truck, ramp, truck, unloading, and returning to the station. Eye temperature was measured before and after training using infrared thermography, and training was recorded for further behavioral analysis. Overall, eight camels (66.7%) loaded and unloaded successfully at least once. The average total and daily training duration were 72 and 8.5 min per camel, respectively, with the fastest camel able to load taking only 30 min of total training over five days. Loading the clicker phase decreased by 41% per additional training day (p < 0.001) and was higher in camels that completed the training session compared to unsuccessful individuals (p = 0.027). Similarly, the time required to approach the truck decreased significantly across training days (p < 0.001). Training day had no effect on the duration of the ramp phase; however, this phase was overall shorter in the group of successful camels (p = 0.038). Loading inside the truck increased by 50% with each additional training day (p = 0.007). Camels in group B had significantly lower maximum eye temperatures than those in group A (p = 0.019), with no significant effect of day or time (p = 0.373). In conclusion, our study shows that training dromedary camels to self-load and unload is possible and does not increase eye temperature. It could mitigate transport stress, improving the safety of handlers and camels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering: Second Edition)

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13 pages, 3304 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pathological Manifestations Rendering Pigs and Cattle Unfit for Transportation in Denmark

by Amanda Øpstun Birk and Henrik Elvang Jensen

Animals 2026, 16(3), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16030394 - 27 Jan 2026

Viewed by 467

Abstract

EU regulations concerning the evaluation of animals’ fitness for transportation are in several ways rather vague, which leaves room for individual interpretation of the legislation with a potential negative impact on animal welfare. In order to guide interpretation of the unclear statements within [...] Read more.

EU regulations concerning the evaluation of animals’ fitness for transportation are in several ways rather vague, which leaves room for individual interpretation of the legislation with a potential negative impact on animal welfare. In order to guide interpretation of the unclear statements within the legislation, all forensic case files handled during a 10-year period (2014–2023) on Danish pigs and cattle that had been declared unfit for transportation and subsequently reported to the police, were evaluated. A total of 327 case files addressing 428 animals were examined. Most pigs were declared unfit for transportation due to the presence of severe open wounds, whereas lameness was the main reason for cattle being deemed unfit. In conclusion, most wounds rendering both pigs and cattle unfit for transportation measured at least 3 cm in diameter, apart from those located in sensitive areas, e.g., tails. Manifestations rendering pigs unfit for transportation due to lameness were primarily joint lesions, whereas fractures were the dominant cause of lameness in cattle. Therefore, the focus should be on these manifestations when assessing animals for transport fitness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering: Second Edition)

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16 pages, 1953 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Reduced Stocking Density on Broiler Welfare During Transport: Evidence from a Hungarian Study Under Moderate Climatic Conditions

by László Szőllősi, Dániel Fróna, Laura Mihály-Karnai and Attila Csorbai

Animals 2025, 15(21), 3066; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15213066 - 22 Oct 2025

Viewed by 1678

Abstract

Broiler transport density plays a crucial role in animal welfare, meat quality, and economic efficiency. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently recommended increased space allowances for broilers during transport to improve welfare. This study statistically evaluated the effects of reduced stocking [...] Read more.

Broiler transport density plays a crucial role in animal welfare, meat quality, and economic efficiency. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently recommended increased space allowances for broilers during transport to improve welfare. This study statistically evaluated the effects of reduced stocking density under commercial Hungarian conditions. A total of 176,198 Ross 308 heavyweight broilers were transported over a 19 km distance at moderate springtime temperature (7–13 °C) using 33 trucks, of which 14 (7 control and 7 test) were included in the comparison. Control trucks followed the EU-regulated density (160 cm²/kg; 5610 birds/truck), while test trucks applied the lower EFSA-recommended density (200–210 cm²/kg; 4334 birds/truck). Dead-on-arrival (DOA) birds and carcass condemnations were evaluated for all transported birds, while injuries and bruising were assessed by sampling 277 carcasses per truck, consistent with industrial auditing practice. Significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups. The reduced-density group showed higher rates of DOA birds (0.61% vs. 0.36% in the control, a 69% relative increase), more wing injuries (6.91% vs. 4.28%, +61%), more bruising (6.76% vs. 3.40%, +98%), and a higher rate of carcass condemnations (0.78% vs. 0.57%, +38%). These findings indicate that increasing space allowance during transport may not improve welfare under moderate continental conditions and may even increase injury risk, with potential economic and environmental consequences for stakeholders. The results highlight the need for further research covering longer journey durations, wider temperature ranges, and alternative crate designs before the broad implementation of the EFSA-recommended transport densities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering: Second Edition)

