Animal Welfare Institute

The farrowing sow: to confine or not confine

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different temporary uses of farrowing crates and free farrowing on farrowing duration and piglet survival and growth under normal production conditions. The study included three farrowing systems on two farms:...

The effect of partial replacement of soybean oil with insect fats on dietary short-term preference in laying hens

Assessment of the acceptance of novel feed ingredients provides valuable insights into their potential integration into practical animal feed formulations. However, despite growing interest in insect-derived feed ingredients, information on the short-term palatability of insect f...

Quantifying ASF Outbreak Dynamics in the Philippines (2019–2023) Using Joinpoint Regression and the Estimated Dissemination Ratio

African swine fever (ASF) remains a major constraint on swine production in the Philippines, but interpretation of its national trajectory is complicated by changes in surveillance effort and regional heterogeneity. We analyzed domestic-pig surveillance records from August 2019 t...

Exercise-Induced Acid–Base, Electrolyte, and Metabolic Responses in Colombian Creole Horses Across Different Gait Modalities

Exercise physiology in Colombian Creole Horses remains poorly characterized despite the breed’s extensive use in athletic activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate exercise-induced changes in blood biochemical and gas parameters and to determine whether these respon...

Laboratory-Specific Comparison of KASP and a Locally Implemented Gel-Based T-ARMS PCR Workflow for Targeted CSN2 Codon-67 Genotyping in a Holstein–Friesian Panel

Targeted CSN2 codon-67 genotyping supports A2-oriented breeding and herd management. We compared Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) with a locally implemented gel-based tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system PCR (T-ARMS PCR) workflow in a balanced, non-populati...

Impact of an early postnatal administration of an energetic supplement on growth performance, behaviour and gut microbiota in piglets with different birth weight classes

Piglets are born with limited energy reserves, and early energy supplementation may improve their growth. This study evaluated the efficacy of an early energetic supplement on growth, mortality, behaviour and gut microbiota (GM). Twenty-two sows and their litters (12.9 ± 0.3 pigl...