Animal welfare is recognised as one of the fundamental pillars of sustainable livestock farming, not only because of its impact on production efficiency, where it has an unquestionable impact, but also because of the ethical and social dimension of sustainability, since a system cannot be sustainable if it is not morally acceptable. The direct effect of welfare on production efficiency, environmental impact and social acceptance of livestock farming therefore makes it an essential element of sustainable livestock farming.
Animal welfare science defines animal welfare in terms of five domains: good nutrition, a suitable environment, good health, appropriate behaviour and a good mental state.
Pig welfare
We study alternative husbandry systems, such as new maternity housing or organic production, alternatives to tail docking and the role of the intestinal microbiota in the behavior and emotional state of pigs and their robustness to stress factors.
Welfare in poultry and rabbits
We are a member of the European Union Reference Centre for the Welfare of Poultry and Other Small Farm Animals (EURCAW-Poultry-SFA). We study new housing systems, and improvements in husbandry practices that meet the needs of the animals.
Welfare in sacrifice
We are a world-leading program in the study of stunning systems in different species such as pigs, ruminants and poultry for an humanitarian animal sacrifice (without pain, suffering or stress), both on the farm and in the slaughterhouse.
Validation and development of well-being indicators
We base our work on the life experience of the animals and not just on defining the environment in which they live, i.e. we work to ensure that protocols take into account the behaviour and emotional state of the animals.
Welfare in extensive farming
The line of welfare in extensive herds includes the development of specific animal welfare indicators for extensive herds, including the use of new technologies that through behavioural monitoring allow us to know how animals interact with the environment, to foresee when they may be at risk due to disease, accidents or the presence of predators, to anticipate calving in mountains, or to know which animals need to express their physiological and behavioural potential.