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12 pages, 636 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cattle’s Social Rank Throughout the Transition from Rangeland to Fattening Affects Beef Quality

by Paola Soberanes-Oblea, Iván Adrián García-Galicia, Mariana Huerta-Jiménez, Jesús Ricardo Gámez-Piñón, Mieke Titulaer, Alma Delia Alarcon-Rojo and Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez

Animals 2025, 15(12), 1690; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15121690 - 7 Jun 2025

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Abstract

The social stress due to regrouping and hierarchy establishment in cattle in the transition from rangeland to feedlots may cause considerable losses in beef production due to aggressive interactions. This study determined the effect of the premortem social ranks of bovines in the [...] Read more.

The social stress due to regrouping and hierarchy establishment in cattle in the transition from rangeland to feedlots may cause considerable losses in beef production due to aggressive interactions. This study determined the effect of the premortem social ranks of bovines in the transition from rangelands to fattening pens on beef quality. The behavior of 20 heifers was evaluated in three premortem stages: 72 h after transportation, after 6 weeks of fattening, and while waiting at the slaughterhouse. Heifers were classified as dominant (D) or subordinate (S) based on ethograms. The principal component analysis revealed a strong relationship between social rank and beef color (L*, a*, b*, chroma, HUE, and ΔE), pH, and water holding capacity. The linear discriminant analysis of the beef quality variables classified the animals in one of four social ranks (dominant, change to subordinate, subordinate, change to dominant) with 95% precision. pH 45 (−9.163), drip 0 d (−3.917), final chroma (1.773), and ΔE (1.646) obtained high coefficients that determined the separation among the classes. Color variables like ΔE (p = 0.049) and chroma 0 d (p = 0.053) showed significant differences between the D and S animals in the MANOVA. Reactivity in dominants tended to negatively impact beef quality, affecting its color and pH. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how social dynamics impact beef quality during the transition period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering: Second Edition)

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12 pages, 269 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effects of Stocking Density in the Pen and Lairage Time on Blood Stress Indicators, Skin Lesion Scores, and Pork Meat Quality

by Luana Torres da Rocha, Paulo Levi de Oliveira Carvalho, Janaína Paolucci Sales de Lima, Liliana Bury de Azevedo, Silvana Texeira Carvalho, Jansller Luiz Genova and Luigi Faucitano

Animals 2025, 15(5), 634; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050634 - 21 Feb 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1914

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of stocking density in the pen and lairage time before slaughter on blood stress indicators, skin lesions, and pork meat quality traits. A total of 1920 immunocastrated male pigs were shipped to a [...] Read more.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of stocking density in the pen and lairage time before slaughter on blood stress indicators, skin lesions, and pork meat quality traits. A total of 1920 immunocastrated male pigs were shipped to a slaughterhouse. In order to maintain the proposed stocking densities, 72 pigs out of the 1920 animals were removed across loads from the experiment. The remaining 1848 pigs were randomly assigned to two different stocking densities in the lairage pen (0.42 m²/100 kg and 0.66 m²/100 kg) and two lairage times (2 h and 6 h). A total of 360 pigs were selected for the analysis of exsanguination blood glucose, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, cortisol concentration, hematocrit percentage, and carcass skin lesion scores, whereas meat quality was assessed in 240 loin muscles. Except for blood hematocrit percentage, the interaction stocking density × lairage pen had no effect on any parameter (p > 0.10). When compared to a lower stocking density (0.66 m²/100 kg), pigs kept at a higher stocking density (0.42 m²/100 kg) tended to present lower blood LDH concentrations (p = 0.06) and higher blood cortisol concentrations (p = 0.08) at slaughter and had greater carcass skin lesion scores (p < 0.001) and drier (lower drip loss) loin muscles (p = 0.04). Increased blood hematocrit percentage was found in pigs kept in lairage at a higher stocking density for 6 h when compared with the other lairage conditions (p < 0.01). Overall, stocking density, in particular when it was high, influenced more pigs’ stress conditions at slaughter and carcass and meat quality than the time spent in lairage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering: Second Edition)

