Animal welfare
We explore ways to improve the lives of all types of farmed animals. We place particular emphasis on assessing and improving animal welfare by using smart technology and behavioral and health indicators that reflect the emotional state of the animals
Animal welfare research at APS studies ways to improve the lives of farmed animals, ranging from cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry to mussels and crickets. We study how these animals interact with their physical and social environment to better understand their experience of different conditions. We place particular emphasis on assessing and improving animal welfare by using smart technology and behaviour and health indicators that reflect animals’ emotional states. Through this approach, we aim to contribute to sustainable farming practices and food systems
Research topics
- Animal welfare assessment
- Positive welfare
- Sensor-based welfare indicators
- Animal welfare and sustainable development of food systems
- Detecting risk factors for animal welfare
Our projects
Animal welfare implications of regenerative agriculture
PhD project by Jilles Threels. Regenerative agriculture (RA) is proposed to provide solutions to several sustainability challenges. The broadness of RA, however, is also an aspect that yields critique and makes it challenging to study. To address this complexity, this research will focus on two examples of regenerative practices in the Dutch dairy agriculture: holistic grazing and herb-rich grassland
The impact of confinement and pasture-based Swiss dairy systems on production efficiency, environment, animal welfare and antibiotic use
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Feeding leftovers to poultry: the impact on production, welfare and the environment
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Environmental and welfare consequences of feeding circular feed ingredients to pigs in Ireland
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Cow-calf contact in dairy systems: Impacts on production, animal health, farm economics and the environment
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Animal welfare implications of regenerative agriculture
PhD project by Jilles Threels. Regenerative agriculture (RA) is proposed to provide solutions to several sustainability challenges. The broadness of RA, however, is also an aspect that yields critique and makes it challenging to study. To address this complexity, this research will focus on two examples of regenerative practices in the Dutch dairy agriculture: holistic grazing and herb-rich grassland
The impact of confinement and pasture-based Swiss dairy systems on production efficiency, environment, animal welfare and antibiotic use
-
Feeding leftovers to poultry: the impact on production, welfare and the environment
-
Environmental and welfare consequences of feeding circular feed ingredients to pigs in Ireland
-
Cow-calf contact in dairy systems: Impacts on production, animal health, farm economics and the environment
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Research themes
Governance and Livelihood
We research governance and livelihoods in sustainable food systems, exploring how policy incentives, certification schemes, and value chains shape transitions towards more just and sustainable livestock farming systems across diverse agricultural contexts
Environmental impacts
We study how livestock contributes to environmental issues, and how to mitigate their impact at various levels, including the farm, the value chain, the region, and the food systems level
Biodiversity
We explore the complex relationship between livestock and nature (including biodiversity and ecosystem services), and design farming systems and incentives to transition towards more sustainable agroecosystems
Animal welfare
We explore ways to improve the lives of all types of farmed animals. We place particular emphasis on assessing and improving animal welfare by using smart technology and behavioral and health indicators that reflect the emotional state of the animals
Contact us
Animal Production Systems
Research of Animal Production Systems, led by Simon Oosting, focuses on unravelling the complexity of livestock systems.
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