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277 results on '"Bracke, M.B.M."'

19. Decision support system for overall welfare assessment in pregnant sows B: validation by expert opinion

Author

Bracke, M.B.M., Metz, J.H.M., Spruijt, B.M., and Schouten, W.G.P.

Subjects
Animal welfare -- Research, Swine, Zoology and wildlife conservation
Abstract

This paper examines the validity of a model that is embedded in a computer-based decision support system to assess the welfare status of pregnant sows in housing and management systems. The so-called SOWEL (SOw WELfare) model was constructed using a formalized procedure to identify and weight welfare-relevant attributes of housing systems in relation to the animal's needs, and evidenced by scientific statements collected in a database. The model's predictions about welfare scores for 15 different housing systems and weighting factors for 20 attributes were compared with expert opinion, which was solicited using a written questionnaire for pig-welfare scientists. The experts identified tethering and individual housing in stalls as low welfare systems. The group of mid-welfare systems contained indoor group-housing systems and an individual-housing system with additional space and substrate. The five best systems were all systems with outdoor access and the provision of some kind of substrate such as straw. The highest weighting factors were given for the attributes 'social contact,' 'health and hygiene status,' 'water availability,' 'space per pen,' 'foraging and bulk,' 'food agonism,' 'rooting substrate,' 'social stability,' and 'movement comfort.' The degree of concordance among the experts was reasonable for welfare scores of housing systems, but low for weighting factors of attributes. Both for welfare scores and weighting factors the model correlated significantly with expert opinion (Spearman's Rho: 0.92, P < 0.001, and 0.72, P < 0.01, respectively). The results support the validity of the model and its underlying procedure to assess farm-animal welfare in an explicit and systematic way based on available scientific knowledge. Key Words: Animal Welfare, Housing, Indexes, Management, Pigs

Published
2002

20. Decision support system for overall welfare assessment in pregnant sows A: model structure and weighting procedure

Author

Bracke, M.B.M., Spruijt, B.M., Metz, J.H.M., and Schouten, W.G.P.

Subjects
Animal welfare -- Research, Swine, Zoology and wildlife conservation
Abstract

The problem of how to objectively assess the overall welfare status of animals under farming conditions has contributed to an ongoing debate that has hampered actual decision making on animal welfare. For this reason we constructed a model based on the assumed hierarchical organization of the animals' needs for overall welfare assessment in the case of pregnant sows. This model is implemented in a computer-based decision support system that takes a description of a housing and management system as input and produces a welfare score as output. A formalized procedure was used to construct the model for welfare assessment in pregnant sows on the basis of available scientific knowledge. This SOWEL (from SOw WELfare) model contains 37 attributes that describe the welfare-relevant properties of housing and management systems. In the decision support system these attributes are linked to scientific statements and a list of needs to provide a scientific basis for welfare assessment. Weighting factors that represent the relative importance of the attributes are derived from the scientific statements about the various welfare performance criteria that have been measured by scientists. The welfare score is calculated as the weighted average score. All information in the decision support system is stored in tables in a relational database such that newly available knowledge and insights can be incorporated to refine the model. The model has been developed in line with several existing models but it differs from these models in that it is the first to provide a formalized procedure to explicate the reasoning steps involved in welfare assessment based on available scientific knowledge. Key Words: Animal Welfare, Housing, Indexes, Management, Pigs

Published
2002

21. Achtergrond scoring dierenwelzijn

Author

Hopster, H., Bracke, M.B.M., van Niekerk, T.G.C.M., and de Vries, M.

Subjects
Dierenwelzijn en gezondheid, WIAS, Emissie & Mestverwaarding, Life Science, Animal Health & Welfare, Emissions & Manure Valorisation
Abstract

Melkvee, Varkens, Pluimvee

Published
2020

22. Broiler chicken production using slower-growing breeds in higher-welfare systems

Author

de Jong, I.C. and Bracke, M.B.M.

Subjects
Dierenwelzijn en gezondheid, WIAS, Life Science, Animal Health & Welfare
Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of thecurrent knowledge on the welfare status of slowergrowing broiler chickens in higher-welfare systems, andto discuss their current and future positioning on themarket.

Published
2020

24. Towards a future-proof higher-welfare broiler chicken sector

Author

Nalon, E., Bracke, M.B.M., and de Jong, I.C.