28 pages, 1814 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Relevant Indicators of Consciousness After Head-Only Electrical Stunning in Rabbits, Stunning Efficiency, and Risk Factors in Commercial Conditions

by Alexandra Contreras-Jodar, Virginie Michel, Leonardo James Vinco, Aranzazu Varvaró-Porter and Antonio Velarde

Animals 2025, 15(4), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15040587 - 18 Feb 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2665

Abstract

Currently, approximately 62 million rabbits are slaughtered annually in approved slaughterhouses across the European Union (EU) [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering: Second Edition)

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Other

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16 pages, 595 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

A Decade of Evidence on Broiler Chicken Dead-on-Arrival Rates and Risk Factors: A Scoping Review

by Samantha Vitek and Leonie Jacobs

Animals 2026, 16(5), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16050805 - 5 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 669

Abstract

The preslaughter phase for broiler chickens is distressing and can result in death prior to slaughter. The severity of this animal welfare concern warrants the exploration of the rates and risk factors. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize current knowledge [...] Read more.

The preslaughter phase for broiler chickens is distressing and can result in death prior to slaughter. The severity of this animal welfare concern warrants the exploration of the rates and risk factors. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize current knowledge on rates and associated farm, flock, and preslaughter risk factors for dead-on-arrivals (DOA). Peer-reviewed experimental or observational studies were included that were written in English, published between January 2014 and December 2024, and that reported broiler chicken DOA with rates or associated risk factors in Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. A total of 344 articles were identified, and 24 articles met the eligibility criteria. Mean DOA rates ranged from 0 to 0.85%. In total, nine on-farm or flock-level and 11 preslaughter risk factors were identified, which could be categorized under four major causes of DOA: poor health, distress, thermal stress, and trauma. The risk factors most commonly identified were journey duration and distance, season, ambient temperature, lairage duration, and body weight. The findings highlight multiple opportunities to reduce DOA, including greater consideration of flock characteristics in preslaughter decision making, growing flocks that are at reduced risk of DOA, improvements in catching and loading practices, and better alignment of preslaughter management with environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering: Second Edition)

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22 pages, 780 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Non-Invasive Human-Free Diagnosis Methods for Assessing Pig Welfare at Abattoirs: A Systematic Review

by Maria Francisca Ferreira, Márcia Nunes and Madalena Vieira-Pinto

Animals 2025, 15(17), 2500; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15172500 - 25 Aug 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2053

Abstract

The assessment of pig welfare and health at abattoirs is crucial for ensuring both animal well-being and food safety. Traditional assessment methods often rely on human observation, which is time-consuming, subjective, and difficult to scale in high-throughput facilities. This systematic review addresses a [...] Read more.

The assessment of pig welfare and health at abattoirs is crucial for ensuring both animal well-being and food safety. Traditional assessment methods often rely on human observation, which is time-consuming, subjective, and difficult to scale in high-throughput facilities. This systematic review addresses a crucial gap by identifying and evaluating non-invasive human-free diagnostic methods applicable in commercial settings. Following PRISMA guidelines, a total of 102 articles met the inclusion criteria. Thirteen distinct methods were identified and classified into three categories: biological sample analysis (5 methods; n = 80 articles), imaging and computer vision systems (4 methods; n = 19), and physiological and other sensors (4 methods; n = 24). Some articles assessed more than one method and are therefore counted in multiple categories. While no method achieved both high implementation and practicality, blood analysis for glucose and lactate, convolutional neural networks for lesion detection, and automated camera-based systems emerged as the most promising for practical integration into the slaughter flowline. Most techniques still face challenges related to automation, operator independence, and standardisation. Overall, this review highlights the growing potential of non-invasive methods in pig welfare evaluation and underscores the need for continued development and validation to facilitate their adoption into routine abattoir practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Stress and Welfare During Transport and Slaughtering: Second Edition)

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