Subjects
Dierenwelzijn en gezondheid, WIAS, Life Science, Animal Health & Welfare
Abstract

Sustainability is a multi-faceted concept that incorporates environmental impacts, social and economic considerations ¼ Slower-growing broiler breeds and higherwelfare systems can improve their environmental sustainability with a targeted genetic selection of the parent birds and by feeding birds with safe and certified by-products ¼ Businesses, finance institutes and investors also play a major role in driving change for animal welfare ¼ For as long as poultry meat will be consumed and obtained from live animals, a shift towards ‘less and better’, produced more humanely, with care for the environment, and with the right remuneration for farmers, seems to be the best strategy to meet societal concerns and our current knowledge of what chickens need to lead a ‘good life’ .

Published
2020

27. Transport: temperatuur en beschikbare ruimte

Author

Ruis, M.A.W., Schubbert, A., Bracke, M.B.M., Patt, A., Ruis, M.A.W., Schubbert, A., Bracke, M.B.M., and Patt, A.

Abstract

Dit deelbestand bevast de volgende factsheets: Op elkaar kruipen en rillen: Signalen van onderkoeling en koudestress tijdens transport / Sterfte tijdens transport: indicator voor thermische stress en/of hoge bezettingsdichtheid / Uitputting: indicator voor een hoge bezettingsdichtheid tijdens transport / Verhoogde ademhalingsfrequentie en hijgen: signalen die kunnen wijzen op hittestress in de stal of tijdens transport.

Published
2020

35. Contrôle de l'ambiance et espace individuel durant le transport

Author

Ruis, M.A.W., Schubbert, A., Bracke, M.B.M., Patt, A., Ruis, M.A.W., Schubbert, A., Bracke, M.B.M., and Patt, A.

Abstract

Deelbestand voor de factsheets: Blotissement et tremblement: indicateurs du stress de froid durant le transport (IFS-Pigs-2020-16-FR; v2.0), Mort à l'arrivée: indicateur de stress thermique et/ou de fortes densités durant le transport (IFS-Pigs-2020-17-FR; v2.0), Fatigue: indicateur d'une forte densité durant le transport (IFS-Pigs-2020-18-FR; v2.0), Halètement et changements dans la fréquence respiratoire: indicateurs du stress lié à la chaleur durant le transport (IFS-Pigs-2020-19-FR; v1.0).

Published
2020

47. Chains as proper enrichment for intensively-farmed pigs?

Author

Bracke, M.B.M. and Bracke, M.B.M.

Abstract

This chapter primarily compiles work in which the author (Marc Bracke) has been involved with providing science-based decision support on the question of what is proper enrichment material for intensively-farmed pigs as required by EC Directive 2001/93/EC. Proper manipulable material should primarily provide occupation (i.e. reduce boredom), and preferably reduce tail biting.The RICHPIG model was built expressing enrichment value as a score on a scale from 0 to 10. Metal objects like short metal chains had the lowest score. Subsequently, the Dutch government banned the use of metal chains and most Dutch pig farmers attached a hard plastic ball or pipe to the prevalent, short metal chain. Unfortunately, our on-farm observations repeatedly suggested that this ‘enrichment’ may have reduced pig welfare, rather than improving it as intended by the Directive. So-called AMI (animal-material interaction) sensors can be used to (semi-)automatically record object manipulation by attaching a motion sensor to hanging objects. AMI-sensors may provide objective, flexible and feasible registration tools of enrichment value, but their application is still rather demanding. Exploratory data are presented to demonstrate the utilityof AMI-sensors. The enrichment value of short metal chains can be improved upon, e.g. by providing branched chains. This entails making chains longer, preferably reaching until the floor, and making them more readily available in a pig pen. To facilitate the process towards proper enrichment the principle of intelligent natural design (IND) is proposed. IND entails organising a repeatedselection process of the (currently) best-available enrichment material so as to gradually reduce pig boredom and enhance the opportunities for the rearing of pigs with intact tails. IND should start with basically all pig farmers implementing promising enrichment like the branched-chain design on their farms as soon as possible, followed by conducting small-scale on-farm exp

Published
2018

49. Een kalkoen is geen kip

Author

van Niekerk, T.G.C.M. and Bracke, M.B.M.

Subjects
Dierenwelzijn en gezondheid, WIAS, Animal Health & Welfare
Published
2016

50. Initiatives to reduce mutilations in EU livestock production

Author

Spoolder, H.A.M., Schöne, Maria, and Bracke, M.B.M.

Subjects
sheep, goats, dierlijke productie, Staf Directieraad, animal welfare, Dierenwelzijn en gezondheid, schapen, pluimvee, dierethiek, Animal Health & Welfare, paarden, horses, sporten met dieren, geiten, animal sports, animal health, animal production, poultry, pigs, rundvee, diergezondheid, varkens, dierenwelzijn, cattle, WIAS, animal ethics
Published
2016

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